Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-12-18
,htr. can adycrt only TO the Falicnb points
f. his character and to few facts IN his

IF. h:s character and TO few facts in his
life.
William T.awndes Tan3ey vas, ny tho con-
sent OF all who knew him. either personally
or rcputcdly. an extraordinary man; extr''or
ainorT in his natural endGwments, in his use
of them, III hia character and his career. Ills
mind was precocious, and yet continued to grow
with hi, increase Of years until his death. l
Al, c!rlbly informed that be was 10 less re-
,r;rkai,!e ,r his intcljeciual Developments III
his cil! hnU,! ard adolescence, tha!sin tIS pliln-
bpnd.. Before he had atjaiocd his majority se
had acquired fame as ali crater, anu had
c7incci his Independence. sc!t.rehenca ana
mora! courage in opposing nusiltcntinn on the
hastings IL, South Carolina, ut q time tshon
Iarnc majority OF her citizens. embracing a
great acknowledgements the talent OF her lead
inc man. maintained 1t rs r!ghttui remedy,
and rcrrpaclied those who drnied II With lnil-
ielity to the State, and with coTard;y fear OF
.!,c iron man who presided over the admins
traliin &C tee 7, de-al Government. Asaum
ing the ri-hss, and beginning to dl"charge the
duties uf ,ilGrho9d in State prolific 0t states
me-! and politicians and at time when she
was preparing 10 resist by force, an unGoust'-
tu.onul net o. Congress, when every ran was
brought 20 enquire into tic causes aad consc-
ouruccs Ct the contemplated S:ru9gle, ms
Young and active iaind WAS tar1ed to the
study Of the science pf government, ard espe
-,:;".'r ;;-..s.1Aa in that problem Of blending
Federal power With otrr,, l.: -,..- .-.L:.k like
most questions OF political p6leniics hotwesn
Statas, has. ;d last bctn referred by We
stronger party 70 the arhitrament OF me
swnri. Tl.c political opinions he then 'ormeG
and EXPRESSED. he stoadastly maintained 40
lcns as he lived. While denying the power q:
q Slate TO nnlify. an act Of Congress, and
s,iiI r,tain ri normal relations within the
Union. he maintained the RICH. nt secession
in the last resort as an CT; .;!al, lngrantcd and
;nllsrcns attribute of State sovereignty. lie
oor,, IA the hcgnnin land thrpuaiont iiis nn:it',
col career, t. Jealous and ear1ioss champion oi
the rights Of the States anj<of the people,
and advocated the largest liberty OF botn com.
ratiblc with Tho integrity Of the Federal and
State GoTcrnrmcn!a lie believed that the
Federal G:ycrnmant was thr mere asri.L ".thr
States, designed !or & !ew general. external 1b
iects and interstate purposes whIiH the para
nloaat sovereignty sill rcmai::r'! VIII rho
States: hui tiiut ilEal stretched its rowaTa far
icycn,: its constitutional ::uis b3 c6EtGrrssion-
=! ensctments and judicial constructions, and
trat It's cnrroachuicnts were 50 steady and
rC;s:st:.cE ~ II threaten the ultimate destrue-
t;ua,nr the inlcponiancc OF tito States and
The E!.e-r:e, Of t?.c nnoplc. lie appcchendcd
!. was destined 20 terminal" IA grand co.'s
sp!ilatad democracy, in wjrich tie will OF the
majority wc,id ha the orlr measure vi 1t,
powers, form of government which nc de-
tested and denounced - tie worst VI GespO-
tisu.s. These were no. only the opinions Of
his mind. but the sentiments o. his soul. His
entire course was. therefore, marked By anita
e0nism TO The Federal Government. The
concessions or The South, whether Of material
Interest," o: rights Or. ri principles, ilr the
slkc 81 the Union or. OF party, were viI5asivc
..d nrinru. 10 him. lie not oElr thought, bnl
lit them to be siaus upon her honor and
Ehac8lcs upon herl;nbs. lie resented and
resisted every act Of Congress that trenched
unon States rights as personal insult ana IN
jury.
