The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-10-28
WASHINGTON, D. C..
For The National Era
THE LATE WILLIAM JAY.

upright, and uncomprc missing men are selder
found, scsrc' ly too much can be said in CON
mendstion of one who through life has bee
distinguished for his wise, fearless, and ac:iv
devotion to the best interests of man, with
reverentisl regard for he upbuildipg Of the Re-
deemer's kingdom. The late WILLIAM JAY
with competent fortune, a cultivated and act
i've mind, fondness for intellectual labor, has
during a life of elegant leisure, consecrsted hi
superior powers unostentatiously and unremit
tingly TO the cause of humanity aud religion
bsing willing, in imitation of his divine Lord
when mourning opposition or reproach, to make
himself of no reputation, If need be, in the pur
suit Of what be deemed righteous course
Born TO af1nence. he held his property as a stew
ard of the great Proprietor; not necessitatet
to professional labor, be made the suffering and
the oppressed his clients whether on the ju
dicisl bench or in the circle of intellectual
or scientific friends he aimed to be just and
useful; and was willing to labor with the friends
of God and man, in season and out of season
whether the cause was popular or unpopular
disregsrding human praise or censure, so tina,
he could stand approved to his own conscience
and especially TO Him for whom he looked ha
bitually as his present allseeing as we'll as his
final Judge.
Mr.. Jay was thorough in his researches
scrupulous in the use OF language, truthful in
his statements, digni6ed in controversy, fear
less in rebuking iniquity, firm ss q rock in
the maintenance of his honest and we'll wrought
opinions, liberal in the use of his wealth for the
promotion of human happiness and the protec
ton and defence of the wronged.
He had the singular good fortune to write
with just severity against the delinquency of
time-eerving men and associations, held in pop
ular estimstion, and yet retain the respect and
confidence OF the ommunity. But it was not
merely good fortune; it was also the result of
his carefulbess as to facts, his gentlemanly yet
independent style, his uniform fairness, his dis
lntepestedness, his answering integrity, and
has eBire freedom from gross personalities. He
iIstinctively shrank from sinking the gentle.
man in the controversialist- imputipg bad mo-
hves to all whom he felt bound to oppose, or
seeking by trick or arti6ce to win q victory
over an opponent. He might appropriately
have borne upon his escutcheon the motto,
" BE Just and fear nOt!" he was Just, be was
fearless, he upright before God and man.
Mr.. jay was a friend to the Bible, Tract
Peace, Temperance, Sunday School, Sabbath,
Missionary, Education, and Anti, Slavery cause
be was patriot as well as a philanthropist
and Christian, aud entered with prudent zeal
into the political agItstons of the times. He
was President of The Westchester Bible Soci-
ETY., and Vice President Of the American B
bic Society, President of the American Peace
Society, Foreign Corresponding Secretary of
the American Anti. Slavery Society, and after
wards Vice President of the American and
Foreign Anti Slavery Socie y. He contributed
10 the funds of all the above named societies,
and advocated their claims by his pen and
tongue, 80 long as their acts met his sppro-
baton, and no longer. When any of these
Societies manifested q desire to conciliate the
favor OF delinquent portions of the community
by the suppression or mutilation of sentiments
favorable TO Freedom, and opposed to oppres-
sion, or BY appearing on the side of the oppres-
cor, he ind gIantly rebuked them, and withheld
from them his COZ fdence. The Bible Society,
the American Sunday School Union, the Colo
nizstion Society, the American Board, the
American Tract Society, have in turn been the
subjects of his public censure. He gave also
to almost every judicious object that attracted
his attention, as often from the Promptings of
his own heart from solicitation or example
Thoroughly honest, truthful, and independent,
himself, he held in just adherence the tricksry
and unserupulousness of political demsgogues,
the hme-serving policy of secular and religious
publications and societies. With a revereniial
regard tor the Constitution and laws of his
country, be held IN utter contempt the prosiitu.
lion OF both by meh in high station and though
emnently qualified to fill any political office
with AFFINITY, he, IN view of the proaigacy of
most Of men in public life, deemed "the post
of honor n private station" He never coun.
seled Resistance to enactments by the consti-
tutional Legislators of the nation, but, deeming
the Higher Law" paramount, he did not hesI-
late 10 counsel oisobedience to all bills passed
IN defiance OF The plainest principles of justice,
equity, and humanity.
In, rali. l. II
copAilan and devoted and conscientious
churchman. Yet be was free from bigotry and
Intolerance, and liberal in his estimation of the
tenets ind ussges of Christians of other de-
nominations. Wherever be recognised in
another the image of Christ he cordially took
him by the hand as Christian brother and
yielded him his confidence
DE was, nom an early age, frequent dele
gate TO the Episcopal Convention of the Do
cese OF New York, aud WAS consistent in oppo-
sing all attempts to change the doctrines, con.
sutntion, or liturgy, of the church.
he did not believe in the infallibility of
Bishops, any more than he did in the infalibili-
" OF Popes, nor did he think that q criminal
Bishop was necessarily in the line Of apostoli.
cal succession. GA one occasion, when asked
IT he believed certain delinqut Mt Bishop was
IN that succession, he play fully remasksd, ITO
J
In politics he was, like his honored father,
Chief Justice Jay, Federalist of the old
school; then Wing then a Free-Soiler then
" Black Republican, at least so long as this
party maintained Its original principles.
During the last twenty i've years, Mr. jaw
has been an out spoken sboltionist in principle
and action. He was no more ashamed of the
name of abohIionist than he was of the name
of a Christian. He had hereditary kindness
for the people of color, whom he recognised as
citizens Of The country which gave them birth !;
he deemed the slave brother by creation and
redemption; and in his will has bequesthed
perhaps the first legacy ever given for the relief
OF iUgluves from Slavery.
Mr.. jays writings are numerous His con.
tributions to the public press were very frequent
He was fond of thus employing bis gifted pen.
and editors seldom refused his neat, logical.
opposite, and convincing contributions He
often wrote anonymously, but never hesitated
TO write under his ewn signature, either in ad-
dressing public bodies, the people, or individusls.
when he deemed 1t necessary. He wrote
many pamphlets, anonymous or bearing his
own7rsme, on various subjects. In 1926 he
received prize Tor essay on the Sabbath as
a Civil institution, and in 1927 another for an
essay on the Ssbbath as Divine Institution.
In 1880 be was hcnored with medal from the
Anti Duelling Society of Georgia, for the best
essay on duelllng. In 1893 he published two
octave volumes OF the Life and Writings of
JOIN JAY, and since that date he has published
various volumes on African Colonization. Peace
and Slavery, which have been widely circulated
at home, and some of them have been reuripted
in England" He has left, we understand, a
Commentary on the Old and New TestameHts.
and probably other writings, which may yet
be laid before the public.
Mr.. jays writings on the Anti Slavery ques
ton have been more numerous than on any