Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-02-05

Ssri5ySScSs from The Speech Of Ll0,i; L.
Da,eson, of Penn, IN the :sgMse cf ttef'-
resent1ti0es, January 1Ith, 1851. .tas;}
Par different from the revolutionary, un-
just, vindictive, and unwise policy with which
the Congress would deal with the rebel
States is that which our firm and enlightened
Executive has inaugurated. Peace having
been restored by tho submission of the reb-
els and such action in the seeding States as
recognized the authority of the paramount
law, his patriotic glance at once apprehended
the situation and line of duty. The Presi-
dent mo, longer of divided but-a united
country, he saw that it was not for him to
"give up to party what was meant for man
kind" but that the position called him to
merge the partisan in the Chief Magistrate
and the statesman. He mis- ht naturally de-
sire to carry with him in his views the legis-
lative coordinate department of the Govern
ment, but if they differed his duty was not
less clear. He was to obey the oath which
be had sworn, to maintain the Constitution
of his country. lie must be true to his
bright record of consistent patriotism, ex-
hibited throughout long life passed in the
service of the Government and in every Off
cal grade. He had private gricfs enough to
incline him to the measures of the most ex-
IRENE radical. For the love of his country
and her institutions he retained his position
in the Senate when every other Senator of his
section had withdrawn. He endured with
stoieal frmness the, ruin of his private for
tune and the unwearied persecution of open
and secret foes.
Members of his own household had fallen
upon the battlefield in defence of the cause
which he had most at heart. Yet he swervcd
not. 1t was not that he hated secession less,
l,,k L. H.
moral grandeur which he has exhibited in
such circumstances of peculiar trial is such
as has been shown by few in the whole ex-
tent of history. "The just man, tenacious
of his purpose" so handsomely eulogized by
the Roman poet the storm of partisan fury
may beat upon him in vain. He may break
beneath it, but he will never bend. Whether
successful or. unsuccessful in his object of
giving once more peace and happiness to
distracted land, his merit is the same. He
has met his own responsibilities with a clear
perception, determined will, and an I'M
finching breast. In the suppression by Cicero
of the conspiracy of Catal!ue, it will be re-
membcred that at the suggestion of Cato he
was honoEea by the people with the title of
the "father of his country" With signal
propriety this title was bestowed upon that
great and good man whose military success
S"'S 10 SHlSISuSG as u L
that it belongs equally to him who saves his
country from destruction.
Filled with a Just apprehension Of his po>
sition. its Importance and duties, whatever
obstacles may oppose their performance, the
President, like Gustavas Easa and William
of Orange in like circumstances, trust will
''stem the current and march through the
thick array" His fidelity and success in the
past are assurance of a glorious triumph in
the future, But if in the night of our dis
tress it should prove true that republics are
Urgrateful," (since Cicero was banished after
his deliverance of Rome from the grasp of
! Catalina. and Aristitlcs driven from Greece
because his exalted worth brought down upon
him the vengeance of rivals and desperate
men, the historian must yet record that this
man. VIII Sc whole life his been devoted to
the elevation of the masses and the maintc-
nance of the cause of industrial occupation,
was chiefly instrumental in placing upon the
statute-book an act of great public benif :
cence. Already under its practical workings
one hundred thousand homes have been Sc
cured and settled on the public domain, and
in the not far distant future the number Will
rise to million homcsteads, the smoke of
whose cabins on the Mississippi, the Missou-
ri, the Yellowstone, the Columbia, and the
Arkansas, rising from fresdes made happy
by this kindly provision, will be so many en-
during monuments to his memory and to his
fame"