Part 14 (1/2)
In 1764 Mr. Huntington was elected to the a.s.sembly and made a very efficient member. In 1765 he was appointed king's attorney and performed the duties of that office until the pestiferous atmosphere of monarchical oppression drew him from under the dark mantle of a corrupt and impolitic ministry. In 1774 he was elevated to the bench of the Superior Court and the next year was a member of the Council of his state. When the all important subject of American rights and British wrongs came under discussion he threw the whole force of his influence in favor of the cause of equal rights. In October 1775 he took his seat in the Continental Congress and became a prominent and useful member. In January following he again took his seat in the Hall of Independence and fearlessly advocated the necessity of cutting the Gordian knot that held the Colonies to England. The solemnity of his manner, the strong force of his reasoning, the lucid demonstrations of his propositions and the unvarnished sincerity of his patriotism--were calculated to carry conviction to every heart and impart confidence to the wavering and timid. He was present at the birth of our nation on the 4th of July 1776 and aided in presenting the admired infant at the sacred font of LIBERTY and became a subscribing witness to the imposing ceremonies of that eventful day. He was continued in Congress until 1781 when ill health compelled him to retire for a season.
He was a man of great industry, honesty of purpose, profound research, clearness of perception and had acquired a large fund of practical knowledge. Human nature he had studied closely. He was well versed in general business, political economy, principles of government and rules of legislation which gave him a place upon important committees. He succeeded Mr. Jay as President of Congress and so ably discharged the duties of that responsible station that when compelled to retire from ill health a vote of thanks was placed upon the record. Hoping that he might be able to return the chair was not permanently filled for a long time. During a part of the _interim_ of his absence from Congress he presided on the bench and was a short time in Council. In 1783 he returned to Congress and at the termination of the session declined a re-election. He had aided in finis.h.i.+ng the mighty work of national freedom--the star spangled banner was floating in the breeze of Liberty--his country had triumphed over a merciless foe--her political regeneration had been consummated--America was disenthralled and he desired retirement from public life. This he was not permitted to enjoy. In 1784 he was appointed Chief Justice of his state--the ensuing year Lieutenant Governor and the next year was elected Governor of Connecticut, which office he held until the 5th of January 1796, when death took him from earth and its toils. He had lived the life of the righteous man--his last end was like his. He was a ripe shock full of corn--uniformly beloved in life--deeply mourned in death.
Mr. Huntington was a man of middle stature, dark complexion, keen eyes, countenance expressive, with a deportment calculated to make a favorable impression at first sight. In his life we find much to admire--nothing to condemn. His superior virtues and uniform consistency eclipsed the frailties of his nature. In the performance of all the duties of public and private life he was a model worthy of the closest imitation. From the plough in the field through his bright career to the presidential chair in Congress--to the chief magistracy of his own state--his every action was marked with consistency. His fame is based upon substantial merit--he rendered his name dear to every freeman. The history of his examples should exercise a salutary influence over the mind of every reader capable of appreciating the high importance of being consistent in all things and of perpetuating our UNION through all time.
WILLIAM IRVINE.
Mobocracy is a fearful spirit that is roused to action by a greater variety of elements than either of the unfortunate propensities of human nature. Based upon the boiling anger of those who put this ball in motion--reason is dethroned--reflection paralyzed--justice unheeded--mercy banished--the laws disregarded--power defied. It is the volcano of human society--the earthquake of social order--the whirlpool of brutality--the vortex of destruction. It is fanned by fell revenge--inflamed with burning fury--propelled by reckless impulse--delights in human gore--revels in demoniac confusion--rides on the tornado of faction--snuffs the whirlwind of discord and provokes the indignation of all peaceful citizens.
Occasions rarely occur to justify these sudden demonstrations of disorder and more rarely result in good. Deliberate action is usually the best to remedy evils that exist in fact--most certainly the best to cure those that are only imaginary. Thus reasoned the Sages and Heroes of the American Revolution and governed themselves accordingly. After pet.i.tions and entreaties for redress failed to remove the wrongs heaped upon them--a systematic and dignified mode of resistance was adopted--not mobocracy. They could then appeal to Heaven for the justice of their cause and elicited the admiration of gazing nations in the course they pursued.
Among those who put forth their n.o.blest exertions to advance the interests of the cause of equal rights was William Irvine who was born near Enniskillen, Ireland, in 1742. His ancestors removed from the north of Scotland to the Emerald Isle. His grandfather was an officer in the corps of grenadiers that fought so desperately at the battle of the Boyne. The grandfather of General Wayne was a brave officer in the same service. The n.o.ble descendants of both were in the same corps in the glorious cause of American Independence.
After completing his school education Mr. Irvine became a student of the celebrated Dr. Cleghorn and proved to be an excellent surgeon and physician. On the completion of his studios he was appointed a surgeon on board a British man of war where he served for several years with great diligence and success. In 1763 he came to America and located at Carlisle, Pennsylvania. His eminent talents--professional acquirements and large experience, soon gained for him a liberal practice and proud reputation. Having no innate love for mother Britain, he was prepared to meet the fearful crisis of the American Revolution. There were numerous powerful influences in Pennsylvania adverse to war with England. There was a large number of the Society of Friends opposed to war under all circ.u.mstances, although quick to seize the benefits resulting from it.
