Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-02-26

Va
sites. whose monuments 60 fir out-:ePpei Hh' ID
shone their own.
"Mnrmorco tumulo Licinus jscet at cs;o parv'
Ponpeius nulio: credimus case deos
Mighty this creation OF Cfe''r geA'n1' !,
at;es the fact tina, ei:her he unequal to ma IA
Of making popular government consistent WIN e.'n
-iro empire, else that he wanted tins elevation ~
soul to prefer the good of the Roman peope ecd we
glory OF his and hs country, TO the possession OF
imperial power. Washngtons memory lies under No
such reproach it is his great scbisvemtht 10 nave
contributed mainly to tho organization OF soeai sy'
TEN which has developed thu capacIiy Of popular 90
venneu, 70. extensive empire aud Il Is MS glory ~
have proved that he worked rather 10 place power
where i, would be bes: administered man 10 keep
it in his own hands, TO use It Tor SIN 81 purpo
ses II l chose I might run the PARALLELS be-
tween Washington and the great ffederlck or
the stili greater Napoleon, and show, oy comparing
achievements with their MEANS fnat ms proper
tional success of Washington was, perhaps greater
than either. They made war on larger sGae' taeir
maaUavres we're grandsr, their battles niShtier and
far more imposing. yet neither OF ITEM produced re.
suits from their military operations so important IN
their probable effects upon the future destiny o nan,
u likely 10 be permanent and en4ur!bs BON oil
them possessed large means and neiiher respected
moral restraints o. BARRIERS if il was necessary 10
them Tor military success and the same may be
3aid of nearly all tine Srca: cspta at tbs wor!l,
with the exception of Washington. - .!!s military
escutcheon there rsats 'ttr 4. p. ~. g Amongst
:he shields of all the gr... military %. " Washing
tons Needs ne der u.me 10. -,a'.5 nifty, Tor II
is to be knoEn by its spoess u ..nsss.
But pass from Washington 20 soldier, 10 Wash
ing;on the statesman, from 80 ruds ecenes and
bloody strife Of war 10 scarcely lees trying olcuities
In peace. follow him he presses from tile enXIr-
ties Of the hot pursuit, the hendy fight the long
ari2n march, the night alarm, to tbs not Less panfu!
tas;. OF armoaizing conflicting eetnents IN society,
and constructing ont of the ruins OF the Old new
political system, which might suit the peculiar CIR.
| unE C,t az
people anxious for fres int sIlions as were his
cDuntrymen Ii 10 far more common to hnd amongst
grea military men. the capacityt destroy OLD socs
systems than the organizing genius which can create
order on. Of chaos and devise institutions which are
adapted IN the wants and national character ct q
people. There have been zone who so thoroughly
completed this great round Of human achievement a.
George Washington.
During the war, he himself had formed the great
central point Of union, in whom were reposec com
mon love and confidence which enabled him Ia
command and direct the common eIrrtDns !nr the
-qua! benefit of all. During that period there had
been tor AL essential purposes unity OF will, becaGs1
i: wss his vii! which governed, mot by force or by
law, but through the end exalted vriu.s Of his
character. When ha resigned his commission, tina!
bond Of union gene aud the work Of disin.egra
ton commenced. loose conte der.cy WHO'S gov
ernrnent waited tbs power to secure even thos7 n
te.ss's winch wer3 common, called in vain Tor The
Means OF sustaining lis credit md redeemng the
States each acted upon is iniividca policy, aud
without just regard to tbs interests Of is neighbours.
The eien-uts of g:eat social st7eLgtE and happiness
were wasting aruuct them, and the bee. hopes Tor
human freedom and progress which the world as yet
had seen, were threatened with annhii 'tion. II ~ HI
conducted h!s coun;rymen through long years or
anxious tu:! AMI bloody strife in van1 ,Ie
proud hopes aud noble aspirations which bad hnrne
hun anu them triumphantly through the darkest
nigh: u! the revolution to b. disappointed at !astl
ahnuJ riohfa p nd Il,ertias which he "a Duin
fully succeeded in wrestling from the reluctan' grasp
OF British power, be lost f:om our want OF ability 10
them against violence and the effects Of Ills
sension 81 hom-l The crown and the aceptre EN-.
bems of sovereignty, had cas-: far away upon the
seas because our people believed thcinseve, 10 be
capable OF self government, and we're We now 10
convict ourselves OF presumptuous bogs,iug, b. tx
htng the spectacle Of the most pitiab!e OF ali In
5acilty that Of the strong nsn who is incapable 81
ruiiny his own sp!rit1 Nos thousand tm-s no. The
gres. aud csm spirit of Washington was alnong-t
them commanding In pescs as i. had been ir war.
