Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-04-08

non. JAMES MoHR0R.
The election Of Hon. James Monroe Al
President pro ten. Of the Senate, was an ex
oellent choice During the past few days h'
has ptesiaedia the absence Of Lieut.. Gov
Kirk. HsprOves an admirable olficer,prOmpt
correct and diguihed, with ready business
tact, and accurate knowledge of parliamen.
tary order Dir. Monroe Is one Of the mer
ofmark ii this General Assembly, standing
out in the foreground as perhaps the most
universally popular member Of the Legisla-
ture. Heis equally man OF character and
OF culture, with q mind Of rare power, and
besides be enjoys distinction as q politician,
His suave department and ready eloquence,
together with an admirable temper, fits him
/ iorth latter I. le, although bis Hith in the
I virtue of human nsture sometimes discounts
/ ffoui his ability as manager Of political
! bodies. HIS forts az legislator, is in the pro-
motion OF educational and benevolent sys-
tens but heis most eloquent advocate OF
/ human liberty, OF the radical school. BE re-
/ presents that much maligned class of our fel-
| low-citzens, whose political ideas are popu-
\ larly comprehended within the geographical
I designation, Oberiinn 0berlin, you know,
Is a town on the lakes, but in political no.
menelature, tits an expressive as "irrepressi-
! bic conflict Il represent q class OF ideas
peculiarly offensive to our Democratic fellow
citizens, and o6iOus to those who m 1st affect
distinction as econservatives." There are
three potent reasons for assuming that MIR.
Monroe is a faithful representative OF the
interests and ideas of bis "peculiar" constit-
ueacy, since they have three times returned
him 70 the General Assembly-on each sue
cessive occasion giving him increased major
tiles. Those, however, who would reason
from Mr.. Monroe's Development as legisla-
tor to the political theories of his constit
uents, would never suspect they were of
those when we hear persistently denounced
as mischievous and wicked fanatics, bent
upon the destruction Of onr blessed Union,'
and the amalgamstion of the white and negro
races. If he fairly represents them, and
have proved that he does, we are forced to
conclude that either he has a remarkably
happy faculty in concealing the fanaticsl
notions Of his people, or that their political
ideas have bsed darkly discOlored by popular
bigotry.
To be sure Mr.. Monroe has an questionable
way Of thinking that the Declaration of lnde-
pendence is not a "a 'glittering generality" but
sober reality, and that all men are entitled to
H life, liberty and the pursuit Of happiness"
And there is no sound rea on to doubt that Ell
ther be or his constituents would neglect
favorable opportunity to show fugitive the
road to Canads, or to give hin few dollars
70 help pay the expenses of the journey if
necessary. In fact Mr. Monroe has very
happily said on the floor Of the Senate, that
be would be very likely to do precisely such
an act. For such odd notions his christian
constituents and himself are often TeUile1 as
radicals-radicalism being g heinous political
offence, but AR. Monroe has such a capital
way of illustrating this sort OF radicalism
mat even the trnculent Wigfall could not
resist the inclination to extend him the hand
oFielIowshiD as pachristian and gentleman"
alter hearing enc Of his genial and eloquent
psodies=gP0u= @irrepreSsible' in all
its nami6cations, according to the gospel of
Obsrlia. confess It is doubtful whether
the Silver Greys of Ohio politics would
admit as much, lest it might " Ere the South
,ern heart" but plucky Squatter Sovereignty
'Democfats have been known to say that Prot.
Monroets abolitionisn is not after all, such
a visible admixture as is popularity supposed.
Nevertheless, Mr.. Monros is a radical ofthe
irrep-essible school, he has faith in the idea
and believe in the fact Of universal liberty,
and he deyotes his fine abilities untiringly to
The emancipation Of mind, and inculcates the
duty Ofenfanehizing the persons Of IS; ms1 az
IN legislatiug for the protection OF HuuIau
liberty, solthst it will be legally impossible
to fetter any freeman. he is therefore an
advocate of constitutional personal liberty
laws and is beset with the sntiquated English
and Puritanigai notion that constitutions and
laws should Be strictly construed when they
conflict with human liberty. His 0berlin
constituents perYeTsely sustain him in his
heresy, and they keep him in the Legislature to
preach it-and eatre nous-they are talking
about sending him to Congress f1r a similar
purpose.
He is a native Of Connecticut born about
forty years ago, Of Quaker parents, and has
resided in Ohio about seventeen years. He
was educated for the Congregational pulpit,
and at home he occasionally ofhciate in that
eharactef, but his occupation is that of Pro-
fessor of Logic and Belle Letters in oberlin
College. his New England characteristics
are constantly cropping ont and be walks
strictly according to the Westminster Con-
fession Of Faith. He is q natural orator,
without the graees Of oratory. NO other man
so gently yet so irresilibly commands the
Senate. His language is unusually copious,
his powerof expression extraordinary, and
the rush Of ine things and sparkling conceits
from his lips when he has the floor upon
favorite topics, is something marYelous.-
But be s especially happy as peace maker.
When the temper Of the Senate is ruf1ed, no
man is SO able TO harmonic the discordRnt
elements Is the object of this sketch. His
speeches are faulty because his style is too
redundant, and because he repeats too much.
But he is nevertheless an admirable speech
maker, though not g thorough de6ater. His
person is ine, his figure six feet high, being
muscular, graceful, and well proportiOned,
and be has hne, swarthy face upon which
benevolence and generosity are indelibly
stamped. Good morning Mr.. Monroe.
W.D.B.