Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1857-09-16

Tnr Hos. BES5AurS RrGeLEs.--Asa matter Of
interest 10 our readers on both sides Of the nv
Fer, as well as a due to the nemoryof an excellent
man recently gone from our vicinity, We snGjoin
from the National IntelIigencer the following
memoir Of the late Hon. Benjamin Rugglcs OF
ST. ClairsyiIle:
This excellent MIN died on the morning OF
the Oil September, 1867, in his seventy-tllth
wear. Il was born in Winllam county, Con
neGticut His father dying whenlic was some
twelve years old, by teaching school he got the
Z means 10 read law with Judge Peters. After
his admission TO the b1rin Connecticut lie emf
grated To Marietta, in Ohio.= In the second year
4 Of his residence there lie permitted the RePuh-
.licau PARTY to use his name as candidate for
the Legislature but lie was defeated by the Fed
4 eralists. Iii the following winter the Republic
lcan Legislature gave To him the President Judge
shin Of the Court of Common Pleas. The first
court held in some Of the counties including
Cuyahoga, was held by him. lie trayersed this
large circuit on horseback, foTding rivers and
iSwamps. He took the oath of Office as Judge
lin 1916 Soon afterwards hereturncd to Con-
necticnt for wife Two girls at Bolton, who
sung side by side IN the choir, one blue ard
the other dark-eyed, occupied his thoughts. On
arriving at his native place he found the dark
eyed one already engaged The girl of the
blue eyes became his bride; but it was rcInark-
ed by the friends of the couple tint she could
not have him long, his aspect was so sickly and
frail, not iorsceing, it seems, the effect OF tue
bluc.cycd girl and the long horseback rides in
( his vast iGlicial circuit, one Of which, or both
fperhaps, re.esiablished his health. lie lost his
/ tirstwife in 1916. Eight years afterwards, find
ing the aforesaid dark. eyed girl had lost her
husband i'c united WITH herr in marriage. She
/ is now the worthy widow that survives him.
Some five years after he was appointed Judge
/ he WAS elected Senator ineCnusress. where he
remained eighteen gears in succession. Gen.
Harrison was at one tiGie and Gov. Worthington
at another, the opposing candidate.
In both public and private life he sought to
beuseFn! rather than conspicuous. His integri-
ty and efficiency commanded the respect and
confidence of all who knew him. The apPlica-
tions. 10 him while Senator by those who had
business at Washington were so numerous, his
attention 50 satisfactory, and his labor in the
committee rooms so aSsiduOus, that Gov. McigS
was accustomed 10 call him "thc whcel-horse OF
the Senate" Few have passed so many years
in public life so blameieSS, strong illustration
of his prudence. He gave to the public the
time and labor which some brstow otherwise.
His political views were comprehensive. On
listening to his history of Congressional meas
ures, their causes and policy, | have thought he
unprecedented to t!,e 1S'c described by Homer:
! TO some the arts nj InNEhtS Oei9ur-
! To some swe numbers aud the gift Of song;
HutfIT, and Wonltrous FEW, has Heaven assigned
Toelr ssardans these Ore states around confess,
And towns and nhtions for theis safety bless"
( With all the ,nagnamtty ofgreatneSs he treat
( ed with charity the fUib!cs, fashions, and pre-
judices OF mankind. He heard of new truth
without surprise or Tepugnance. Believing we
know very littlcOf what is to be known, he
would not oppose TO new truth his mere ignor-
auce, but patiently examine its foundations
Z He was always thankful.for what he had, with
out fepining that he had no more; and nc fully
enjoyed all that is embraced in Agur's prayer.
llew was a sagacious statesman, klnd husband
aud father, and in every respect good citizen
Ii he erred in anything, twas in the luxury OF
benevolence Reason requires some times the
restraint of this, as weaS of passions less anna
bic. His pnltencss could scarcely be eXcelicd
I He was very careful not to wound the feelings
E0f others. lie wouldslistcu, rs FLOR instruction,
to those who knew far less of the subject than
himsclG thus gratifying his hcnevolencc without
caring to display his knowledge. This inttitter-
euce TO display may have caused some 10 not
well appreciate his talents which, like the royal
dignity of TnsSo'S Hcrminia when in rustic Mt
tire among the shepherds, WINS manifest chiefly
to 'the obscryant eye.
NtHlsther rude tolls tie observant eye might see
The latent circumstance Of majesty; ,,,-
Her inboFn grandeur" - - Il
The veil Of mcellncss which -shrou!ed him
tniglte not have, been penetrated by the vision of
those who were not aware that humility is the
attendant Of goodness and greatness. 1t may
be said of him that he caused no tears to flow
until hc died, aud that no tuan's death i'll Bel
mont county has caused greater or more general
sorrow.
In his youth he entered the masonic fraternf-
ty. lie was patron aud frequent attendant of
the Presbyterian Church, In which hiswilc was