New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-19
THREE DEATHS.

| IHhEE DEb
We are not often obliged to chronicle in one
week the deaths of three persons whose names
are so prominently identified with bygone po-
litical struggles as those of Edwin CrOswell,
Peter b. Porter and Clement l.. Vallandig
ham. A few words regarding each of them
may perhaps interest the rising generation.
Mr. Croswell was unqQestionaby an able
and dexterOus Editor; but two or three cir
cumstances gave him an undue reputation
| The Albany argus, to the helm of which he
was called when about twenty-five years of
| age, was the organ of powerful combination
of aspiring, capable politicians, whereof
Martin Van Buren, was the universally
acknowledged chief, though Silas Wright,
William l.. Marcy, Samuel Young, Aza-
riah C. Flagg, Samuel L. Beardsey,
and "a few years later John A. Dix,
were his jealous compatrots; several of
them far surprising Mr.. Van Buren, in astute-
ness and every element of craftsmanship.
Nearly all of them contributed, from time to
time, to the columns of The Argus; they chose
not to be known as gladiatOrs: so Mr. Cros-
well was pupularly credited with more ability
than he actually displayed, though his was
among the sharpest pens enlisted in the ser
vice. He was hardly entitled to be regarded
as exclusively the Editor of his journal for
the Editor is he who whether he writes or
not) decides, in the last resort, what shall and
what shall not appear; and it may well be
doubted that Mr.. C.. would have ventured to
reject an article which "The Albany Regency"
| insisted should be printed.
Mr. Croswell was called to Albany at favor
able moment. De Witt ClintOn's star was set
ting; that of Van Buren, g. Co. was plainly
rising. Though the first National struggle of
"The Regency"-that in which they sought to
make William n. Crawford President-resulted
| in Bull Run disaster, involving the recall of
| Clinton to the GOvernorship by an unprece-
denied majority, yet the cool and shrewd mem
bers of the cabal were nowise disconnected,
but proceeded to combine the defeated sup
porters of Crawford, Jackson and Calhoun, in
a phaanx which routed the combined follow
ers of Adams and Clay in the next National
engagement, placing Jackson in the White
House, rejecting Calhoun as Vice-Presi-
dent and making Van Buren, Secretary of
State, with the Presidency i'll reversion.
Mr.. CrOswell thus when barely thirty
years old, attained a leadi2g position,
which he held for nearly quarter of a cen
tury, or until the dissolution of the Regency
| by internal dissensiOns, causing split OF the
| New-YOrk Democracy into "Hunkers" and
Barnburners" But, long ere that his star
had paed before that of his antagonist Thur
! low Weed-a rougher disputant but shrewder
manager, who was a power at the polls as well
as at the desk, and who was for quarter of
a century the aptest and sharpest writer of
political paragraphs whom this country has
nroduced. Mr.. Croswell withdrew from the
editorial profession some twenty years ago,
and has since lived mainly in or near this
City. Mr.. Weed did not follow his example
till within the last four or five years. Born
in the same village (CatskilD and nearly at
the same time, pitted against each other in
personal as well as political antagonism till
near the close of their active lives, these vet
Grams came at length to regard each other as
admiring and devoted friends.
Peter B. Porter came to Albany as an AS
semblyman from Niagara County about 1889,
and was chosen Speaker in his second or third
wear of service. A SOD Of the illustrlOus Gene
raj of like name who served his country with
credit i'm the war of 1912, and became Secre-
tary of War under President John Quincy ADJ
ans Young Porter was regarded by the Wings
/
of 1888 40 as one of their rising men but the
promise of his youth was blighted by disease,
which confined him to his house for the last
twenty years. and to which he has at last
succumbed. But for physical infirmities, he
would probably have ere this been chosen Gov
ernor of our State or won leading place in
Congress.
Clement l.. Vallandigbam is the only man
who was ever defeated by more than One
Hundred Thousand majority in holly contested
canvass for Governor. He probably owed this
eminence TO the fact that he was more honest
than political asprants will average. lie never
thought of being aught but Democrat III
politics and Democracy, in his conception
meant devotion to the pcrpetuity OF Slavery
Hence, when the shareholders dissolved (pro
tenn the Union, his sympathies went with
them. and he was not the man " deny OF conceal