The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1861-03-27

AN ENGLISH SrATEsMAN's OPGNGoN OF WASHINGTON
Lord Brougham in his "historcal sketches on states
men, thus speaks Of the immortal Washington:
profound sagacity mistaken seadncss of purpose,
the entire subugation of all the passions which
havock through ordinary minds and otentimes lay
the faircs prospects OF greatness nay the discipline of
those feelings which won't to lu or seduce genius
and to mar and cloud the aspect of virtue her
self Joined with rather leading to- the most absolute
selfdenia the habitua and exclusive devotion to
principles these things constitute great character
without either quekness of apprehension or resources
of information, or inventive powers, or any brilliant
quality that might dazzle the vulgar then surely Wash
ingon the greatest man that eyervcd in this world
unnspired by Divine wisdom and unsustaned by super
natural virtue.
His courage, whether in battle or in council was as
perfect as might be expected from this pure and steady
temper of soul A perfect just man. with a thorough
firm resolution never to be mised by Others no more
than to be by others overawed be seduced or
or betrayed hurried away by his weaknesses or
sefdelusons, any more than by other mems arts; nor
ever to be dishearened by the complicated diff
cultius any than to be spoiled the giddy heights
of fortune-Such was this great man-great, preemi-
nently great whether regard him sustaining alone
the whole weight Of campaigns all but desperate,
goriously terminating just warfare by his resources
and bis couragepresding over the arring elements of
his political council alike deaf to the of all
tremes-or directing the formation ofa new government
for great people, the first time that expert
ment had ever been tried by man-or finally retiring
from the supreme power to which his virtue had raised
him over the nation he had created and whose desnes
he had guided as long his aid was requred-retrng
with the veueraon Of all parties, of all nations of all
mankind in ordertha the rights OF men might be con
served and that his example might be appealed
to by vulgar tyrant. Thsis the cousummae glory of
Washington; a triumphant warrior where the most san
guine had right despair successful ruler in all the
difficulties of a course wholly untred but warrior
whose sword only left its sheath when the first law of
our nature commandcdit to be drawn; and ruler who,
having tasted of supreme power gently aud unostenta
ously desired that the cup might pass from him, nor
woud suffer more to his lips than the most solemn
and sacred duty his country and his God required!
To his latest breath did this great patriot maintain
the noble character of captain, the patron of peace,
and statesman, the friend fjustice. Dying, he be-
queathed his heirs the sword which he had won in the
war of liberty and charged them never to take it from
the scabbard but in sedefence, in defence of their
country and her freedom; and commanding them that
when it should thus be drawn they should sheath
it nor ever give up but prefer falling with it in their
hands to the REIMBURSEMENT hereof'-words the maj
esty aud simple eoqence of which are not surpassed in
the oratory of Athens and Rome,
It will be the duty Of the historian and the sage, in
all ages to let no occasion pass Of commemorang this
illustrous man; and, until time shall be more, will
test of the progress which has made in wisdom
and in virtue be derived from the veneration paid to
the immortal name of WASHINGTON.