Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-11-23

years experience, or more, had never sutfsrel
defeat | think IA most accom- plisbed gen tie
man and an effective popular speaker at
the time member Of the Senate of Virginia,
and for years Heretofore, and afterwards, an
active and Influential leader Of the majority
party Of the dlstrict-the late Gen. Lawrence
L. Dade OF the county OF Orange.
Upon al active canvass of the district, MIR.
Patton was elected--and was then alter
wards three times reelected, without even a
nominal opposition, on any occasion-a com
pliment paved to no other man of my ac-
quaintance in Virginia at any time, and the
more remarkable, as during the whole time,
every county of the district but one) was
annually Contested in the State election; and
violently and doubtiully Contested on party
grounds. 1t was certainly not because there
were not abundance Of gentlemen emincntly
qualified, and yet more emnently willing to
serve, as has beel shown on all practicable
occasions since.
Ii was as we all know that in the presence
of u candidate whose ability, moderation, and
dignity were confessed Of all meo, the ami.
mosities of parties ceased to be active, and
their accustomed strife was suspended tor "a
single instance, of harmony and corporation.
MIR. Patton's ambition was. to perform his
whole duty according to the lights OF his ow
understanding, and conscience. And he was
accustomed to rely very much on hlmsell.--
No man high in authority, no party leader,
however potent or presenting, ever attempted,
probably, to dictate to hlm--of this am per-
fectly sure, if be did it once, he never repeat,
ed the experiment
He was OF opinion, that no representative
Of the people, had right to regard his posi-
lion 10 any respect. or to any eAtent whateV'
er, as mere benefit conferred on him, to be
used for his individual! advantage, or that OF
his immediate personal triends--and there
fore he was ut all times exceedingly reluctant
to have any participation in the matter Of o.
6oial appointments As to asking from a
President of the 1ited States, or u member
of his administration, for himself or any
body dependent upon him, any favor thai
might possibly imply the slightest obligation
bio would just MS soon have thought OF com
hitting u criminal offence. His honor was
OF the true and genuine stamp. There was
nothing counterfeit about bin.
AN not to be understood as Rejecting on
those who have different opinions. My 90
iect is as far as 20, to give true and faith
lui account Of him. would not exaggcrate
his virtues--least of all would do so, Tor the
poor object Of making, by their contrast, the
vices of others more detestable. We ali knGH
that tho times have sadly changed in twenty
five years, --lnd that now to disobey Presl
dent Of ones own party is, perhaps, the black
est in the calendar Of political crimes. Tha
the value of representative is by many
(such is the rage OF party excitement, and Pas
siou) estimated by the extent and Intensity Of
his subserviency aud obscquIousness, to his
chief, if he have a Chief in the Presidency.
II be Tell within the range Of my proposed
observations, | might refer to numerous In
stances, which would serve to illustrate TIT
resolute, ard inHexible frmness with which
he maintained hi, principles Of absolute inde
pendence as public man-tor they are
fresh in my memory.
His opinions, and sympathies and fcourst
his votes, ran usually With the Democratic
party--,hough no man Of the opposition, op
posed with mere decision, such me .surcs o
that party, as in his opinion were extreme
and radical. Nor did he ever pretend II
qualify, recant OF apologize for Guy opinion
Or care a (arthlng, whether it was acceptable
or not, to any party.
lie never sought public Office of any sort
nor ever held but ohe--that OF Counsellor VI
State under the second Constitution Ct Nir
ginis. And that was conferred upon him by
a Wig Legislature, wien be would not a.
low his most intimate friends to say that BIT
would even accept it, until after it had beer
actually conferred.
II be could be said in any sense to have
ever belonged to any party, it was to that
"tiers etat," the Conservative party. whct
arose 10 the closing scenes of Jsckson's ad
mDistra,ion--and which arising with the
suddenuess of I'M exhalaton, exhibited 10 the
main, q stability in keeping with its growth
a large portion of it's few memb ers, making a
swift atonement for an uninteniionsl mis-
take But be was one of the few eminent ex
anples who vi1dicated its original patriotism
by never repeating, nor pretending to repeat.
As he was sincere in the beginning, 50 he
continued steadfast to the cod.
But, Sir, for these occasional sberrrtions.
as partizans called them, mono OF his consti'
tuents ever dreamed OF calling him to &C
coun;--for they never doubted his perfect
onscientiousness-and but few of them ever
supposed that he knew less Of what he was
about than they did.
To use a word, reappcaring in vogue-the
fifth decade Of the Constitution was dlstingui
shed, above oil others, for the great number
of able and eloquent men who met In the on c
Or the other House Of Congress. Virginia,
always we'll represented, was particularly
strong, for the greater part Of that time. la
the Senate she had Tazewell, Tyler, Rlves aud
Leigh--in the House. our present Senators,
Hunter and Mason. our present Governor,
Wise, the present Minister t. France, John
Robinson, Fenton Mercer, Philip DOddrIdge,
George e. Dromgoole-and others, whom
cannot at the present moment recall. All The
States had great men. South Carolina, Ken
tucky, and Massachu set,s-thrGe opposition
States in Jackson's Observation-Disclosures OF
intellectual capital enough to set
up any ordinary Congress. Clay, Webster,
Calhoun, William G. Preston, Crlttender,
Choate, Jno. Qliucy Adams, Hayne, Everett,
Legsre, Hamilton, McDuffe, Menefee, War
rem Davis, Wsddy Thompson. To take only
one on, of many from several of the other
Sales.--future was Manpum, Forsyth, Porter,
Prcutiss, kirg, Bell, Bent)u, Corwin, Cass,
Horace BInuey, Clayton, John p.
Kennedy, Lewis McLsne, John Sergeant,
Bidd!e. Barnard, Phelps, Evans, Of Maine,
Bates, OF Missouri, Silss Wright. 1t seem.
ed, Dy common consent, to have Deen the
object Of the whole country to depute to that
high arena the intellectual giants of the
Republic, that they might there meet, and