Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1886-03-11
o Rare Ran Tucker.

[Dr. Laferty on the Virginia Statesman.l
The card of the Hon. John Randolph
Tucker announcing his purpose to return to
private life at the close of his present term
in Congress has called forth public express
sion Of regret. The great journals Of the
North, without distinction of party, men
ton with concern the proposed retirement
of the Virginia statesman, and deplore the
loss to cur National Councils of a member
with such practiced and large powers for
high public employment.
1t will not be outside of the provence of
a church organ to join the secular press in
reckoning it losing day for constitutional
liberty when its foremost champion leaves
the field.
1t goes without saying that My Tucker,
in the arena of debate on the underlying
principles Of our Government, never had
his shield touched with challenging
spear, but the venturesome knight lay pres
emily prone to the earth and unhorsed
Whether before the Electoral Commission
or when foot to foot with Mr. Blaine, the
Virginian easily rose to the height of the
great occasion, "Where laurels ever bloom"
In light tactics, who since the versatile
and brilliant Canning has been his equal ?
How the sparkle of the English Secretary
finds kindred flashes in Tucker. Canning,
when at the head of Foreign Affairs, sent 4
dispatch in secretiye cipher to the solemn
Sir Charles Bagot, British ambassador at
the Hague With aid of the key the Dip
lomatic instructions were unravelled, and
came out in verse:
"In matters of commerce the fault Of the
Dutch
Is giving too little and asking too much
With equal advantage the French are content;
So well clap on the Dutch bottom twenty per
cent"
How like Tucker, at Senator Voorhees,
dining, making David Davis, President Of
the Senate, tumble down in a conyulsion Of
laughter and 60 into an asthmatic syn
cope
Far beyond and better than his legal lore,
his engaging manners, his might and fame
before the judges, his charm at banquets, is
that good name," untarnished, and that
integrity, above suspicion, cowing the
tempter into unwilling admiration. Nor
has he ever deiiled himself by untruth on
public questions
We crave pardon for diyulging a private
incident because of its illustrative value.
When the Virginia Government left Rich
mond in 1868, the salary due the chief Off
GERS of the State was paid out Of the coin
in the vaults A wallet Of gold was for
warded to Mr. Tucker as his pay as Attor-
ney-General. In the months following the
fall of the Confederacy he was without
home, means or employ. The laws were
silent. His vocation was gone. He was
poor. 4 single piece of silver was all the
currency in his shriyeled purse. Suffering
keenly the res qagusta domi, the seal Of the
bag of gold was not broken. Years passed.
The United States Court decreed the money
as his property. lie would not claim it.
The wax was removed the sum invested in
Law Reports, and the volumes fill an alcove
in the library Of Washington and Lee Uni
versity.
After twelve years he goes out Of the SER
vice of Virginia with clean hands and emp
ty pockets. In these evil days he stands al
most alone. His district, his State, the
American people, ought to forbid his retire
ment from the councils Of the nation
Richmond ChrisfiqR Adrocqte.