The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-11-18

abstinence and exertion, and just conf
!. dence in his powers and faith in his destiny
He trusted to the conclusion of his judG
ment. This judgment was singularly, ha
almost said, supernaturally clear. Their
. has been no statesman in America who's
judgment was more unerring, who's
sagacity was more sure and penetrating
: His logic was not framed on scholastic
a rules, but was the irresistible process Q
common sense, discarding long trains o
reasoning. The process was short, almos
intuitive, but the end was certain. ID
exacted from his judgment an honest fealt,
| to himself and to truth, and it rarely mis-
, led him. What was impossible he did no
attempt. What was wrong he acknowl
/ edged to be so. He never exercised hi
faculties in trying to evade truth, or IL
gliding error. He made his judgment anC
, Imagination his servants, and himself the
servant of truth. He thus acquired the
habit of dealing honestly with himself
Hence, his judgment was always true u
himself and his conscience, and rarely
slipped or stumbled. He not only brought
to bear on every problem his judgment
thus honestly trained and exercised, but he
employed it on sure materials. He was 8
sincere Democrat He believed that the
government was established by the people
for their own good and happiness. He saw
no other just foundation for it. The PEG
pie were both the authors and the objects
of government He never doubted this
great truth. He regarded the people as the
ultimate sovereign, and all public officers
as their servants. He applied this truth TO
his own connection with them. They were
the master, he the servant, As such he
gave them no divided allegiance, no half
hearted or reluctant service. He did not
try to serve two masters. He gave all his
powers, all the great wealth of his intellect
and experience, fully, freely, without reserva-
ton or hesitancy to the advancement OF the
peoples interests. In his view it was bad
service that did not promote the public well
! fare; it was good, if that end was attained.
The public interest was the standard by
which he tested all public measures.
He knew the people; he mingled and
/ aSSOCldIou Will luSLu LO was OltO Vi
He knew their thoughts, their wishes, and
their aspirations He also knew their
troubles and trials-their hindrances to
success in life. He sympathized with them
in their joys and in their sorrows. He
| believed they were capable of selfgovern-
ment. He believed they knew their own
| interests He had faith that in the long
run they would be-must be right. To
doubt this, was to disparage their capa-
city for selt-government. He knew there
would be temporary Authorizations in the
public mind-that error would be victor for
a season, but he never doubted the final
triumph of truth and right. Having this
faith in them, he was accustomed in
forming his judgment on public measures,
to give large consideration to the opinions
of the people. He deemed, and rightly SO,
that whoever fails to do this, must distrust
the fundamental principles-on which free
government is based. But with this faith
in them was united the conviction that the
people should be enlightened. He was,
therefore, the advocate of a common school
system, long in advance of any of his coz
| temporaries He believed also in argus
ment and discussion before the people. 1t
was the "sober second thought" after full
discussion and deliberation, that he respect
ed as the true voice of the people. 1t was,
therefore, his habit to meet them fire.
quently and discuss political questions be-
| fore them.
In this practice he acquired an oratory,
clear, eloquent and instructive. He did not
possess the magnetic vehemence of Clay
bearing down all opposition and forcing &C.
quiescence in the views of the orator. Nor
did he have the grand magnifcence of
| Webster, which secured agreement in adj
miration of the wonderful powers of the
speaker. Nor was he a polished declaimer,
like Preston, leading captive his hearers by
the bewldering graces of a faultless elocu-
ton. But for the times in which he lived,
and in the circumstances by which he was
surrounded, he had what was better-the
power to please, and at the same time to in
struct the great mass of the people. His
language was terse and strong his manner,
earnest and graceful his delivery, fluent
/ 6LQ L nC udbISA was q SANoA "a
position of the subject of debate, SO that
the common mind could understand the
great questions which he discussed. He
had the habit of using homely illustrations,
which made his meaning evident and laid
bare to the common comprehension, the
true nature of problems in political science.
His habit of looking at great questions
In the light that he would present them to
the people-that he might be understood -
became at last a striking mental character
istic 1t enabled him to see measures a.
one of the people. and at the same time
view them as a statesman who had studied
them deeply. He thought more strongly
and clearly than the most sagacious and the
most cultured of the people; but he thought
in the same channel His was not differ
ent philosophy from that of the mass of the
people; but the same, only better under.
stood and more fully developed; the diff
ference was in degree only.
He did not believe that political ques
tions coming before the people for settle
ment by them, were beyond their compre
hension. He did not think there was any
peculiar mystery in state-craft known only
to the initiated, and incapable of being
understood by the mass OF the voters. BE
was, therefore, inclined to disregard consid
erAtions respecting political matters not ap
preciable by citizens of average intelli
| gence; and to make up his mind from such
arguments as were plainly applicable o.
which could readily be made SO. HI
|. deemed this the true method of politica
philosophy for a free country-otherwis'
the people were incapable of self-govern'
ment. He even deemed the prejudices o
the people as entitled to be weighed ant