Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-06-30
Georges Mason, of Virginia.

bank of the Potomac, not far from Mount
Vernon, one of the most remarkable men,
not only of his country and his epoch, but
of all countries aud all time. This man,
who was not yet fifty years old, had never
vel held any public Office but the first states
men of his time consulted him and looked to
him for guidance He was not u lawyer.
but hi- opinions On government had all the
force and dignity of Legislative DEGREES. He
was not an agreeable speaker, yet when he
rose to address All assembly the greatest ora
tors-Lee, Pendleton, Henry, and their CO.
mates-listened to him with avidity. Con
fined almost wholly to his plantation by
govt, or love of retirement, he nevertheless
swayed and moulded opinion. In the most
urgent crises of public affairs the great ac-
tors looked. as it were, from the rostrum Ia
the silent figure behind the scenes.
In person and bearing this man had little
to conciliate popular liking. He POSSESSED
none of the arts of the professional politi-
elan, much less the beguilng traits Of the
demagogue. To the world at large. beyond
the circle of his neighbOrs aud friends, he
was little more than cold, stately figure,
which chilled all familiar advances and re-
PEELED the most determined intruder. He
was tall. muscular and swarthy, with cheek
deeply embrowned by sun and wind. His
large dark eyes were habitusLly character
lied by an expression half sad, half severe.
Composed and courtly in his demeanor to
every one, but rarely passing the bounds OF
a stately politeness, he was bitter, almost
savage, when aroused His mordant and
cynical wit excoriated. His invective was
dangerous, and went home to its mark with
unerring and fatal precision. He was, in
deed, simple and kind beneath all his cold
ness, but he rarely exhibited the full strength
of his feelings. His pride of race was great,
his self-reliance immense, and he was sufk
cient for himself under all trials aud in every
crisis. But this very strength Of will, and
bulk of mind, had the effect of separating
him from the world at large. Such were
the pecuiarities. such the drawbacks at
taching to the character of this man. Yet,
10 spite OF all, in spite Of his love of retire
ment and his reticence; notwithstanding his
reserve and want Of every popular art OF the
politician, this person was louked to by all
elias ses of men, his opinion a.ked, his deci-
sion awaited, and that not by the masses
only, the great body of the inhabitants Of
Virginia, but by the very first thinkers and
statesmen of his epoch.
The explanation of this fact may be given
in very few words This man was Geo.
Mason.
Tho sketch here given may be regarded by
some persons as due, in large measure, to
the Imagination of the writer; as fanciful,
rhetorical, gotten up for effect" Itmay be
thought by many readers that the influence
claimed for Mason is exaggerated. Such
will not he the ultimate conclusion of any
candid student of the events of that period,
and the characters Of the men who moulded
them. Mason's position, in the eyes of his
great co-mates, was unique. He was great
among the great. Undoubtedly he had the
prestige of rank and fortune; and the former
advantage then possessed great force in
mems minds. lie was the fifth George Ma
son who had lived upon the soil-tor FIVE
generations men bearing his name had been
distinguished among the gentry of the colo
n.y. The old princeps of the family had
tied on Pohick Creek, in the county Of
Fairfax. In the county of Fairfax the Ma
sons still lived upon their patrimoniai acres
and in any land this long residence of O
family gives an advantage inaccessible to
tors had all been honorable and public spir-
tied; they had lived and died rs worthy old
planters, fighting hravel y against the In
linns, or figuring in the House of Burgesses.
They cultivated their acres, and kept up the
old style of living in allt profusion-ming-
ling socially with the class which then ruled
rs titled persons rule at present in Eng gland.
Thus, George Mason of "Gunston Hail." at
the time of the Revolution, possessed by
birth position which entitled him to con-
slderation But this would never have made
him what he was--not 1.-THE of the force
which he undoubtedly stood for in his time
1t was the man himself, stripped of all ad-
yeutitious aids, who asserted and maintain
ed tn. vast intellectual dominion which he |
certainly welded over the minds Of the first
thinkers of that age.
! have briefly referred 10 the outward |
man-to the stately old planter IN his rich, !
full dress, with his swarthy cheek. dark eyes |
and composed bearing Let NE now strive
to outline his mental character 1t was far
more striking and imposing than his physi
cal organization, lie WAS type of the .
Anglo Saxon in its fullest strength. In no
other man who has lived upon this continent |
If We except one who always asserts his |
have the massive clements Of |
the great English race, been combined in
more harmonious proportions. lie was not
Il Frcnchman, or Il Spaniard. or German
but pure Anglo-Saxon. Ills merit won
Deficiencies were those Of his race Iines , Jaw
little of the graceful fancy, or orh.-- ..ntul |
accomplishments which characterize the i'll.
habitant, Of more southern COUNTRIES All his .
tastes and opinions were simple, earnest aud /
massive lie would scarcely have coinpro.
hended any more that Horsa. or Canutc
or Harold, the gay philosophy Of lite
which obtained among the knights aud /
Of Provence. The courts Of love, (
the Sirventcs. the nice code Of manners of |
Southern France would have seemed to him /
inexpllcable and frivolous. His swarthy |
face and cold figure would have been strange /
ly out of place among the gay and chivulrc
forms-thcIr pursuits would have excited in
him no sort of interest. lie was man of |
the North---sprung from that hardy Eng
lish stock which grapples seriously and
sternly with the practical things of life
lie was deeply in earnest in whatever he
did-all his moods were serious aud con-
scientious. lie never forgot that he was
free-bnrn Englishman; seized by inalienable |
right of birth, with n noble and priceless heri- |
tage which it became him To defend to the |
death, His ambition was limited within
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