Civilian & telegraph., 1859-12-15
one of washington's Contemporaries

wards convinced that his information erro
neous and on meeting the individual he said
> al was wrong, sir, and I ask your pardon" -
Whilst he was Minister to England, he remem
bered even his domestic anima als and wrote to biz
brother, saying, eff my old mare is alive, take
good care Of her. You may advance money, il
necessary to recover her, 10 sheanount of double
her value" lie shows his anxiety and appre.
henson for his country in the following 81
feel for the of liberty, and for he honor Of
my countrymen, who have SO nobly asserted it,
and who now so abuse ts aft ssings. IF it should
not take root in this soil, little pains will be ta-
ken to cultivate ii in any other" On losing his
election when first proposed for Governor of N.
York, he said "a few years hence will part us
all in the dust, and it will then be of more i'm
portahce to me to have governed myself than to
have governed the State" In like manner, when
reviewing his life, he said: "The time will GER
tainly come when the world and all that is there
in will be purified in a refner's fire. 1t will
then be of little importance whether anccs-
tors were splendid or obscure, and whether events
and actions have been truly represented, or par
TALLY, or not at all.
lie was emncntly man of peace, and was
slow to entertain the thought of warlike meas
urcs; hut when convinced ofther necessity none
were more innexiblc or influential in carrying
them out. But while using all possible means
for the defence of liberty and the maintenance
of Just cause he looked to God for success, n nd
pointed the nations eye to His all sufficient de
fence, as the ground of their hope and happiness,
and to His most righteous retrbution as the
cnsiIn Of their trials and reverses. In an nd
dress to the citizens of the United States, which
Congress recommended to universal pcrusnl :, and
caused to be printed in Germah for that purpose.
Mt one of the most critical moments in the whole
course of the Revolution, he declared that "thc
happiness of freedom, or slavery and misery of
the present and future generations of Americans,
was to be determined on n solemn appeal to the
Supreme Ruler Of events, to whom every indi
,idual must one day answer for the part he now
acts" He reminds them that, "under the aus
pices and direction of Divine Providence, their
fathers had removed to the wilds of America, al d
made by their in dustry, fruitful, and by their
virtue happy country" lie declares that "the,
would still have enjoyed the blessings of peace
and plenty, If they had not forgotten the sourc
from which those blessings flowed, and permit.
ted their country to be contaminated by many
shameful vices, and that it seemed as though
Providence were determined to use the iniquituus
claims then set up, and the cruel means by which
they were urged, instruments to punish the
guilt of this country, and bring ur back to
sense of duty to our CREATOR" that by vigorous
efforts the invaders Ind been driven back from
our country, in the previous campaign; but that
We had not yet deserved peace, because exulta-
ton had taken the place of thanksgiving, and we
had assribcd that to our own prowess which was
only to be attributed to the great Guardian of the
innocent. Then, instead of descending to tn,
arts Of natterins politician, he rises to the tone
ola faithful prophet Grouse, brave citizens, nnC
do your duty, and be persuaded that provdcnc,
will not permit this Western world to be involv
ed in the horrors of slavery. The Holy Gospels
are yet to be preached here, and the Almight,
will not suffer slavery and the Gospel to 60 70
gcthcr."
But while he was so decided and powerful al
advocate of the Revolution, his spirit ne, er be
came so embittcrcd against England, othc
patriots of that day. and hence he was instru
mental in carrying out that treaty with England
which SO many of his cotcmporaies opposed ant
without which the war of the revolution, witt
all its horrors, must have been fought over again
Gratitude mingled with prudence in his noble
nature, and made him willing to adopt a gencr
ous policy, at the risk of much misconception ant
obloquy. "The destruction of old England
would hurt me, said he; wish it well, it afford
I'd my ancestors an asylum from persecution
When he was appointed Minister to Eng gland
he wrote to his wife--"Nothing can be more dis
tant from every wish my own account than
this undertaking but public considerations con.
vince me, that to refuse it would be to desert my
duty for the sake of my ease md domestic com.
forts. If my prayers md cndeavors avail, my
absence will not be long"
On bis return, when his treaty was under warm
discussion, he says, "The appreciation If one ju
dicious and virtuous man affords me more salts
faction than all the clamors of intrigue and pms.
sion have given me concern
When he was elected Governor of New York
he dismssed no officer of the State on account o
his opininns during n term of years, md whcr
urged 70 remove one of his own party, who hat
no. influence in ord ,r to conciliate one who had
great deal, he replied, "Do you ask me to sell
friend in order to buy an eneny?"
After twenty-seven years Of ruhlic service. h
voluntarily declined both the posts of residcn
Minister in England nnd of Chief Justice of tn
United States, and retired from the cares of ofic
to enjoy the sweets Of domestic life, for which h
had longcd in vain before. 1t WINS bitter dis
appointment that his beloved wife soon ter be
came mn invalid. and in less than year was tn
ken from him. but he bore the stroke with calm
ness and fortitude, and "leading his children
from the death bed to nm adjoining room, wit
firm voice, but glistening eye, he read to then
the 5th chapter of lst Corinthians"
When ut the nge of 81 his own change came
the mode of his funeral, according to his ow
"will," illustrated his humility and charity
mo scnrfs no rings" was the language of tina
solemn instrument. Instead thereof. give $40
to any poor deserving widow or orphan, whor
my children may select
One Of his friends, remarking the substantial
character ofhis buildings. said that "Gov. ia.
always had an eye to perpetuity in this worl
an 1 to eternity in the next And distinguish
) ed Quaker said that "he could with prophet
give him the right hand Of fellowship as on
whose attainments In vital religion entitled hin
to prc-eminence."
lie was constant reader of the Scriptures
and re gular worshippcr and communieant o
the Episcopal Church.
>.~.p
ASTONISHING .-ilerod and Pontus Plate
have made frieutls-that liz James Buchanan