Every where his voice was heard expos'raiing with
hi. cDuuirymen on the condition Of sffss aud X
hortIs them to union. His appeal, were to th.r
pride of country, hei. love Of liberty their hOpes
happiness and mighty future; and they made in
the Of oominon traditions and all tn, associations
Of common peril Gnd common glory. Nor were they
mada in vain; own State was the first 10 move by
calling convention al Annapolis, aid the work was
prosecuted from time to time until resulted III the
adoption Of nur present form Of government. lfit be
rus that is 10 Washington more than any other
man that we owe the existence OF this government II
il a still more undUubted fact, that TO him chirfy s
ua s credi: of its successful conmancsn snt aud The
foundation of grrat principles Of pubic policy
VINO ese could have seered the ship Of state So cuu.
si-.ent!y and successfully amidst the divisions o!
party; who able rosoue 10 take issue with popu
lar prejudice, when the public good required it, aud
who eSe WAS capable, through the influence Of bic
character, of calming down ths fury vi the peo?ls
when evil spirit possessed IL " FL the pubic
men 1.-THE day, he alone had moral tauenrs enough
10 rI 10 in such crisis and b. Coincidence, II
no, bya Proyidsns direction Of events, HE Of nil the
characters known 10 history, was best adapted and
most admirably constituted to encounter successfully
the dtcultie, over which hs iriumphed. Bnt to do
dis although more sensitive by nature than
men, no sacrificed all his scnsbtes upoa the altar Of!
his country good. For thar own sakes he submitted
like %! iron 10 III. bullets Of those he loved and
memorable to ALL but The calls of duty and patriotism
he moved like soma minister OF fate in ali the patient
fortitude OF o mighty spirit. 10 the accomplishment CT
his own high purposes, which he fulfilled by laying
broad and deep he foundations OF fabric cuC!b.riDg
more of social strength and human happiness, than
any which had been conceived before. Oh rare
epec,ace Oh, most wonderful man. Who before
through long career OF unparalleled ditcult:aS aud
trials has ever presented sublime or constant en-
exumpe Of patient fortuds and OF Tpertnrbabls
nggnanmity! Superior TO all misfortune and quail
Ing under no reverse, he was the master ct every
occ tson. Tic very conat.tution!ot his chbinet
GSp6 GSlurHCo VI bio PcCuHhI hcu'us ohu bi'
own consciousness OF power. lie sought TO mi;
ccbinet, according to the set phrase OF Succeeding
,lmes. lie asked no suppression ct sentiment, II"
corc4almcn. of opinion; b. exhibited no meat zeal
uusy Of high talent in Others, seeking iCr inferior IT,
s,ruments because only auch he could expect 10 com
nan! Blu, he gathered around him the greatest
public men Of their day, and some Of them 10 be
rsuked wiih ths gTentest OF any day. He did not
leave Jefferson and Hamilton without the cabinet 10
shake. perhaps, the fabric of government in their
o,Iri yslr tt,,k in
where he hipsrif Might arbtrate tirir disputes as
10y arose. cad turn 10 the heat aCc.nnt for the coua
try ihsir spgg.stions rs they were n do Ether If
thess ,reat minds ~a., pcrhap' mere Inventive than
mis- uwa Sut he had the rGrer ard higher facHty Of
judgment, Which enabled him 10 pro ~ :rah he"
.gver and wh-rssoevsr p-esen;ed si . ri held with
"a mrerta. bable nsnt s'f ~ C.s5.'. lIg eye, che
airy baaDcss in which ar Tr -. IA sa ges:i0ns Ut
human rrgsor. ]. ID this Rier wf.ciI constitutes
;he g-.ate.t faculty Of status,n 5eauseit enables
hin 20 gather tribute from the llrersal mind, and 20
conmad resources .er more various and iue1Eausti-
cio than thoss which could DO furnished by any one
ns:, however gifted lie might no. do not meen II
ssy HE. his ud.ment wss r;a''r5'a or hs; accord
4. ;his day. with every measure o. his administrations
oa9 yet. with oil my admiration If Mr. LETTERS M an
vita all my psr:i.ny or his gens.a! scheme q: poll
ro., mus; say thai the policy Of Washington. when
viewed with Us conaeciag circuinstanc.s, was tie
mlstcriy work OF u staten1an. rThnt IN his own day.
Ard who would have been great in any time and In
any land wbch he might have been called 10 rule.
Iii. TO he remembered inst be was the ponesr in
one OF the greatest fields OF human experiment which
has ever tried The power OF man. Every
t!iing was new; nothing had been explored.
NV ard uurieG theories Of government were
afoet. Nations were iI strange positions, OF which
history had examples. aud fer whose proper treat
ment experience furnished 10 rules. On one CONT
nsn the fountains of tbs great deep OF human passion
hsd been broken up, End were sweeping away 40
u.any Of the barriers which had been raised by lava
ordinances and governments, that it was difficult 70
cay how much would probably survive the general
wreck. On another young people were setting out
on a rev career. and under circumstances unknown
hitherto civilized society. Its interests ana sympa
;hies were hose of the forest but It's traditions and
I+s-ons % experience drawn from the old world.
from whencr IL sprung. Nature led them in one d.
recton, whilst education pointed TO another. To
have governed such people by these old world ira
ditions. would have been to take from David me- cling
and to cothe him in the amor Of Saul. No man saw
this more clearly than Washington, felt more deep
" the necessity for burning the ships 10 cut of all