The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-11-19
Ia Wit Clinton

De Witt Clinton
Enron GOLD LEAF Nhcn the htEo-
Iutionary War commenced lie nh' I'm
ton. OF New York, was boy, 700
vnnoU TO take an active part III the
for freedom; but he grew up
a strong advocate for the civil ana re-
I;oious riphs Of the people. The power OF
his strong and well informed mind was
used in advancing the prosperity OF Ills
country. Asa public servant ms career
was varied and useful. For eight Years
he performed the duties Oi Mayor oi Ne"
York city, which prospercd greatly uhoeF
his wise management. Ills long service
rs Mayor showed the confidence OF ti!e
UeoDIc in his fitness for the place. ne
served in the STATE Legislature III ooth
houses. also az United States Senator.
He was elected governor OF the state sew
craI wears and declined to serve longer
much against the wishes Of the people.
Like CLAY and Calhoun and other states
men. he had his eye on the pre5identid,
chair but was never promoted 10 IT, ii,'i
he been he would have performed the uu-
ties Of the office with rs much dignity
and ability as any one that ever occu-
rIed it. He believed the people on whose
SURFACES the pcrpetulty OF the rights d1
headed should be enlightened, and he adj
rocated the establishment OF free schools
and public libraries for their instruction.
The first orphan asylum in New lOrK
was founded through his influence. me
| founding of such noble institutions snow:
| ed the bencyolence and noblen'ss OF ms
| nature. John q. Adams offered HIM the
| nosition OF Ambassador to England, Dut
| he refused to accept it because his StaIe
| needed his services at home. chaliSt
was necessary in the constitution OF inc
| State to extend the right OF suffrage ahc
| he wanted to use his influence III the con
vcntjOn in bringing about the H'Nlrec
rosult. The great act OF his life was tslt
djrrino of the Erie Canal that CONNECTED
the waters of Lake Erie with the waters
OF the Hudson river. It was gfea
work. of immense benefit to the Htale
and will stand as Il monument 20 III
wisdom in so ably urging it on the attch
ton OF his people When he first propose
opening the canal and advocated 1t as
measure that would pour the treasure
OF the West right into the lap OF ->e'
! York, many strongly opposed IL, am
the newspapers Of the day ridIculed IL
the impractcable idea OF II vlsionar
mind. They thought the idea OF diGGih
so long Il canal sufficiently bfoau I'LL
deep for heavily laden vessels 10 1loat O
was prcposterous. They dcrldlngly Gale
it "Clnton's big ditch.' by persistrh
effort he got the bill through the lcSitia
ture which authorized It's conStrncIi"
and appropriated money Tor 1t, ana WA
appointed president OF the "canal COZ,
mission 1t cost the state seven mn
= ions OF dollars, but the outlay was sina
81, a., " hon IN
,peat canal was completed and vessel
), came floating down freighted with tn
products of the West, those who though
him insane before now praised him will
= ont measure. BOnfircs and fireWork
, speeches and professions were the ora,
of the day, and Clinton WAS its hero. l
! | was the triumph OF IL great and Ia: se'
inp mind Ovei. the preludlceS and lgno
; ancc Of the times in which he lived. /
j wonderful developments III the arts an
e sciences since Clinton's big ditcll
:. aroused such feelings OF opposition, nav
t made our people wiser. GA" people ha'
i learned that u few millions wisely e
q pended in great and profitable "ori
go is not money thrown away. II IL /
e ouires twenty millions to tunnel a mou
,, tain for the rushing iron horse TO pa
u through drawing the cars ireIghteu WI
q the products OF the land, the money Is
d once forthcoming We have learned
d transmit intelligence with the rapldity
= most of thought from one extremity
v our country tn the other, and to dIsta
= lands. The trouble with Clinton was
was far ahead OF the age III which
. lived. Ii some financier was to propo
> establishing a more rapid and substa
tial method of transportation betWe
III two great commercial centres OF the Ia
as the question would not be will the Wo
I'd be done. but how long before II Will
H. into operation? Clinton was Il man I
~, greatness of whose intellectual pow
=, was shown in bringing about practl
"' results beneficial to the country. fearl
e this article might be too long Tor
nd editor will close with one quotat'
on "There was not a poor man lii New
nd but looked up to him as a friend ana
on mired that stateliness OF bearing VIII
n Others called haughtiness.'
~ r. W. HARRI.