Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-08-16

-, : an abjcl lawyer and q politician OF accu
n "nrr,t;on, sound judgment and force o.
.IS,o,"h, and who is 80 well known at this time
~ The great pioneer in the agricultural improve
mont OF the Southsidc region of the State. WI
have now before us Il copy of 4 speech deliver
cd by NJ. Nash in Petersburg, in which he
takes the position that Congress has the power
under the Constitution, to incorporate Il I'M,
ted States Dank-that upon the subject he heiu
the position and reasoning OF Mr.. MaelSo" ~
that although an original question II hi's.i' ,T Do
debateablc, yet as the three departments =. -
General Government had decided III h'o VI
the power of Congress, he resa'ueu '.S -
ton As settled. He went on. however 10 ateue
against the cypediency Of the Bank anu pre-
scented many reasons why nc, although ~ ons
time favorable 20 the establishment oil i ,n'.d
States Bank. then deemed 1t ana ihcA-
redicnt. In April, le3o. nc was eiec'e" u II
Senate of Virginia, and continued Il ilie'"''I ~
that body FOR seven years, anu was 80.
S,|c,tcr Of the Senate for the three last years
NJ his service. During his Senatorial career
Mr. Nash came in contact with some OF inc
hest talent in Virginia. As an evidence al ms
standing and usefulness i'll the Senate. we refer
70 the fact that in the session Of 1857, asSocia-
J tel with Gov. Smith and the !~arnentcd Hole,
; man. as a special committee upon the subject oil
banks. all orr charters in the State were re,
vised, and an act passed establishing general
regulations for the incorporation OF Banks III
which are found many ~salutary restrictions
which have been the basis Of al legislation
since that time. In 1si2 lie retired FROM Tie
Senate, heartily tired Of public life AMI TIE
strife and turmoil Of party politics. -,
During this period, from 1892 to -. WINE
{. in public life, Mr.. Nash took = dccihto' ac'
tive and influential part in all the !caiins po!it-
ical affairs of 1hc day. Embracing the last
term of General JackSon's Administration anu
Mr.. Van Buren'S this period Is well known 10
have been one of the deepest interest and great
est excitement in the political history oil the
! country. The Ordinance Of Modification by
South Carolina. the Proclamation by the PreSi-
dent. the Force Bill by Congress and the re-
moyal Of the deposits, presented Issues OF the
! greatest moment, which night well divide the
strongest ;~ntcllccts andthc warmcSt patriots
As one OF our prominent Virginia POLITICIANS,
Mr.. Nash took his positions with promFiltude
! and independence, defended his views With
! tirmneSs, and sustained himself before the poo
ple. Upon these questions, ne advocated the
course OF the administration In 1870, after
the General Assembly Of Virginia had instruct
! cd the Senators in regard 10 the E~xpunsuhg
resolutions. and Mr.. Leigh. one OF our Senators,
had refused 20 obey. and had questioned tie
! rjrh, of instruction, the Administration mem
hers Of orr Legislature met al The Capitol. for
the purpose of vindicatins the right OF insi'uc-
ton before the people. y committee oil mrs
was appointed to prepare an ADDRESS 70 the
people of Virginia, upon which we lind tic
names of Garlaud. iloiic;usn. Watkins, An
| d,,son, Wilson aud paai"l. The report
of this committee, prepared hy Mr.. Nash.
rs It's Chairman. Offered by Liia. adopted
Lv the meeting and extensively circulated, IS a
strong defence Of the right Of nStruction--a al
able docu,ncnt-we,l written. and deserving the
careful pcrusal Of every Intelligent investigation
| Of the spirit and temper Of those times. 1t
will hc Observed also by the reader that during
this c~vcn;ful period, Sir. MASKS services As 4
| no,i;;cian and leader nj rublic opinion were per.
formed uoon the arena Of the Virginia Genera!
Assembly. Since that day a change has taken
place which every State Rights man must re
crc,. We Rad mitch less to fear from the d:n'
gers of consolidation when Patrick Henry. ~
| the full possession OF all his E.:nc, was y carai'
date for a seat in or House Of Delegates. there
to discuss An issue wlich had upon 4 previous
session been made IN by James Madison and
John TAYLOR, invoking the interpretation o. the
| Federal Constitution and measures which were
| thought TO threaten the liberties Of the people,
! than We do now, when every one Of rising In.
portancc in the State seeks the halls oil Federal
Hesitation Cor the Development of his powers.
In those DAYS, our General Assembly spoke the
voice of Virginia 70 the Federal Government.
and, in issues Of importance, the leader OF the
! State Legislature had more influence upon the
! decision o. Federal measures than our members
Of Congress have now.
Whcrevcr placed, Mr.. Nash nc"cr took a 80
condar- or subordinate position. Ihc IIa.i-
ties Of his mind, his high moral worth. ms
restless energy and his force OF will, always
placed him in Inc front ral.k.
Although dccile,l in his politics, nc was
rcycr an in;cicraAt partisan, ana has often been
heard 20 declare that he would as soon quarrel!
| with his friend about the color Of his hair, as
for any honest indifference Of opinion upon the
Srb;ec. Of politics. Hence il is, that he has
always numbered among his war.nc,t friends
those who have differed from HIN upon politi-
cal issues. and it is, perhaps, owing 10 this i'ct,
! and the high regard lac always showed Tor
freedom and independence Of opinion on the
part Of others. that hc was elected Speaker ct
The Senate in time Of high party excitement,
although a majority Of that bod were ms 20.
litical opponents. iIc never sought, office "i:h
that wild scramble with which it i now pur-
sued. but waited until the constituent body,
seeing his merits, called him into ScrTicc, and
hence he could ~av. wha; few are ah!c TO DO.
that he was never beaten. lie never i~ii!cdany
Federal Office or appointment, bat "as content
. with the honorS conferred up0n him by hi> ma
tive State.
After he retired from the political arena, lie
devoted himself anew 20 his pro!c>>iona! r'ir-
suits, and in them was remarkably Successful.
and was employed rs an advocate IN I'll the I'M
por;ant causes in a large district %! country
In the commencement OF his rrac''c" II had
been his good fortune 20 have been associated
with some of the most distinguished lawyers
of 4 former era In the famous case OF Wat
hins ". Webb which, after several nn>ncccS>-
iul attempts in other counties, was finally tried
and decided in Cumberland, involving much
feeling ami character, and the title t" ole OF
the finest estates IL the county Of Chesterfield,
i.c was engaged with some of the brightest or
nauacutS OF the Virginia bar in its paliuy dar>.
In tia, case figured Mr.. WiIt. in the meridian
splcndr: oC his :cniuS-Ricliard Morris, Of
Hanover. that icoV cjctl Of a Virginia gentle
man, lawyer. l%ocician, scholar and orator-and
! George Keith Taylor, vino combined tie scrca-
itv and calmncSS of experience with the force
and vigor Of genius, the philanthropy Of a
Howard with the in,cllec; and protuiiitv Of a
Mansfield. BY such c%Xcmplar>, the ambition
Of Mr.. Nash vas excited 10 the highest mental
cxcrtions. At that period he enjoyed an init
mate friendship with the lamentct Daniel AL,
which, Notwithstanding the disparity Of their
wears, was us close and reciprocal as it was COLI
iiding and sincere.
Mr.. Call was distinguished as u lawyer, not
only for the extent. but also fcr the accuracy
Of his Northumberland lie eycrtcd OYER Mr..