The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-05-06

dueled the E,st military expedition from Viz
ginis that CT. sed the Alleghanies. Braddock
selected him an aid and he was the only man
who came oG of the DISASTROUS defeat near the
Mo'longahela With increased reputation, which
extended 70 & pgland. The next year, when he
was bat fourd sd-twenty, "the great esteem " in
which be we held in Virginia, and his real
merit, led u Lieutenant Governor of Mary
land to reque that he might be "commission.
ated and app inted second in command" of the
army designs to march TO the Ohio; and Shir-
ley the conn Snder in chief. heard the proposal
with great ,tisfaction and pleasure" for " he
knew no pre- .hncial officer upon the continent
to whom he ould 60 readily give it as to Wash.
ipgeon." In 1853, he acted under Forbes as a
hrisadler, az but for him that general would
never have ! en- able TO cross the mountains.
Courage - 30 natural to him, that it was
hardly spoke OF to his praise no one ever at
any moment # his life discovered in him the
least shfinkh < in danger; and he had hardi-
hood OF dsxi & which escaped notice, because
1t was SO en- .loped by superior calmness and
4 isdoms >I1 ~
He was as cheerful rs he was spirited, frank
and cornmu, icative in the society Of friends,
fond OF the Il x-chase and the dance, often sport.
i've IN his let srs, and liked hearty laugh. This
Joyousness o. disposition remained to the last,
though the stness of his responsibilities was
soon to take rom him the right of displaying
the impulsis qualities of his nature, and the
weight which he was to bear up was to overlap
and repress is gayety and openness. ~
His hand was liberal; giving quietly and
without obse ,ation, as though he was ashamed
OF nothing b It being discovered in doing good.
be was kline and compassionate, and of lively
sensibility Il the sorrows of others; 80 that if
his country ed only needed victim for its re-
lief, he wou have willingly offered himself as
sacrifice. But while he was prodigsl of him.
self, he was ,onsiderate for others ever parsi.
monious of ne blood of his countrymen.
de Was t-ndent in the management of his
private afss $, purchased rich lands from the
Mohawk va ey to the fats of the Kanawha,
and improve his fortune by the correctness of
his judgmer /; but as public man, he knew
no other ain than the good of his country, and,
In the hour his countrys poverty, he refused
personal EN- lument for bis service.
His facalt es were 80 we'll balanced and com
bined, that ,is constitution, free from excess,
was tempers1 evenly with ell the elements of
activity, and his mind resembled well.ordered
conmonwea III his passions, which had the
intensest uror, owned allegiance to reason !;
and, with al the fiery quickness of his spirit,
his impetuf as and massive will was held in
check by c. ssummate Judgment He had in
his composr ION calm which gave him, in mo-
merits of bis oest excitement, the power of self.
control, ane enabled him to excel in patience
even when he had most cause for disgust
Wsshipgtoe was offered command when there
was little to ring out the unorganized resources
OF the cont emit but his own influence, and au.
thority was connected with the people by the
most frAil,f ost attenuated, scarcely discernible
threads; u +, vehement as was his nature, i'm
FASHIONED was his courage, he 90 restrained
his ardor Il IT he never failed continuously to
exert the tracing power of that influence
and never ferted it 80 sharply as to break its
force.
In scores he was unsurpassed but his sc.
crecy had character of prudent reserve, not
OF cunning concealment.
His undo standing was lucid and his iudg.
ment accus lie, so that his conduct never be.
trsyed hurS or confusion. No detail was too
minute for is personal inquiry and continued
snPe-visiop and, NJ the same time, he comprs-
hended eve is in their widest aspects and rela.
tons. lie / ever seemed above the object which
engaged hia attention, and he was always equal,
without an effort, to the solution of the highest
questions, even when there existed no prece.
dents to guide his decision,
In this way, he never drew to himself admi-
ration tor the possession of any one quality in
excess, never made in council any one sugges-
ton that was sublime but impracticable, never
in action took to himself the praise or the blame
of undertakings astonishing in conception, but
beyond biE means of execution. 1t was the
most wonderful accomplishment of this man,
at the heaf of the greatest revolution in human
Affairs. he ever failed TO observe all that was
possible, dat the same time to bound his as.
pirations 2 that which was possible.
A shghttinge in his character, perceptible
Only to tbs close observer, revealed the region
fram whic,, he sprung, and he might be de-
sctibed as the best specimen of manhood az de-
veloped in the South but his qualities were
sc faultles' iy proportional, that his whole coun
try rather claimed him as its choicest repre-
sentative, sbe most complete expression of all
ita attainnents and aspirations. he studied his
country, ard conformed to it. His countrymen
felt that b was the best type of America, and
reloiced il it, and were proud of it. They lived
iD his life. and made his success and his praise
their own 1 a
Profonljly impressed with confidence in
Gods Providence, and exemplary in bis respect
fer the forms of public worship, no philosopher
Of the eighteenth century was more firm in the
support of freedom of religious opinion none
more tolerant, OK more remote from bigotry !;
bat belief in God, and trust in His everything
power, formed the essence of his character.
Divine wisdom not only illumines the spirit, it
iI;spifes tie will. e1se
Washington was asman of action, and not of
theory or words his creed appears in his life,
not 10 his professions, which burst from him
Very rarely, and only at those great moments
OF cfisis in the fortunes of his country when
earth ana heaven seemed actually to meet, and
bis emotions became too intense for suppress.
SION !. bot his Whole being was one continued
act OF faith in the eternal, intelligent moral
order of the universe. Integrity vas 50 com
pletely he law of his nature, that planet
would &C oner have shot from its sphere than he
have departed from his uprightness, which
was 50 instant that it often seemed to be al.
most i'm ersonal.
They ~ of Giotto, that he introduced good.
Less int the art of painting Washington car.
raed it 5h him to the camp and the cabinet,
and est blished o new criterion of human
greatne ! The purity of his will confirmed his
fortitad and rs be never faltered in his faith
ia yirtnx he stood fast by that which he knew
to bej@t free from illusions, never detected BY
the apps hension Of the difficulties and periis
that went before him, and drawing the promise
Sf success frosa the justice of his cause. Hence
be uas persevering, leaving nothing unfinished,
| free from all faint of obstinacy in his irmness,
reeking snd gladly receiving advice, but immo-
vable in Eis dsvotsdness to right -.
| Of a retiring modesty and habitual re-
herve," b ambition was no more than the con-
aciousne,a Of his power, end was subordinate
TO bis nse Of duty; he took the foremost
place, fn he knew, from Unborn msgnanimity,
that 1t b onged to him, and he dared pot with
hold the ssrvice required Of him; so that, with
all his Hamility, he was BY necessity the FIRST,
though nsver for himself or for private ends.
He lovea. fame, the approval of coming genera
60ns, The good opinion of hin falloH.men of his