New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-12

trys history have been less indebted TO the circnm-
stances Of birth and fortune He Inherited neither
ancestral wealth h0nors, but whatever OF either
he attained was the reward OF his own energy
aud talents. He was very hterfily " TIE
architect Of his own fortunes" Commencing the
practice of law before he bad reached The foil mstu-
MY Of manhood, and in what wps then Border
State, but among lawyers whose talents and learn
| Jog shed luster on the profession to which Trey
belonged without the patronage OF wealth or power
be soon made bis way 10 the front rauk OF the bar
and maintained his portion there till tie hour Of bis
death. But lie did not confIe himself exclusively
20 professional pursuits and 10 the care OF bis own
private aff.irs. He was man oil rare endowEente,
and of such fitness and aptitude for pubic employ
ments as were sure 70 attract public attention. lie
could not, If be would, have made bis way through
life, along its quiet, peaceful and secluded wake;
aud il does bin di.creot to say that he would no
ii be could. lie was too fully IN sympathy with his
kind 10 be Indifferent 10 anything which affected
their welfare and too heroic IN character 10 remain
assive spectator Of great and stirring events. he
wac eminently usn of action, and although foud
OF literature and science and art ADD possessed OF
refined aud cultivated tatte he yet loved the serner
conflicts Of HE more than the quiet conquess of the
closet, and while citizen of llhsois served Der both
rs soldier and civilian and distinction wherever
lie acted. lie had elasticity strength, versatility
and fervOr Of intellect, and mind iull OF resources.
His talents Were both varied aud brilliant, aud ca
pable of great achievements; but their usefulness
was perhaps somewhat impaired by peculiarly OF
physical organization which made fim one OF the
most restless OF men, AID Incapable OF the close,
steady and persevering mental application, without
which great resuts cannot often be attained II
was not hcklepess, uDsteadness OF purpose,
| cut a proud and impatient squirting Of re-
straint, contempt of the beaten track of men-
tai processes, and disgust with the dnlness and
WEAKNESS Of confinement and ioactiou. But
this defect was to IA very great extent COM
pensated by the wonderful ease and rapidly
with which be could msster any subject upon Which
be chose 10 concentrate the powers of bis mindUy
the marvellous facility with which he acquired
know ledge and the facility with which he coulu
II. Whatever he could do at all, he cOnd do a
and up TO the full MEASURE Of bis capacity. What
ever he could comprehend at ell, he comprehended
with the quickness OF intuition and gained hut lit
tie afterwafd by investiga ION and elaboration. lie
did not reach intellectual results other men do 10y
the slow processes of analysis induction but ii lie
could reach them st ALL he could do il at q bound.
Aud yet 1t wss not Jumping at conclusions, for he
could sIways state with almost mathematical clear
and precision, The premises from which he made
lis deductions and guide Won slong the path that
be had Travelled, 10 the same goal. He saw at a
glance all the mateIis aud all the relations OF the
material which be intended to use 10 the subject IN
band bat which another would have carefully and
laborousy to search 10 and collect to be enabled 10
rec at all; and diligently 10 collae before under
standing lis uses and relations. TO a greater ex.
tent than most nen, he combined tie force and
suavity OF logic with grace, fancy az eloqueDce;
Cling at the bar at the same time The character of
the astute and profound lawyer ard tie able elo-
quent and successful advocate; while III the Senate,
the vice. prudent and discreet statesman was COIN
lined with the chaste, classical, brilliant and per-
suasiye orator But with ell bis aptitude for, aud
sdaption TO the highest END noblest pursuits OF the
civilian he had a natural taste, talent aud fondDess
Tor the lite of soldier. There was something III the
b1gle blast of war; and the cannon roar which roused
bis soul 10 ils proiounoest depths, md he eonld no
more remain in ingluTious ease at home willie the
desolations of WAL LAckened aud blasted the land
than the promo eagle could descend from Liz home III
the clouds to dwell with the moping owl. Three
times III his not protlacted life re led our citizen
soldiers 10 tie embaitled plain, 10 meet in deadly
conflict bis country foes. Alas that he should lead
them no more that be shall never more marshal
them Tor the glorious strft-Deyer more rouse 10 tie
4" signal trumpet tone" lie hls fallen. 1.-The
fresh dust ID chill upon the breast tia, burned
while with fires that seemed immortal
"He sleeps bis last sleep he ha. ousl, h, last battles
No sound sbtl AWAKE hsl TO giory AEsin"
He fell as think he would have preferred 20 fsll
had he rad the choice Of the mode OF death, in the
storm of battle cheering bis brave followers on 10
duiy in the sevice OF bis adopted country 10 which
be /, II that he owed much which Re loved yell aud
had served long and faithfully. II does bin no dis
honor 70 say that be wac man Of great ambition,
and that be yearned after military reuown; but Biz
ambition WAS cbaaentd by bis patriotism, bis strong
sense Of justice, and lis huuabi'yi and lts fires
never burr ed 20 fercely in bis bosom as 10 tempt
bin TO purchase honor, glory, ana distinction tor
himself by needlessly sacrificing or even imgeIibg
The liyes Of others. lie untrled colder with
a name vet 10 win. II was already high on the rol
Of fame, and indissoluLly linked with bis conntTys
history. Years ago, at bone and abroad, he had
drawn bis sword in bis countrys caute, Snd shed
lis blood in defense Of his rights. Years ago be
rad led on soldiers 10 battle, and by fis sallmtry
shed lOster upon our aTme and historic interests
on Cerro Gordo's hights; and now be bad that fame
10 guard and protect. He had to defend lis aleady
written page Of history from blot etaiu as ell as
to add 20 il another leaf equally radiant ana endur
ing But, Mr. PTesident II would be poor, inade-
quite and unworthy estimate OF ils character VIII ch
snoud explore only selfsh ambi ion ana aspiration
for Individual glory Tor the sources OF his action
TIE inpelliug causes weIe far higher aud Doter
He ives true, immovabe, incorruphble, and un-
shrinking patriot. He was the fart, brIn friend Of
civil and religious liberty; and believed that they
should be the common heritage and blessing Of all
mankind. and that they could be secured and en-
loved only through the fundamentally Of organized
cOnst uional Government, and submission 10 and
obedience OF its laws; and tue conviction upon bis
mind was deep sDG profound, that il the wicked
rebellion which had been inaugurated went unre-
buked snd treason trumpled over law, CoDstitu-
ii nal Government in North America would lie ut
erly aaDislated 10 be followed by the confusion Of
anarchy, and the confusion Of anarchy TO lie
eded by the Oppresion and atrocities Of deepotism.
lie believed Tat whatever the horrors and desola-
lions OF civil war might be, they would sti be far
less in magnitude and duration than tie plaques aud
csllmiios which would inevitably follow upon sub
nj siou and separation. WITH the,e views. both Just
and paoio be recognized it aS bic duty 10 give bic
services 10 LIS country, Whenever and In Whatever
cafac " they could be Of most value and importance
and with as much Of self abnegatlon as the frai-
lies Of humanity would allow, lie took bis place
! ia tie soried ranks OF war; ard in the
strict and discreet discharge Of his duty soldier
fighting for his country III q holy cause, he 1ell.
AID l. " ia me I1a "A
Of peculiar qualification 10 know bat the history Of
the disasirons dhy Which terminated bis brlant