The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-11-22


We have this morning to make the mel
,rcholy announcement OF the death OF onc}
=, the best men whom Virginia has ever
Known. Our local reporters furnish ml
other columns all the facts Of the case, sndi
friends beloved by the deceased have aidedi
in swelling the plaintive strains OF thcv
mourners who ago about the streets.
JAMES A. CowARpIN has Joined "thc choir
invisible" lie has, as the Germans say,j
"pcne over 10 the majority" He rests, as
the Evangelist says, "from his labors' andi
his works do follow him." Surely grea'I
man and prince in Israel has fallen.
This writer knew the deceased Until
unatcly. In constant association with HIM
for many years; having had the good lori
tune to secure his confidence; knowing!
we were about to say, his most secret
thoughts, and acquainted with his hopes,I
his fears, his wishes, and his anticipations,1
we feel no hesitation in pronouneing himj
mt simply one Of the best OF men but the1
purest patriot we have ever known iel
loved Virginia as a devoted son loves his|
mother. He loved Richmond with his
"whole heart, mind, and strength" To-
use the Scriptural expression. No cont
sideration Of personal profit could inilu-
ence his conduct for one moment. No
amount OF benefit 10 himself was ever any
ipducement TO him TO be even silent party
IN a wrong TO his city or his State. He was
absolutely incorruptible. Money had MOI
yalus in his eyes compared with what was
right "as God gave him to see what was
right"
Mr.. CowARDIN was man Of real genius
lie was not merely man Of talent. lie;
grew larger day by day in the eyes OF those
who were privileged to commune with
him, and hear from his own lips the words
OF wisdom which he LET fall as II they had
been as worthless as the sands OF the desert
His horizon was wide one. He knew in-
stinctively what would result from given
line OF conduct. POPE says OF himself
that he wrote in numbers because the num-
beers came. Mr.. CowARDIN had the same
sort Of experience as leader OF public
opinion. He never had to revise his opin-
ions, nor to calculate what the people
would do under given circumstances. lie
spoke as an oracle. He ,raS their oracle !;
not that he knew himself TO he an oracle,
but because the divine afilatus had de-
scended upon him.
Mr.. COwARDIN was in his prime the most
delightful companion that any man ever
met with. He was the finest talker, the
most ready converSationalist, the most in
teresting racontelW, whom we have ever
had the pleasure to know.
What charming letters did not our friend
write? Where can another such letter
writer be found? He touched the heart OF
every reader with his sympathetic pen, and
called forth the admiration Of every man,
woman, and child who read his Wisonian
productions.
And who can forget his occasional long
editorials upon special subjects ?-editO-
rials such as no man now living can
pen. Take as q specimen his most interest
ing, instructive, amusing, and learned arti-
Gle on "Old Virginia Fiddlers." Why,
that article had been enough hundred
years ago to have placed Mr.. COwARDIN side
by side with the famous writers OF that day.
All, he was himself fond Of the violin and
the lutte and the piano; and if we could, or
dared to, raise the curtain that hides the
scenes Of private fife, we could present a
picture Of loving father and devoted sons
and daughters joining in strains OF music
such rs few OF the families OF earth are
privileged to enjoy. Our deceased friend
was, in word, as accomplished as he was
able, patriotic, and good.
We write from our heart when we de-
clare that we have utterly failed to do JUS
tice TO the memory OF the deceased. We
are conscious Of our inability to present
him TO the readers of the Dispatch as he
appeared TO us when he was in the flesh.
But no frail man, however great or high,
Can be concluded blest before he die"
says ADDISON. Surely our friend was bleS
in life as in death. lie lived for his coun
try. He dies mourned and beloved Of al
men.
And this reminds us that OF all the mel
we ever met with, there was no other 81
little afraid OF the King of Terrors as wa
Mr.. CowARDIN. lie was as little afraid o
Death as he was OF going to sleep. We ar
moi exaggerating his courage in the least
We have known him to awake from one 0
his severest attacks-come out Of the yer
jaws of Death, as ii were-and ask immo
diately, not why he was thus lying prom
and the doctors standing around him, bu
how prospered some favorite plan for tn
promotion OF the interests Of this city o
State.
But we forbear. II we were to writ
till morning, we would still feel as IL W
had said nothing worthy OF our subject.
death wounds to cure.