Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-06-10

the United States, and for ten years was Nneeo:
sontlv ENGAGED upon the most important CON-
,n;,,cos ;n the House of Representatives, ferret
;nn o,t sbnses. investigating the most intricate
w ,n,s battling with the ablest, ever ready
~ r;nd;catc his position and to elucidate the
,nost difficult questions, questions in which
nror,. ,jonortmcnt of the Government was al
ttorna,.jv in review when to become master OF
,hos nh;ect it was absolutely necessary to mas
to, the business Of each bureau, and to be
equally competent with the head of the depart
mcnt TO understand, to expose or TO defend as
occasion might require; to be Il leader IN the
most troublous times, and To be able to induce
bold and talented men. the first in the land, to
follow his lead. Then to have been 4 distin-
"uishcd minister abroad and to have made his
mark high up the emincncc on which great
men had climbed before him; carrying on a cor
rcspondence upon questions OF national law
and the comfy between nations, involving I'M
portant points, with an ability rarely cqualed
sustaining the interests of the Government; and
people, and Of the Southern States. and man.
tanning the national honor unimpaired. And
then, with a mere corpUr;;rS guard, keeping a
noted administration by advice, and an ene:-
setic display of talent, and by a rigid adherence
to the Consultation, in a line Of policy which
proved the salvation of the Democratic party
and the hest interests OF the nation.
Experienced rs n State %elector, exhihitlnS
marked talent and energy, and discussing
questions of government fundamental III Their
character, and touching upon all the resources
interests, rights, powers. duties ana ooilsa'loNS
of the States and of the United States; en-
pcrienced in the formation OF constitutions,
discussing in the Convention winch framed the
last form Of government for his native state,
the intricate minute OF which fundamental
provisions are composed. comparing INC pro-
visions proposed with those Of other govern
lnen,s, displaying an intimate knowledge oil
each and all; and finally, ms Governor OF tine
State, executing the powers and duties con-
fidcd to him with an energy, zeal and untlrlns
industry that never faltcrS.
Is he practical and laborious? 1t was thought
by MANY that ne would have been eccentric
and cratic: but how completely have his enc
mics been surprised by the practical good sense
and sound judgment with which he has adj
ministerial the government Of Virginia. How
un,iringlv has he devoted his great powers to
the development Of her resources, hitherto
locked up, and proved that had he time and OPP
portunitv he would make her one Of the most
powerful of the States in everything that CON
tributes to national wealth. How lncrrinGiy
has Inc looked to her advancement, and when
he could not. Tor the want of authority, execute
what lie deemed proper, how he has cndcarored
to rouse her people 10 action for themselves,
and when they would not stir, prompted others
10 come TO her assistance and offer their means
t, aid in her great works. How he has strained
every nerve to elevate her financial condition,
I stimulating every officer in every department
to exert his influence, his intellect, his .juds-
mcut, his industry, to aid him in placing her
credit upon a basis not To be shaken by sudden
or temporary emergencies.
Few have Il greater capacity for labor and but
few exercise that capacity to a greater extent.
With the most active mind. one that scarcely
rests when sleep usurpS dominion over the body,
thinking. meditatiug, dcvising, planning, build
iny, with a ready pen developing with the mt.
most rapility what that mind concciveS. ira
cing with lucid outline cvcry variety OF thought
which Imagination Of other minds has not con-
ceivci, and pioneering for great works where
others fear to tread, regardless Of self or the
cold calculati0nS OF how recommendations may
affect his individual popularity, and running
far ahead Of public opinion. Such men only
are fit for great actions and competent to be
great leaders; and then, few men have more
system, order, arrangement IN business; none
: can despatch business more radidly, and that,
too, without ncglccting essential details. II
there he n fault in this respect, it is in toe
rapid action, his mind coming to conclusions
rather TOO often upon first Impressions
With a sound Judgment, first impressions are
generally good. but a little delay will often
correct erroneous impressions, and therefore
some delay, in important matters, would be
preferable. No man, however, is ever told by
him, when he is not actually employed about
something else, to wait for 4 more convenient
season; he always dashes at once to the sub
icct, masters it at a glance, and then acts with
proinptness and decision.
lie is kind and cou.tcouS-not 10 the high.
horn and wealthy and the F. F.. VS., but &c
both the high-born and the humble. If there
is any difference in manner, it Is rather in favor
Of the latter; but no man will easily ride over
him by assumption Of knowledge. or Of other
q%ualitie, of superiority. And he hcSitates no,
to show more Difference TO the opinions Of the
humble than to those in more elevated situa
tons. Few who have intercourse with him
ever leave his presence, whatever may have
been their preiudiccs, without being favorably
Impressed with the ease and kindness Of hi,
manner. and without declaring unhe>itatingly
that he is an extraordinary man. He is a WARM
friend; and when he is y friend he cyinccS il
not sparingly and cautiously, but with his
heart and Soul-you see it, and feel it, and
know it. And woe 10 the man I" whom he
becomes an enemy; he hates with a vim tina,
will make itself seen and felt; but the least
concession will appcasc his hostility, and he
never presses hardly upon a man who ackaow'
hedges his faults or admits his errors. Magnan.
imous. generous, liberal. hospitable, sociahlc;
where is the other man who possesses so many
qualities Of greatness, and so many qualities
tons for the high station 10 which his friends
seek to elevate him:
Now. as to his political opinions, We are not
left in the dark. lie has expressed them openly
on the housctop, so that he who runs MAJ read
1t is impossible to develop them in an ar;icl,
like this. but it is sufficient for our present
purpose 10 gcncralizc them by saying he is &
Democrat Of the strict construction school
adllcrins to the principles Of the resolutions o
Virginia in l19S. limiting risilly the Fedora
! Government 10 the powers granted in thu
Constitution and those necessary to carry OH
granted powers only. and denying to it tho
exercise of doubtful or unsrantcd powers ii
all cases. 4 State Rights man of the %strictcst
sect, yet opposed 10 the extremists who believe
that the States can do everything, and wht
would upturn and destroy the system every
time anything is done counter to their views
and wishes. 4 warm friend Of the Union, ant
yet believing that there may be circumstances
of sectional oppression and degradation, viola
tons OF constitutional guarantees which would
render the destruction Of the Union more tt
be desired than its maintenance. Not a Southern
man with Northern feelings, but 4 natioEa
man with Northern and Southern feelings
disposed to keep the two sections revolving il
their constitutional sphere, each within thu
orbit prescribed to it, fulfilling each its destiny
and contributing TO the harmony and beatu,
of the general system. and each subscrvient It
the great principles for which both and all were
crcrtn1