Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-11-09
We copy the following article from the North
American Review for October:

We copy the following article from the North
American Review for October: .-
LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE ,.-
Of JAMES IREDElA, one Of the associate justices Of
4, the Supreme Court of the United States By
GRIFFiTu D.. MCREE .Ne,c York: d. APPLETON
+ & Co., 1857. 9 vols. Svo., PIP. 510,6O5. 1.
"Thc people of orth-Carolina have shown them
selves slow to commenorate-Shall we conclude
slow to appreciate so?-the merits of the great
men whose lives have given its brightest lustre to
her name. OF the long catalogue of able and distn-
guished men she has borne and nurturcd, to how
few has any memorial been erected In the last
volume of Sparks American Biography is Memoir
of Gen. VIM. R. Davie. \ little later appeared Ca
p ruthers Life of David Caldwell We have seen also
an almost worthless sketch of the career OF Nathaniel
Macon Besides these. We do not remember to have
seen memoir of any of the worthless of North Caro-
lima, beyond such meagre accounts as might beht
the columns of newspaper or magazine--Saving
only the materials for biographies rather than BIZ
osraphes that are accumulated in Wheeer's His
tory* Yet the men of that State speak proudly
and NAV well speak proudly. of such ancestors
Harnett and johnston and Caswcll and Hooper, and
the heroes of Mecklenbrg. and of Stnly and Castor
of later times while no one stirS finger to rescue
their memory from the uncertainties of tradition
from utter oblivion. The few works we have named
above all of which comparatively recent, may
be thought to indicate the awakening of better
feeling and are we trust the first in a series of ef
forts to do Justice to those high-ninded and noble
men, to whom that State owes so much, and whom
it is to her discred that she has long neglected
or forgotten The life of Mr.. Justice lredcll now
before us is another worthy contribution in the
same direction
The life of Mr. Iredcll was by no means an event
full one; vet his talents made him of mark in
his own region and his active habits and excrllencies
of character gave him great influence over those who
came within his sphere. He was born in Eagand
in l751, and, coming to North Carolina while yet
mere lad found in the unsettled condition OF the
country during the times Of the Revolution. and the
gradual progress of society which cs,,ed, the best
possible conditions for success and prosperity. lie
early devoted himself to the profession of the law,
AMI while yet Il young man acquired very en'latc
reputation for legal skill and learning. As early as
l777 when only twenty six years DID, he was placed
Oh the bench of the Superior Court of Carroll
ma, position which, however he soon resigned
Among the leaders in the Revolutionary movements
in that Colony, few were more active than he and
few la,orel NOR cife.tuav. Though the youngest
of their number he was the Sarcr of all their plans,
ans! his blended blindness and caution. and his clear
political foresight rendered his assistance invaluable.
lie seems never to have been what is called popu-
lar man. lie did not seek TO operate directly on the
masses of his countrvme.i. and, we nnagine. had
little familiarity with the details Of political manu
verS But he certainly hal: treat power over lcang
minds In l179 he WAS appointed Attorney General
of the State ny Gov Ca>wl, and held that post for
several years. In the Convention which first met
to deliberate on the adoption of the Federal CoSti-
tutlon he was the most conspicuous among the de-
baterS and foremost, in hoiv winch contained
many remarkable men, for learning genius. ard elo
quencc, and for the earncs:nc>S with which, though
in vain he avocatcdit its rau!tca ion Yet he devoted
his best Efforts to his profession In III? was pub
4 -. l,,,,, l,, al
der commission from the government OF the State,
thorough an complete rrs al of the laws Of North
Carolina In 1870 his high ,c.al attainmentS
recognized and rewarded in his appointment, by
Pres itcnt Washington to the office Of Assistant
Justice of the Supreme Court "t the Cni!e,l States
This Office he confirmed To hold til his death, IN
l7a9. AMI discharged It's high functions with signal
ability and universal commentator.
These volumes arc, on tnc whole. edited with
great skill. The larger part of them is occupied by
the letters of Mr. lre.!l and his correspondents
which are of much interest They run through a
period of more than thirty wears. the most exciting
and important in the history nf our ion. and every
where throw light on the movement OF public events.
while they give many giin>c< of the state OF So
cietv the domestic politics, and the characters OF
public men IN North Carolina. Many of them. too.
/ are racv, dionatiC. and extremely well writtcn-
! Most of the men then prominent i'll that State are
! thus presented to Ms hv their own disclosure of
themselves by the POI traii',rc OF their nelhborS
! To each chapter the editor has prcfyet condensed
summary of the important events OF the period, and
in foot-hote> has given all rcc'liu statements as to
persons and thing referred to in the text. With a
! styc rather too ambitious, and language OF which
! the good taste may he sometimes doubted. he is al
! WAYS clear and forcble. lIc Is evidently very eau
tious in regard TO his facts, and in general his state
ments are to he relied on for their accuracy; and
this in spite of evident traces here and there, OF To-
cal and personal feeling
+The writer If The abnve n'icc g have made like
reference F.",c> Sketches uf North CLr'iina.