The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1880-06-02
TIE PIONEERS OF RipIDEs PAR
ISH.
GENERAL HoRaT1o S. spR1GG.

From our issue of October 9th, 1879
1t may be regarded as a just source
of pride to the American citizen,
that, among the nations of the earth,
our country stands conspicuous and
pre-. eminent in all things that can
foster and develop in the highest de
gree, the nobler instincts aud those
manly virtues which her sons have
exhibited in all the works of life
The glory of our national existence
is none the less, when we consider
the obscure origin of the men who
fashioned and who directed on its
course, that admirable system of
government which, in its conceptio:
is almost sublime, and which has de-
monstrated to the world the ability
Of men TO rule themselves and to
maintain their lights, without injury
to the rights of others. We are led
to these reflections in tracing the pc
culiar characteristics of the men Of
the past generation, who gave tone
to the morals, framed the laws,
fought tt e battles, or in the hum
blest stations have left the impress
SONS of the virtues and their worth,
as heritage to their posterity, and
their example as a model to be emu
lated.
fit is not givan to all men to
achieve greatness or renown, or to
have ;heir names inscribed upon the
page of history, it is yet given to
every man, in the measure that cir
cumstances (Which, perhaps. do
more oftentimes than genius Of the
highest orler) in his peculiar sphere
will allow, to stamp the seal of his
good or bad qualities upon the com
uiunity, and the time in which be
lives. II this bc true, what a potent
Influence does the life Of the citizen
wieid for goo ur evil? and how es
! sen,i;.! it j., that the remembrance OF
their goo deeds an,l worthy exam
pies s!lo,! be kept alive rs an in
senlive to the ynnro.
IL is with peculiar pleasure that
we turn To The lives nf such men as
the sul.jrct of this sketch, as an en-
tn 'imci.t of so much that is worth,
of regard and Of imitation.
lio;a:io Stevenson Spflg,, WAS de
scented uI Engli-h ancestry, aud was
born in " hccliug, Virginia, OIL tht
2S'!i of January, 1883. He was The
sixth son of Zlchariah Sprigg, who
had married in l772, Elizabeth Ste
venson, Young lady Of highly re
/ specialize family in that portion o
the old Commonwealth of Virginia
In the early part of the eighteenth
century, three brokers emigrated tt
this country from England; two o
them settled in Maryland-one o
2 whom, Samuel Sprigg, afterwards be
came Governor of that State. Tn
family of Governor Sprigg was con
J nected by marriage with that of th
: celebrated Charles Carroll, of Car
i ROTOR, one of the signers Of the De
e c1aration of Independence. The thir'
brother, and the grandfather of He
9 ratio, settled in Western Virgins
: where lie continued to reside unit
!, bis death.
It The Sprigg brothers were arden
x admirers of General Washington
"a and were prominent in the polite
: of those times, and were also staunc
Q Professionals.
IS At an early age, Horatio, with tba
g Unborn spirit of adventure, whic
y marked those times, determined
10 leave the parent nest and seek ne
field. His dream was of the sea-
IA sail across the broad ocean and Wis
'e foreign countries, became the all-al
y sorbing desire of his young life. II
'e father opposed him, but at last fin
:" ing his son determined upon takir
4 Fate into his own hands, he procure
g for him the position Of midshipns
on the seventy four gun ship, Fran
Is lin. Gwinn Harris, the uncle of Of
20 venerable and esteemed citizen, D
\ T. H. Maddox, was purser, and The
or was formed friendship, which i
n. creased as years advanced. Fl
O. many noble and estimable traits
at his character had endeared him
d all with whom he came in contat
: and none knew, shut to love him
ID The Franklin was ordered to Il
to Mediterr anean, and after a cruise
j. three years she was recalled. TIL
p service ended, for the time being, h