Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-03-15

him to them. '. wa lU.
But it was in social life, in the midst Of
his friends and relatives, especially around
his own ever thronged and ever. hespitable
6reside, that Alexander Campbell was most
truly loved and bonored. and there the
vacuum can never be filed As a converse
tionalist he was as constantly the devoted
centre OF attraction for old and young,
stranger or relative, a. ever we're Coleridge
or Macauley. His information, derived
from life long study and from travels in
Europe and America, and from bis expert
ence among every variety of life, was mex.
haustible, and always charming by it'll ex-
ceeding simplicity His manner tc ward the
bumblest domestic of his household was en-
gagine. Never we're the Unborn character
istics Of gentleman more certainly mani
tested than 10 him Children loved the
very sight Of him. None knew him but
TO love him" er
We have not had time to dwell upon
many incidents Of Mr.. Campbcll's life. We
have omitted his career as a member Of the
Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1899
30, in which body he sat as member Of the
Judiciary Committee along with Chief JUS
tice Marshall and in which he encountered
Randolph and the most distinguished men
vi Iildt 0dy III UtDdt. IL was III lUht DOlN
that he gave prophetic notice of what would
ultimately be the course of Western Virgin
10. and of what he lived toisee accomplished.
He had for his colleague from.this part Of
the State man worthy to be his ally-Phil
lip Doddridge-and no two men in that body
OF great minds, gave more evidence of Vir-
ginia's intellectual resources in those days.
OF Mr.. Campbell's tour to Europe, 10
1s47, we have also omitted to speak. Part.
ly for his health, and partly TO visit the con-
gregations of his Church in Great Britain
he undertook the tour. On reaching Lon.
don he was the honeral guest of our Minis
ter at the Court of St. James-Mr. Ban
croft. end through him and through letters
from the first men of this country, was the
recipient of houors and attentions from;th
great leaders and moulders of political and
religious .Opinion in England. Only in Scot
land, in the city of Edinburg, did anything
occur to mar the influence and pleasure Of
his trip. His position on the slavery ques-
ton had been grossly misrepresented by a
clergyman who was desirous to engage him
in debate, but with whom Mr.. Campbell
refused to hold any intercourse on account
of his questionable character. The refusal
for the cause assigned lead to a recourse be-
fore the civil tribunals On the part Of the
clergyman in an action for libel, the fnal re-
| suit of which was a verdict in Mr.. Camp
bells favor. Mr.. Campbell never was the
| champion of American slavery. He belev-
! ed. however, that the relation of master and
slave had existed in Biblical times under
the divine sanction, or, at all events, tOler-
ance. aud while he did net desire to be re-
garded as the apologst of American slavery,
he contenaed that it should not be test
question of communion in the Churches. -
This was his position in Scotland, before
the people OF that country, as it had been
I here at home before the American Deople.
His own slaves he had emancipated many
years previous.
The closing hours of this great and good
mans life were inexrressibly affecting to
the group Of tender friends and relatives
that watched round his bed side. At times
his mind would wander over old familiar
scenes and he would recall them by name.
He was oppressed with longing for rest
and quiet and home. He was weary with
his long journey, and he spoke of his desire
to be led to his friends and kindred and tu
be at peace Not a murmur, not com
plaint once escaped him-he was gentle
and meek and patient throughout-enlyh he
was oppressed with restless weariness.-
A letter dated trem his chamber at half past
two o'clock of Saturday morning last, to the
writer of this memoir, speaks thus Of him
II am sitting up tonight with our deal
uncle We fully thought this would DO hi,
. last night on earth. But he has survived
the turn Of the night and may possibly weal
through another day. His strength is won
derfll. All this night l have though, as |
watched him of giant graphing with q
desperate foe, or of some noble animal strug
ling to be diseutanged from the enemy.
tolls, chafed and fretted within its narrow
boundaries. Death has no power to dim
this great mind-his senses are as acute anC
clear as ever, and his beautiful nature show.
: the same in all things. His genteness and
patience mid his suffering break all oul
hearts Such sweetness aud Submission t
: the slightest wish of others around him
J such kind consideration for every one who
comes into his presence-his little expires
siens OF greeting, and his inquiry after tht
' welfare of those whs come to see him, anc
$ such putting away of personal complaint ol
suffering. moves every beholder to tears
t All this could never be seen in characte
, less great and grand than his. He is him
self noble and good and great as nature
D made him, to the very last. The command
, ing and fascinating elements of his chsrac
$ ter are intact in the midst Of the wreck 0
: matter Such passages of Scripture as h
3 has recited even in his wanderings, anC
. such grand sentences as have fallen frou
t his such beautiful soli!oquies upon 'th
}, festness of time aud upon doing goo
i while we can,' &c-are wonderful to all Q
s u.s. All the records of great men, and thei
n closing hours, give no such precious remem
/. brances. To US who love him so, he appear
|, the greatest of them all. Humboldt, yo
e know, looking upon the setting sun with h
g dying eyes, said, Light more light an
J. Goethe. dying at the same hour of closin
day, raised his hand and made as though h
10 were writing in the air. according to d
I. habit of describing all his sensations as the
d came. But these dying witnesses OF tn
D. lives they had led, Characteristic as the
If we're, how tame, how meaningless compare
3, with what our uncle expressed an .eveniu
A or so ago in watching the glories of the d.
l. parting sun. It's last rays were streamin
d through the windows directly in front Of h
. bed, and fell upon it. A group of fiienC
is sat round him in silence, and he turning fror
st them to the sinking sun repeated tn,
e. passage from Malachi which had bee
d 10 eften on his lips during his life runniu
IN thus But unto you that fear my nam
4 a