Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-05-06

guide bis decision. 5..st.
Ia this way he never drew to himself ad
miration for the possession of anv one
quality in excess, never made in council any
one suggestion that was sublime but i'm
practicable, never in action took to himself
the praise or the blame of undertakings as
tonishing in conception, but beyond his
means Of execution. 1t was the most won
terful accomplishment of this man that,
placed upon the largest theater of events,
at the head of the greatest revolution in
human affairs, he never failed to observe all
that was possible, and at the same time to
bound bis aspirations by that that was pos
sible.
A slight tinge iE his character, percepti-
BILE only to the close observer, revealed the
region from which he sprung. and he might
be described As the best specimen Of man
hood as developed in the Sou:h; 5ut his
qualities were SO faultlessly proportioned
that his whole country rather claimed him
as its choicest representative. the most COM
Plete expression of all its attainments and
aspirations. He studied his country and
conformed to it. His countrymen felt that
he was the best type Of America, and re-
joiced in it, and we're proud Of it. They
lived in bis life and made his success and
his praise their own.
Profoundly impressed with confidence in
Gods Providence, and exemplary in his re.
spect for the forms of pubic worship, no
philosopher of the eighteenth century was
more firm in the support of freedom of re-
ligious opinion; none more tolerant, OF
more remote from bigotry; but belief in
God and trust in His overruling power,
formed the essence of his character. Divine
wisdom not only ilumines the spirit, it in
spires the will. Washington was man Of
action, and not of theory or words; his creed
appears in his life, not in his professions,
which burst from him very rarely, and only
at those great moments of crisis in the for
tunes OF his country, when earth and heaven
seemed actually to meet, and his emotions
5ecame too intense for suppression; but
his whole being was one continued act of
faith in the eternal, intelligent, moral order
of the universe. Integrity was so complete
ly the law of his nature, that planet would
sooner have shot from its sphere, than he
have departed from his uprightness, which
was SO constant that it often seemed to be
almost impersonal.
They say of Giotto that he introduced
goodness into the art of pointing; Washing.
ton carried it with him to the camp and the
cabinet, and established a new criterion Of
human greatness. The purity of his will
confirmed his fortitude; and as he never
faltered in his faith in virtue, he stood fast
by that which he knew to be just, free from
illusions; never detected by the apprehen.
sion of the difficulties and perils that went
before him, and drawing the promise of sue
cess from the justice of his cause. Hence
he was persevering. leaving nothing unfiE-
ished; free from all taint of obstinacy in
his frmness; seeking, and gladly receiving
advice, but imm 0vable in his devotedness to
right.
OF a "re,i:ing modesty and habtual re.
serve," his ambition was no more than the
consciousness of his pow er, and was subor.
dinate to his sense of duty; he took the
foremost place, for he knew from Unborn
nagnanimity. that it belonged to him, ant
he dared not withhold the service required
Of him; so that, with al his humility, NJ
was by necessity the first. though never fol
himself or for private ends. He loved FAME
the approval Of coming generations, the
good opinion of his fel!ow.men of his owr
time, and he desired to make bis conduc
coincide with their wishes; but not fear o
eensure, not the prospect Of applause, coult
tempt him 20 swerve from rectitude, and thu
praise which he coveted, was the sympathy
of that moral sentiment which exists il
every human breast, and goes forth only t
the welcome of virtue.
There have been soldiers who have achiev
ed mightier victories in the field, and made
conquests more nearly corresponding to th'
boundlessnsss Of selfish ambition; states
men who have been connected with NOR
startling uphesvals of society, but II is tn
gressness of Washington, that in publi
trusts he used power solely for the publi
good, that he was the life, and moderator
and stay of the most momentous revolution
in human affairs, its moving impulse ane it
restraining power. Combining the cen
tripetal and the centrifugal forces in thei
utmost strength and in perfect relations
with creative grandeur of instinct he he'll
ruin in check, and renewed and perfecte
the institutions of his country. Findin
the colonies disconnected and dependent
he left them such united and well-ordere
commonwealth as no visionary had believe
to be possible. So that it has been trul
said. she was as fortunate as great an
good" -....--... ....... ........
LA FAYETTE. .... ...
The sympathy for America which pre-
vailed more and more in England, reache
the kings own brother, the weak but amis
BILE duke of Gloucester. In July he crosse
the channel, with the view to inspec
the. citsdels along the eastern frontie
of France. When he left Dover, notbin
had been heard from America later than tn
retreat of the British from Concord, and tn
surprise of Ticonderoga. Metz, the strong
est place on the east of France, was pal
:icular object of his journey, and as his tou
was made with the sane lion of Louis XIV
he " as received there by the Count de Brog
lie as the guest of the King. Among tn
visitors on the occasion, came young ma
not yet eighteen. whom De Broglie love
with parental tenderness, Gilbert Motier d
la Fayette. His father had fallen in hi
twenty fifth year, ih the battle of Minder
leaving his only child less than two yeur