New-York tribune., 1867-09-19

Che held that the main elements of happiness in life
wore personal independenee love of literature, and
a love of the country These elements, finely mlSed
in her own nature, she encouraged her children TO
develop In themselves by her precept and example
She had an exquisite perception OF the beauties OF
nature and of books and the keenest relish OF them,
while her manners, at once dignhed and engaging
and her great gifts of conversation, fitted her 70
derive the highest enjoyment from general society,
TO which che ever lent grace and animation. Inc
sensibility OF her organization mental and physical
would have been almost too acute for happiness had
IL not been qualified by the soundest Judgment ana
the most infallibe good sense. She had been most
emphatiealy the helpmate Of her husband ID Gil 'ne
various activities of his life and che had the happr
TO witness and to share the honor ana reVeieno
which accompanied his old age for five years aiter he
had entered into its rest"
The commencement of Mr.. Qulncy's public lie was
AT period well suited to call forth the prompt deci
sion and energetic action which were so deeply IN
wrought in the composition OF his nature. Inc eo-
oral Constitution. which had Just been adopted was
accompanied by many fears, as well as py many
homes The great political parties of the day, the
Federalists and the Democrats, OF as they at nrst
styled themselves the Republicans. had their inevi-
table origin in the conflicting tendencies of the hui
man mind. Men of q sanguipe temperament had no
doubt as TO the success of the experiment which
recognized the people the source and depostary OF
political power and looked with jealousy on the pos
sbe interference Of the central government with the
freedom Of the States. The more cautious, on the
other hand, especially among tho educated ana
Weather classes had less confidence IN the popular
will and feared that it might become the tool OF art
full demagOgues to the peril of society The federa-
lists were fond of quoting the precedent OF England,
and wished 10 shape the new government into sys-
TEN Of checks and balances which should secure the
fullest enjoyment of individual liberty consistent
with the fullest protection OF common nghts. Inc
Democrats feared that it might grow into tyranny,
in which the freedom of the citizen and the separate
rights of the States would be sacrificed TO the love OF
national ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
As one Of the most promising young men Of the
day. Mr. Quincy was courted by the leading men OF
the Democratic party in Massachusetts,; but he de-
lberately chose the opposite side and ciung to the
name of FedeTalist as long as be lived AT the same
time lie was one of the first 10 detect the dangers to
| the Republic which lurked in the institution of
Slavery and this of future evil gave the key
| note TO his most impassioned utterances and fur
nishes the explanation of his whole career. he be-
gan at an early age TO take active part in politics.
frequently speaking in the town-meetings and eau
cuses of the Federal party. He had no thirst for
Office, however, and it several years before he
became candidate for any public post.
In 1904 a: the age of thirty-two be was elected to
the State Senate and in the Autumn of the same
year TO seat in the House of Representatives OF the
United States. While member OF the Senate OF
Massachusetts,. he first publicly declared his view OF
the danger with which Slavery threatened the ber-
ties of the nation He an earnest advocate OF a
movement then on foot for eliminating from the
Federal Constitution the clause permitting the Slave
States 10 count threeths of their slaves as part OF
their basis Of representation No man saw more
clearly the fatal nature of Slavery and the necessity
Of constant resistance to its aggTessons. Ga this
point Mr. Quincy never wavered. His presaging
soul foreboded the coming storm in the ealnest OF
the halcyon days of the era of good feeling which
was proclairned after the accession OF Mr. Jefferson
to the presidency "Iwel remember" says his biog-
| rapher moro than once during my b0yhood being
| present at conversations between himself and his
friends which he spoke of the certainty Of great
commissions in the future to arise from the attempt
10 make union out Of parts which could not coalesce
in the nature of things. You and may not live TO
see the day he would say TO his friends, but before
that boy is off the stage he will see the country torn
| in pieces by tho fierce passions which sleep
| ing'o His friends would smile at his predictions,
| regarding him as a prophet of ills that cond never
come to pass. He lived, however, TO the literal
fuflment of bis prophecies, though the storm which
he had foretod served only to purify the air instead
Of destroying the nation
Before entering upon his Congressional duties, Mr.
Quincy devoted himself to q course of preparatory
studies, having for their object minute knowledge
of American history and politics. He took his seat
at a critical period both in the foreign and the do
mestic affairs of the United States. 1t the first
year Of Mr. JefersOn's second term in office. He
then in the full fnsh of popular favor. The Federal
lists had dwndled to hopeless minority. Bonaparto
was in the midst of his victorious His battles
which shook the continent Of Europe, caused that of
America also to trembe. The Democrats regarded
Bonaparte Gs the heir of the French revolution, and
.the destined instrument for the elevation of the
people the pretensions Of crowned heads. They
looked upon England the guardian of The ancient
abuses and the Federalists as her satellites in the
crusade against liberty. Mr. Quincy shared with the
whole Federal party intense distrust of Jefferson
From the first he took the strongest ground against
the administration undertook to expose the weakness
! ofits policy, and comparatively nglehanded fought
with chivarous selfforgetfulness, for the princ
pies of Washington and Hamilton. His position was
one in every way suited to his talents and character
A subtle and fearless critic, enthusiastic in his
convictions mpetuous in the expression of his IDEAS
inheritiDg with his blood gift of fiery and passion
ate eoquence he had every endowment for the leader
of an opposition, and always ready TO sacrifice
his life at the head of forlorn hope.
After eight years of assiduous service in Congress,
Mr.. Quincy retired of his free choice from par
Elementary life, leaving Washington with the feel
ings of man quitting Tadmor in the wilderness
"where creeping things had possession of the palace
and foxes looked out of the windows"
There no doubt that be might have remained in Con-
gYess for much longer time had such been his WISH
decided majority did the Federal party command in
Boston, and so well content they q body, with
his their representative. His for refs
ing 70 remain in Congress have already given in his
his fud I'm NJ all