New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-06-17

have painted Fairfax SIMPLY AZ what he was-not
the hero of the civil war, not the controlling genius
Of its issues, not great commander OF man en-
dowcd with extraordinary qualities, but brave
soldier an honorable gentleman, good Christian
by his military capacity and, still more by his char
acter, most favorable specimen Of his class and on
this account as well for other and similar reasons
chosen to fill station where, iudgng from many in
dications we must believe that he would have failed
had he not been supported by lieutenant of match
less ability. That he no statesman, MT. Mark
ham admits as well as that he lost all influence over
the army when its differences with the Presbyterian
majority of the Parliament began. He seems In fact
TO have had no definite views of his own in regard
TO the main subject of those differences, the manner
namely in which the affairs of the nation were to be
settled, the king being prisoner and his author
ity and person subject to the decision of his peo-
pie Fairfax, on this occasion, showed Singh
lar weakness of mind. His officers disregarded
his orders and even signed his name to documents OF
which he dsapproved; yet he took no steps to vndl
cate his authority nor did he resign his command
until the war against Scotland, which he considered
unjustifed by the grounds on which 1t was under
taken forced him to decision. His feelings were
entirely opposed to the trial and execution OF the
King; but he manifested his opposition only by alb
senting himself from the High Court, OF when he
had been named member His wife, a we're OF
the fighting Veres" who had followed him IN some
of his campaigns attended in the gallery, and when
her husbands name was called, cried out "He has
too much wit to be thereW This is Clarendons
account; according to Rushworth, who was present,
she rose and addressed the Court in set speech She
subsequently interrupted the President, on his re-
curing Charles to answer to the charges preferred
in the name of the Parliament and "the good people
of England" by calling out, 1T is q he-nOt half
the people. Where are they and their consentsI
Oliver Cromwell is traitor" Col. Axtell went up
TO the gallery to enforce silencean act which, after
the Happy Restoration, cost him his head The pre-
cedent may be useful when we come to have female
legislators
During the Protectorate Fairfax occupied himself
chiefly with literary pursuits making translations
from the classics and the Psalms. and composing
much original verse, not more rugged and uncouth
than a good deal of the poetry of that day,
when the sense more regarded than the sound.
In 1861 he gave his daughter in marriage to the Duke
of Buckingham, who had come over from the Cont
nent without the permission of the Government, and
who in August Of the following year was arrested
and sent to the Tower. Fairfax seems to have
thought that his own position and former services
should have conferred immunity on a son-in-law
who was one of the most intimate companions and
counseors of the exiled monarch. Ia high state
Of Indignation, he went to Whitehall and remOn-
strated with Cromwell, whose refusal to listen to the
complaint of his old commander threw the lat
ter into still stronger dudgeon. He turned
away abruptly, we are told by his cousin
Brian, who was with him, Cooking his hat
and throwing his cloak under his arm, he used to
do when angry" Ten days later the great Protector
lay dead at Hampton Court, and Buckingham was
soon afterward set at liberty, with what advantage
to his wife and father-n-law need hardly be men
toned On private as well as public grounds Fair
fax had little occasion to plume himself on his share
in the restoration of the monarchy. His latest let
ters" Mr.. Markham tells rs are on the subject of
his daughter, who a constant source of anxiety
10 him, owing to the conduct of her husband"
Fairfax died in 1G7l, at the age of 50. His direct
descendants are extinct i'll England, but survive in
an American branch, the Fairfaxes of Virginia.
They, in recent days have had their hare of fight
ing in a civil war. Two were slain, two Others
wounded in battles fought on the Virginian soil.
In point of gallantry they had not degenerated from
the original stock. Nor, judging from the whole
career and character of their great ancestor, do
we see much reason to doubt That, had he lived in
their day. and been in their place, he would have
defended the same cause.