Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-01-19

been In dre opposition 70 IT, The truth Is he was one
OF those men whose principles being fixed whose opn-
ions being well founded, was not apt to undergo any
change-and he did not He lived and he died devoted
10 the Unisn-not as an end not object but as
means he felt and he knew that whilst the State OF
Virginia bovever well her State Government could L.
gisate for the protection of civil liberty within her Dor.
ders foreign aggression she had not the strength
to secure her independence Hence be was in favor Of
union Of Virginia with other STAIRS according to the
great principles which assumed In 1887 BY the Con-
sttuton OF the United States Finding that the Cons
tuition bad been yolSed had been tramped under foot,
that its principles ignored he since he became sat
sed Of the fact his native State break the bond
to her connection with the partners who
faithless and had that connection been dis
ved than he urged her associate with other South
ern States who would regard their treaty compacts-
lie lived and be died 10 favor Of the Union and there
ia no Senator Intimately acquainted with Mr. Preston,
who does know far as this Southern Conederacy
was concerned, that he knew no North, no South, no
East no West His State pledged TO perform GER
tain duties and To the full extent Of her pledges he was
always ready to vote both men and means
In politics found Mr.. Preston TO be--whatI regret
do not at this day always fnd-a Republican In the true
and just acceptaiion of the term He understood the
advantages only of Confederate form Of Govern
u,ent but of Representative form Of Government He
was no Red Republican, he was markethouse Demo
GRAFT lie was Republican in the and Just aceepa.
ton o. the term e felt that he was an agent trusted
and he acted always according TO his judgment and
according his conscious feeling that the people,
bsiSg wise Aaa virtuous would comprehend tia reasons
by which he was influenced and justify bis action He
therefe made any appeals 10 his constituents &C.
cording TO neighborho0d prrjudices. He gentle
man. and he great man. lie possessed moral quail
c,wthout which, degree of intellectual excellence
can entte to the appeation of great These being
Mr. PREsroSs peculiartes, they presented to
me give them as my estimate Of his character.
had he atuiva NJ
and well developed understanding. He reasoned ca w.
and hence having always chart and compass by which
he went found him of the safest counsellors with
whom was associated The fact Of his early associa.
tion andthe continued associations during life and the
development OF his Mind reading with reflection, com.
rolled him ignore utterly the doctrine which has taken
possession Of the mind Of those in one portion OF what
was once our country and which, believe tended as
much as ANYTHING else TO the dissolution of the Union
namely-the putting OF national greatness upon the
tera prosperity of the country lie looked far more TO
the moral and intellectual superiority of people than
he did 10 their material interests and hence Il
that where honor led he always prepared follow.
As to his ideas of State Rights he was, Sir, State
Rights man. in the true accepation Of that term And
he felt and always acted under the conviction that
as possible for a State government TO assume powers
which had been delegated to the Confederate Govern
ment aud thus violate the Constitution IL for the
Confederate Government to assume powers which had
never been delegated and break also the compact He
icered between the and in assuming the sovereign
~ of the States he never denied sny right which the
State Of Virginia, to which he owed his allegiance had
ceded TO the other States 10 be exercised through ie
Confederate Government. He WA S1Vuted TO his own
State He lovsI rr-ne adpred her. tic never con-
sdered bips.f citizen Of the United States before it,
dissolution. lie considered himself citizen of
tho Corederac States after the formation of the new
Unicr He was Yirginian and 10 was proud Of it,
de owed his allegiance to that Government which, for
nearly century, has been recognized as one Of the
Powers Of the earth-a State within whose limits no1aw
las been enacted Or enforced except by her sovereign
viii and consent. Aud When ! say he Yas true Yir
gnian trust il will not be necessary to 70 further and
expaiffthe meaning of my language. lie gentle.
man. In tie highest and best acceptation Of that
trust sir the resolution may be adopted.
Tho resolution was adopted unanimously. 1t was
also
Ordered, That the Secretary communicate copy Of
the foregoing resolution TO the family Of the deceased
and further that he communicate these proceedings to
the House of Representatives.
The Senate, agreeably to the foregoing resolution,
tt,ap al