Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-02-28

mind from the emphatic declarations
of the ballot box last November. Let
US, then, be patient and Of good cheer.
A BOOK FOR THE TIMES.
THE LIFE AND TIMES OFSILAs WRIGHT.
By Il. III. Gillet Author Of the demo racy
OF the United States, - and s'The Federal Gov
eminent, Its Officers and Their Duties In
two Volumes. Albany The Argus Company,
Printers and Publishers.
The appearance of these two volumes
is, in many respects, most opportune.
Gov. Tilden's tender illusions to his
political comrade of thirty years ago,
has served to introduce the name, at
least, of Silas Wright, to the younger
portion of the present generation. For
many years past, solid volumes ike
these have been ignored by old as well
as young, for lighter and less profit
able reading. BIT there is a change
abroad in the land. Men begin to
look back from the perplexing present
to the happy past, with view to solve
the secret of its happiness. They
begin to compare the corruption in
high places to-day, with the simple in
tegrity Of olden times, and ask wheth-
er honest officials are one of the ex-
tinct races Of man. This turn of the
public mind is favorable to the
circulation of this work, reviving
the memories Of the Jacksouian era
andpOrtraying the career of one among
its purest patriots.
BON in 1895 and graduating in 1915,
Silas Wright became County Surrogate
at the age Of twenty-five. Three years
later he entered the New York Senate,
becoming a strong opponent Of De Witt
Clinton. In 1927 he went to Congress,
and TWO years later become State
Comptroller Of New York, being elect
ed az the end Of his term to succeed
VIM. L. Marcy in the Federal Senate,
where he remained till 1874. He had
already been elected for another Sena-
torial term when the Democratic Ma
tional Convention met in May Of that
year. After it became obvious that Van
Buren, could not be nominated Mr..
Wright declined to be an aspirant
against Jas. Z. Polk, of Tennessee,
and being nominated for Vice-Presi-
dent on the ticket, declined that also,
making room for Mr.. Dallas.
These dechnatons resulted from
his own belief that the Sen
ate was the proper sphere for his
abilities belief In which his biogra-
pliers and posterity concur. Yet, with
a view to carry New York for Polk and
the Democracy, he consented to be-
come candidate for Governor, throw
ing his personal popularity into the
local contest and triumphantly accom-
plishing bis purpose. In 1916 he de-
clined the portfolio Of the Treasury
rendered him by President Polk, and
also a ike offer OF a prOminentforeign
mission. As Governor of New York
for two years aud Comptroller for four,
he was the leading advocate Of the
"debt-paying" policy with regard to
the canals, as against the dilatory pol
icy which has made these internal i'm
provement the bane of New York State
politics ever since. Defeated for a
second term as Governor in 1916, he
returned to his thirty-acre farm
near Canton, IN Lawrence coun-
ty, which he cultivated with his
own hands, and on which he died
August p, I847. Had he lived, he
would probably have succeeded Mr..
Polk as President, a contingency
which suggests how very different the
subsequent history Of our country
might have been.
Silas Wright was a man of the sim
plest and most transformations habits.
Only two months before his death, one
blazing day IN June, a friendly visitor
found him hoeing a field of potatoes.
In dress as well as occupation he |
looked a common laboring farmer. He |
paused from his work as 1 addressed |
him, and leaning on his hoe and wiping |
the perspiration from his face, received |
me with his usual ease and propriety |
Of language" In regard to his mental
and moral stature, we quote the language |
Of old Tom. Benton: 'Grave reason
ing was his forte; augmentation was
always the lire of his speech. a can
dor which knew no guile, an integrity
which knew no deviation, which worked
right on like a machine governed by a
law of which it was unconscious, were
.he inexorable conditions Of his nature,
ruling his conduct IN every act, public
md private"
Mr.. Gillet.'s biography is a noble
tribute, in keeping with the character
# its subject. Chaste in his style, the
writer contents himself with a plain
'ecord Of public event and private IN
,ident, bringing out the genial, honest
simplicity Of Silas Wright into holder
,elief than could be done by any high
wrought eulogy. We are indebted to
he author for the volumes before us,
ent through his friend, Mr.. Arson
Nelson, Of this city.
The Nelg York Sun puts it neatly
hus: Gen. Porter, the new Demo
ratio Governor Of Tennessee, who was
n officer in the Confederate service, in
making up his staff has conferred the