Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1867-08-07

Of the government. After myservlce as his
successor in the same Office, disappointment
to Congress in 1888, mission to Europe in
"a and appointment in the new government
in 's9 kept US 80 far apart that I had no
further personal knowledge Of him.
Mr. Henry began his career with very
little property. He acted, as have under
stood, as barkeeper in the tavern at Hano-
yer G. H. for some time. He married very
young, settled, 1 believe, at a place called
tho Roundabout in Louisa, got credit for
some little store Of merchandise, but very
soon failed. From this be turned his views
to the law, for the acquisition or practice Of
which, however, he was too lazy. Whcnev-
or the courts were closed for the winter ses-
sion he would make up a party Of poor
hunters of his neighborhood, would go of
with them to the piny woods Of Fluvanna
and pass weeks in hunting deer, Of which
he was passionatsly fond, sleeping under a
tent, before FIRE, wearing the same shirt
the whole time, and covering all the dirt Of
his dress with a huntiug-shirt lie never
undertook to draw pleedings if he could
avoid it, Or to manage that part Of cause
and very unwillipgly engaged but as an as
sistant to speak in the cause. And the fee
was an indispensable preliminary, observing
to the applicant that he kept no accounts,
never putting pen to paper, which was true.
His powers over jury were SO irresistible
that he received great fees for his services,
and had the reputation Of being Unsuitable
in money. After about ten years practice
in the County Courts he came to the Genl.
Court, where, however, being totally unquali.
fed for anything but mere jury causes, he
devoted himself to these and chiefly to the
criminal business. From these poor devils
it was always understood that he squeezed
cxorbitant fees Of $50, 500 and $780,
From this source he made his great profits,
and they were said to be great. His other
business, exclusive of the criminal, would
never, l am sure, pay the expences of his
attendance. He now purchased from Mr.
Lomax the valuable estate on the waters of
Smiths River, to which he afterwards re.
moved. The purchase was on long credit
and finally paid in deprecated paper, not
worth oak leaves. About the close of the
war he engaged in the Yazoo speculation,
and bought up great deal Of deprecated
paper at 2s. and 2s. cd. in the pound to pay
forit. At the close Of the war many of us
wished to reopen all accounts which had
been paid in deprecated money, and have
them settled by the scale of depreciation.
But on this he frowned most Indignantly,
and, knowing the general indisposition Of
the Legislature, it was considered hopeless
70 attemptit it with such an opponent at their
head as Henry. I believe he never distin-
guished himself so much as on the similar
question Of British debts in the case of
Jones and Walker He had cxerted a de.
gree Of interest in that case totally foreign
to his character and not ouly seemed, but
had made himself really, learned on the
subject. Another ofthe great occasions on
which he exhibited examples Of eloquence
such q, probably had never been exceeded
was on the question Of adopting the new
Constitution in 1888. To this he was most
violently opposed, as is well known; and
after this adoption he continued hostile to
it, expressing more than any other man in
the United States his thorough contempt aud
hatred of General Washington. From be-
ing the yilest Of all anti Fsderalists, however
ne was brought over to the new Constitution
by his Yazoo speculation before mentioned,
The Georgia Legislature having declared
that transaction fraudulent and void, the
deprecated paper which be had bought up
to pay for the Yazoo purchase was likely to
remain on his hands worth nothing. But
Hamilton funding system came most oppor.
tunely to his relief and suddenly raised his
paper from 2s. Cd. to 27s. Cd. the pound
Hamilton pecame now his idol, and aban-
donng the Republican advocates Of the
Constitution, the Federal government on
Federal principles became his political creed, |
Gen. Washington fattered him by an ap-
pointment to mission to Spain, which he
declined; and by proposing to him the
office Of Secretary of State, on the most ear
nest solicitation Of General Henry Lee, who |
pledged himself that Henry should not ac-
,eept it. For General Washington knew
that be was entirely unqualified for it, and |
moreover that his selfes.eem had never
suffered him to act as second to any mao
IN earth. I had this fact from information,
but that Of the mission to Spain. is of my
own knowledge, because, after my retiring
rom the Office Of State, General Washington
passed the papers to Mr.. Heny through my
hands. Mr.. Henry's apostacy sunk him to
nothing in the estimation of his country
lie lost at once all the influence which Fed.
,ralism had hoped, by cajoling him, to
transfer with him to himself; and man
who, through o long and active life, had
oeen the idol of his country beyond any one
hat ever lived, descended to the grave with
ess than its indifference, and verified the
aging Of the philosopher, that no man must
oe called happy till he is dead. -PAi1adel-
Dhtd A0e tt 80