Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-09-14
heard from him BEFORE On "Senility and
Imbecility," which show us life under ID
rnoot ,na1onoho1v eorno

~ In lies last scenes what proolees surP!ses
Fears of the brave, and follies of the Wisel
From Msrlborsugh's eyes the streams Of dotage now
And Swift expires, driveller and show"
When he had thus repeated these lines,
which he did with deep feeling, ana ID
slow and measured cadence, deemed II e11
cusable to make remark Of kind winch
I had never ventured OH before; and SAID,
Mr.. Randolph have several times heard
YOU repeat these lines, as If they conio
hove an application to yourself, while no
person can have less reason to fear the fate
of Swift. I said this to sound him, ana to
see what he thought of himself. bis an
swer was: 81 have lived in dread OF IN,
sanity" That answer was the opening OF
a sealed book-revealed to me the source
of much mental agony that had seen
him undergo. I did deem him in danger
of the fate of Swift, and from the same
cause as judged by his latest and greatest
biographer, Sir Walter Scott.
His parliamentary life was resplendent
in talent-elevated IN moral tone-always
moving on the lofty line of honor and pa
triotism, and scorning every thing mean
and selfish. He was the indignant enemy
of personal and plumber legislation, and
the very sconrge Of intrigue and corruP'
ton. He reverenced an honest man IN
the humblest garb, and scorned the dis
honest, though plated with gold. An
opinion was propagated that he was tickle
in bis friendships. Certainly there were
some capricious changes; but far more
instances of steadfast adherence. His
friendship with Mr.. Macon was historic
Their names went together in life-livc
together in death-aud are honored to-
gether, most by those who knew them
best. With Mr.. Tazewell: his friendship
was still longer than that with Mr.. Macon,
commencing in boyhood, and only ending
eminently so of his neighbors and constit-
uents-the people Of his congressional dis
trict-affectionate rs we'll as faithful to
him electing him as they did, from BOY
hood to the grave. No one felt more for
friends, or was more solicitous and anxious
at the side of the sick and dying bed
Love Of wine was attributed to him; and
what was mental excitement, was referred
to deep potations. It was great error.
1 never saw him affected by wine-not
even to the slightest departure from the
habitual and scrnpulous decorum OF his
manners. His temper was naturally gay
and social, and SO INDUCED when suffering
of mind and body permitted. He was the
charm Of the dinner-table, where his
cheerful and sparkling wit delighted every
ear, lit up every countenance, and detain-
ed every guest He was charitable; but
chose to conceal the hand that ministered
relief. 1 have often seen him send little
children ont TO give to the poor:
i He was one of the large shareholders Of
: Virginia, but dis!ikcd the institution, and,
when let alone, opposed its extension
Thus, in 1903, when as chairman OF the
. committee which reported upon the Indi-
ana memorial for temporary dispense
ton from the anti-slavery part of the Or
dinance Of 1887, he puts the question up
on a statesman's ground and reports
against it, in brief and comprehensive
argument:
THAT the rapid population Of the State of Ohio
sufficiently evince, in the opinion Of your commit
tee that the labor Of the slave is not necessary to
promote the growth End settlement of colonies in
that region. Tha. this labor, demonstrably the
dearest Of any, can only he employed to advantage
in the cultivation of products more valuable than
any known to that quarter of the United States
and the committee deem it highly dangerous and
inexpedent to impair provision wisely calculated
to promote the happiness and prosperity of tn,
northwestern country, and to give strength anG SO
curty to that extensive frontier In the salutary op
Grafton of this sagacious and benevolent restraint
it is believed that the inhabitants Of Indiana will
at no very distant day. find ample remuneration il
\ temporary privation Of labor and emigration"
i He was against slavery; and by his will
both manumittcd and provided for the
hundreds which he held. But ho was
against foreign interference with his rights
his feelings, or his duties; and never fail
ed to resent and rebuke such interference
Thus, he was one of the most Jealous O
the opposers of the proposed Missouri re
striction; and even voted against the di
visional line Of thirty thirty" In thu
House, when the term stakeholder
would be reproachfully used, he woule
assume it, aud refer to a member, not Il
the parliamentary phrase of colleague
but in the complimentary title of & IN,
fellow stakeholder" And, in London
when the consignees of his tobacco, AM
the slave factors Of his father, urged hin
to liberate his slaves, he quieted their in
trnsive philanthropy, on the spot, by say
ing, eyes: you buy and set free to tn
amount Of the money You have receive'
from my father and his estate for thes
slaves, and l will set free an equal NUN
Der"
In his youth and later age, he Tough
; dueIs: in his middle life he was agains
them; and, for while, would neither Civ
nor receive challenge. He was unde
:. religious convictions to the contrary, bu
finally yielded las he beleved) to an al
gnment Of his own, that duel was pr
vate war, and rested upon the same basi
as public war; and that both we're a
lowable, when there was no other redres
tor inSults and ipinria, That >roo hi, q,