Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-05-13
Tb.L.,. Charlie. Fen,on Mercer.

ton. We will pass over his family history
however, not being very familiar with 1t, and
confne our remarks to his public lie and
character.
Mr.. Mercer was first elected to the Leslsla-
ture of Virginia, from LjudUun county. In
1910, and continued in shat position TILL 1917,
when he was elected to Congress. lie TOOK
an active part 10 the debates OF the Legisla-
ture during the period of his service, and was
justly classed amongst its most talented menu
bers He distinguished himself particularly
10 his advocacy of call OF Consentlon Tor
amending the old Constitution OF the State
Upon that question he cane in contact, on
one occasion, with Littleton Waller Taze-
WELL the most powerful champion Of the old
Constitution, and acquitted himself to tie
eotire satisfaction, OF the advocates OF
change 10 our organic law. On the subject
of internal i'm provement, he was considerably
in advance of bis day; his fello1-mem6ers
calling an enthusiast 10 the cause, and one OF
them telling him, in a speech, that he was
born just one hundred years to soon to fulfil
his mission in behalf OF roads and canals.
In 1917, Mr. Mercer became candidate
for Congress in the L5udoun district, to sue
coed oh Lewis, who declined a reelection.
Mr.. Mercer ran as the Federal candidate,
and General Arm:stead Z. Mason, distln-
gulshed aod popular Republican, took the
field against him. The district had been
Federal from the first division OF parties:
John Adams having carried 1t against
Thomas jefferson in the first race between
them, when the electoral vote was by di--
tricts. The CANVASS between Messrs. Mercer
and Mason was active and acrimonious, and
resulted in the choice Of the former by less
than one hundred votes. Out OF this can
vass, if we mil Ike not, grew the serious
difficulty between General Mason and Col.
McCar;y, which ended 10 duel with fats
result to to the former.
Mr.. Mercer was reelected TO each sue
ceedng Congress, if our memory Is not at
fault, till 1889, when he voluntarily retired
to private lite.
Upon the national theatre to which be was
called, Mr.. Mercer took his position among
the star actors" and maintained 1t credita-
bly, for more than twenty years. During
that period he partici pated with the master
spirits of the House of Representatives 10
discus sing the important questions that came
before it for consideration and action. HIS
name appears on the record as a speaker as
we'll as a vJ.er upon almost every proposition
Of general interest. lie grapped IN debate
with many of the first minds OF his day aud
ALWAYS sustained his character well as man
of mark.
In his political sentiments, Mr.. Mercer
was Federalst Of the old school, and -
votes OF party questions were consequently
with the minority OF the'PirgInla Delegation
with rare exceptions. He supported the
election of Wm. III. Crawford for President
10 1924, but, with that exception he never
voted with his State n Presidential election
when there was contest. lie supported
Mr.. Monroe, as did nearly every body else,
of every party, in Virginia and elsewhere.
In consequence of his zeal and enthusiasm
in the cause OF internal Improvement, some
of his friends denominatcd hIm 1.-The DE Wit
Clinton of Virginia" He was called, by
general consent and desire, to the Presidency
OF the Chesapeake aod Ohio Canai; ard 1t
was then more than 80 years ago. confident
ly believed that his conspicuous CONNECTION
with that work would materially strengthen
his claim to the title with which hs was
honored. But their bright anticipation 10
that respect was not realized; owing, how
ever, to causes which neither Mr.. Mercer nor
any other man could control.
Mr.. Mercer was a conspicuous member OF
the State Convention OF lS29- ~. AS inc
call of that Convention had been secured
as much through the fundamentally oil VT.
Mercer as that Of any other man, his cleo
ton was Il matter Of form and not OF contest
in a district IN which there was an aiiho7t
undivided sentiment against the old Constltu
ton. In the Convention, he was among tue
most uncUmpromislng and efficient cnam
Mons of Western interests. With DoddridSe
Cooke, Powell, Sum mers aud others, he
gained eclat 10 the West IN measuring
arms" with Eastern men OF world wide tame
az debaters and orators. 10 discussing the
Basis of Representation and the hiSn' VI
Suffrage, Mr.. Mercer took extreme ground
in favor OF popular rights. HIS speech on
the Basis Of Representation was extensively
circulate at the time, particularly IN west
ern Virginia, and certain passages from II
have been frequently quoted since. Among
others, the following extract has been pup
lished 10 book as u specimen o! pure tree
thought and beautiful composition
THE natural equality of man is written
on his uedIt, duu oNhhpoA "Po" $50 ''N'7~
by the author of his being, after whose 'ex'
press image, he was made. Whiie other
animals look to the earth
Os homini sublime dedit ad sidera tollere yultus,
his rights spring from his Affections and his
wants, and these he derived from God, tie
author of his nature. He cannot exist out
of society because society IL essential TO bis
existence His first relations are those OF
husband and father That period which, 10
other animals, is short Of dependence on
fathers care, is in mau prOtracted Tor pur-
noses the most benehcent Inc intact gath
ers his first instruction in his mothers lap.
His best virtues be mbibes rom fathers
care. mothers tenderness. When age over
takes the parent, the son repays with kindness
the kindness he has received. II toe crutch
drops from the feeble gra.po his sire, DC picks
10 Us and restores il to his trembling hand.
Patriotism is but flial love enlarged. When
we think of our country, we dwell on the
memory Of our early days, on the forms OF
those that gave us our being and watched
over it's lmbeciity When they are gone, we
visit their remains and from the unconscious
urn imbibe anew the Inspiration OF their
virtues. Does not the savage cherish these
affections? The Tartar wanders over the
plains OF Asia, from climate to
climate, accom- panied by his h)cks and herds;
the Indian of America roams through forests
vet more wild; but they revisit the tombs OF
their proeenitors, and recount 10 their chill