So intense were his conceptions ANA Sc
strong i, il convictions of the dangers OF fctie-
raj domination over reserved rights. that
he WIS lmra:;put, ard, pCThale. intJ!erant oil
!, diiisfont opinion, and WAS wont to intu's g
ii sp.na persona! acr!hOny towards those who
e-pouscI it in roiitical discussions Ills po'
l;,;ral opponents we're thus Oitcu made his
| hes S,itlEI rf.SnlSS put- IL lIilS NNS uhh
Unable tinit Of character, it grew out oi his
| stern devotion to principle, and rather en-
| h.nccs his claim to the esteem OF lis country
| men IL was for the States anl ,nr southern
ri.,h;E that he frught. with ch;;:;!ro.:a zeal,
md if he exhibited any l:cl; Of courtesy Or
charity towards the advocates Of Federal
| power it WE, because patriotism was tho pre-
| domi;.ant ra-;ion of his SOUL and stronger
~ ptin IiyiIlI1IS
| even himself. If he hal bccn rorc selfish and
less patriotic, if he had shaped his ambition
| t. ae"randize himself, rather than to promote
tine rights of his Safe ana of the South, he
would have avoided many personal co!il-ions,
and hay, made many mere friends and la
fever enemies. +. w&s, | 'ciie!e, only IT
resprcs - questions involving popular and
| atc tights, and Federal powers, that lie WA,
charged ;sirh rot ,oierai;ng the same freedom
u. o}in;on that ho exercised himself
That be was sincere in his political faith.
and hold AID frank and .uncalculatiug in
ayowirg it, was rroyen by his FIRST step IN III,
naIit;cnl arena, IN South ;ia-S iina, to which
.ltre alluded, rs we'll AS by his course on many
iui,scqucnG occasions.
lie came 10 Itlahs,'a ~I!a:. hut II years o.
age, and in less than SIX wears had been elc-
.a,ed succ ,saiyclY 10 Z House Of RcpreSen
tativcs nni tn the :iE.,a!c Of TIC State Legisla.
tire and to the Federal House of Represents
f:vca. lis fame ~ an orator had rr::rh'd +
Tie limits of the State, en-! beyond them, and
h.. - IS he favorit iii tnpi0n Of his political
aa?tq. lie was Gu0wn rot only IS an ella
Iu,:nt speaker, bat IA q vigorous writer, har-
;D. a.ifie.l sEc "G.ernyiIc Mnuntainrcr" in
eor,l, Carolina. and the '.Cahaba Democrat
and "Wefum?ka Argus" in Alaiama. IT.
,ia3cre,s he did not di@ippnint he cxpecta
tionA 81 his constituent; and friends. On tia
.a,.,#:f. he confirmed: rho hisi: estimation Of
his aiuitica at.hnMe and acquired an cnvlab!e
i,ii;ite throughout the Union. Ills frs
cis:.rt in 'lae hody won the admiration und ar
riause Of his hearers, and secured him its at
tanton whenever he sroko. lie took his
place in tho irnat raid, of debatcrs st Il
snglc Leap, without undergoing the pain,
i'll attempts and notifying failures OF
many celebrated orators. Had lie yielded q
he solicitation Of friends or thc rromptings Of
ambition, ur the inclinations Os his mind, Ec
would have rcnaincl in public hfe. Bnt q
sense &C duty to his young and increasing
family constrained him - retire from Congress,
ard, resignirg his scat, he removed to Mont
rnmary ard commenced the practice Of lew,
For nearly sixteen years he devoted his atten'
tion mainly to his profession, although fire.
qucntly appearing in the political arena, q. the
request of his friends or of his owe accord, in
yindication Of his political sentiments and prin-
c;plcs Indcra, no man, even in Office or seeking
it, was 50 conspicuous in popular assemblies
No one canvassed the country or the district,
or the State of his residence more actively
and earnestly; but it was not tn solicit votes
or to seek Office for himself. His entire con.
rsact during that period proves. that he was a
zo aud and 's sess snean or party
man. He felt that great public interests were
put at stake. aud that sacred rights were i'm
perillcd. and thu. constitutional principles