The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-01-09


he said Of himself, in the preface to party
leaders, he was disposed to look with ;
charitable rather than a censorious eye
on the conduct Of men" He extenuatee
their faults, praised them heartily when h'
could, and there was no malignity in hi
censure. But he did not praise every body
for it was impossible for him to lie, mos
men, Garlic says deserve kicks rather thar
compliments. No man was eyer freer from
envy-that 1neanest of all the vices o.
mean and little men. He rather overrateo
than deprecated the talents of his friends
and even of his enemies. Rather thin
skinned, he confessed, with characteristic
aascete that little censure gave him more
pain than great deal of praise gave him
pleasure In his manners, he was always
simple and cordial-in his latter years
even graceful and dignifed. The mosi
modest and tilnid were at perfect ease in
his presence. Some kind and playful re-
mark made them at once feel at home
As we have already intimated, Judge
B. was emnently happy in his domestic
relations. He was very proud OF his chill
dren, spoke OF them frequently with an ex-
cllsabe parental vanity, and was reverence
ed and idolized by every member Of his
family circle. All-healing time will as
SAUCE their deep grief but can never fill
the. void in their torn hearts. The heart
melting scene in that Lone Cemetery when
the beloved father and the d ling brother
wete hid forever from mortal eyes, may be
naglned it can never be described
All we know about Judge Baldwin S
religious sentiments and character is. that,
for many years, his conduct was strictly
regulated by the moral precepts OF the
gospei-the best OF all proofs OF Il rational
piety-and that, about twenty years ago,
ne attached himself to the Presbyterian
Church, OF Gainesville, Ala, then ander
the pastoral charge Of that eminent divine
the Rev. Dr. Kirk patrick, now Professor
of Moral Science in Washington College.
We once heard him speak the Of the Pres
bJterlan Church, by a bold figure, '.as the
backbone Of religion in the Z. s. He was,
however, very catholic in his views, and
contributed literally to the support Of
other churches IN his vicinity. There was
not a particle OF cant OF bigotry or intern
perance about him either in religion Or
politics. lie had profound veneration
Tor the Episcopal Church. in whose creed
he mad been carefully instructed, in his
early youth. by MS enlnently pious mother
&nd winch had been, Tor MANY generations,
the chu.ch OF his E.ngIish) ancestors.
HAD there been an Episcopal Church at
Gsuaesvilie, ne would probably have con
nected himself with it.
1t may be truly sad Of this remarkable
man, whose Giorai endowHents were per
hspS superior to his intellectual, rich and
varied as they We're, that he Was an honor
to the Bar and to the Bench, an honor to
his family and to his loved Virginia, fer
tile as she has been in great and good men,
and an honor to human nature itself The
splendid eulogy that Adam Smith pro
neunced upon his great friend, Hume, is
50 strikinsly applicable to Judge B., that
We cannot iorbear quoting it. Alter com
intending HuIne's. charity and generosity,
virtues il which he certainly did not ex
Gel j ud5esBaldwin, Smith adds:
s.lhe extreme gentleness OF his nature
never weakened either the hrmness OF his
mind, OF the steadlness of his resolution.
Ills constant pleasantly was the genuine
etfuslon OF good nature and good hulnour,
tempered with delicacy and lncdesty, anG
without the slightest tlocture OF nlaiignity,
50 frequently the disagreeabIe source Of
what Is called wit i'll other men. 1t never
was the meaning OF his raiilery to morti-
iy; and, therefore, far from offending, it
seldom failed to please and delight, even
those who were the objects Of it. 70 his
friends who were frequently the objects Of
it, there was not perhaps any one OF all his
great and amiable qualities, which con
tributed more to endear his conversation
And that gayety Of temper, SO agreeable
III society, but which is so often accom-
panied with frivolous and superficial quail
ties, was in him certainly attended with
the most severe application, the most ex
tensive learning, the greatest depth OF
thought ard capacity in every respect
the most comprehensive. Upon the whole,
| have always considered HIN, both III his
Lifetime and since his death, as approach
ing as nearly to the idea OF a perfectly
wise and viltuous man, as perhaps the
nature OF human 1railty will permit.
We hope no body will be so very alb
surd as to misunderstood US. tor moment,
as portraying Judge Baldwin as perfect
man. hat moral monster the world never
saw. Undoubtedly, he had his tollies and
his faults, but they were the venial faults
OF an ardent and sansuine temperament,
and Of a generous, conGding and magnani-
nous nature.
As We write the closing lines of this
imperfect tribute to the memory Of very
dear friend, whose highest eulogy after
all Is that be was good man, for weagree
with Pope that IAN honest man is the no.
blest work of God, onr eye falls on his
photograph, taken about q year before his
death. The fine fair hair that used to float
about that full round forehead is tinged
with grey; that slightly contracted brow
bears the impress Of thought, perhaps OF
care a halt-snrpressed smile plays around
that firm mouth some burrows pIowed by
remorseless time seam ,~he manly face +;
whilst mingled expression of bedignity
and intellect beams from those strong grey
eyes. that never quailed before mortal man
and informs that resolute, dignifed and
noble countenance. The marks Of time
arethere, and there also are the marks Of it's
best fruits conquered passion, calm be-
neyolence, and matured thought. NV
mind naturally reverts to the happy DAYS
Of my boYhood and I fink Of nv t1r;and