The Proprietary interests were very extensive and in favor of the crown.
To rouse the people to resistance was a herculean task. In this work Mr.
Irvine was active and successful. He was a member of the several preliminary conventions in the colony and became extensively influential in preparing the people for action.
In January 1776 he was commissioned to raise and command a regiment which duty he performed promptly. On the 10th of the following June he joined Gen. Thompson's brigade with his troops near the village of Trois Rivieres. A disastrous attack was immediately made upon the vanguard of the British army stationed at that place. Gen. Thompson, Col. Irvine and near two hundred subordinate officers and privates were taken prisoners and sent to Quebec. An exchange was not effected until April 1778. On his return Gen. Irvine was put in command of the second Pennsylvania brigade and continued in that position until 1781. He was then transferred to Pittsburgh and a.s.signed to the important and delicate duty of guarding the north-western frontier. It was important because difficult to obtain supplies and was menaced with British and Indians.
It was delicate because there existed strong animosities between the first inhabitants of that region and those from Western Virginia who claimed the territory occupied. Under those circ.u.mstances the appointment was a high compliment from the sagacious Was.h.i.+ngton. The happy results were a strong eulogy upon the wisdom of both. Gen. Irvine succeeded in reconciling the two contending factions--brought order out of confusion and restored harmony and good feeling among those who had long been at variance. This augmented his strength against the enemy and increased the confidence of the people in that entire section of country. He was continued in that command until the war closed and the star spangled banner waved triumphantly over the United States of America.
In 1786 Gen. Irvine was elected to Congress and proved an efficient and valuable member. He was active and useful in the board to settle the accounts between the states and the general government. He was a member of the Pennsylvania convention that sanctioned the Federal Const.i.tution.
In 1796 he was one of the commissioners who were despatched to visit the whiskey boys and endeavor to bring them back to reason, duty and safety.
When it became necessary to order out a military force to quell the insurrection Gen. Irvine was put in command of the Pennsylvania troops.
A short time after he rendered this last service in the tented field he removed to Philadelphia. He there received the appointment of Intendant of military stores which office was subsequently long and ably filled by his son Callender. He was also President of the Society of Cincinnati.
Peacefully and calmly Gen. Irvine glided down the stream of time until the summer of 1804 when he closed his active and useful career and took his departure for ”that country from whose bourne no traveller returns.”
He had lived highly respected--his death was deeply mourned. His public and private reputation were untarnished--he performed all the duties of life n.o.bly and fulfilled the great design of his creation.
THOMAS JEFFERSON.
[Ill.u.s.tration: {Thomas Jefferson portrait and signature} ENGRAVED BY T.B. WELCH FROM A PORTRAIT BY G. STUART.]
Genuine moral courage is a sterling virtue--the motive power of the true dignity of man. It invigorates the mind like a refres.h.i.+ng dew falling gently on the flowers of spring. It is a heavenly spark--animating the immortal soul with the fire of purity that illuminates the path of rect.i.tude. It is an attribute that opposes all wrong and propels its possessor right onward to the performance of all right. Based on virtue and equity, it spurns vice in all its borrowed and delusive forms. It courts no servile favors--fears no earthly scrutiny. No flattery can seduce it--no eclat allure--no bribe purchase--no tyrant awe--no misfortune bend--no intrigue corrupt--no adversity crush--no tortures can subdue it. On its breastplate is inscribed in bold relievo--_Fiat just.i.tia--ruat calum_. [Let justice be done though the heavens fall.]
Without it, fame is ephemeral--renown transient. It is the saline basis of a good name that gives enduring richness to its memory. It is a pillar of light to revolving thought--the polar star that points to duty, secures merit and leads to victory. It is the soul of reason--the essence of wisdom--the crowning glory of mental power. It was this that nerved the leaders of the American Revolution to n.o.ble and G.o.d-like action.
In the front rank of this band of patriots stood Thomas Jefferson, who was born at Shadwell, Albemarle County, Virginia, on the 24th of April 1743. His ancestors were among the early pioneers of the Old Dominion and highly respectable. They were Republicans to the core--in affluent circ.u.mstances and exercised an extensive and happy influence.
Thomas was the son of Peter Jefferson, a man much esteemed in public and private life. The liberal feelings imbibed from him by this son were conspicuous at an early age. From his childhood the mind of Thomas Jefferson a.s.sumed a high elevation took a broad and expansive view of men and things.
He was educated at the college of William and Mary and was always found at the head of his cla.s.s. Untiring industry in the exploration of the fields of science marked his collegiate career. He a.n.a.lyzed every subject he investigated, pa.s.sing through the opening avenues of literature with astonis.h.i.+ng celerity. His mind became enraptured with the history of cla.s.sic Greece and republican Rome. Improving upon the suggestions of liberal principles found in the cla.s.sics, he early matured his political creed and opposed every kind of government tinctured with the shadow of monarchy, hierarchy or aristocracy.
After completing his collegiate course he commenced the study of law under Chancellor Wythe, whose liberal views were calculated to mature and strengthen those already preponderating in the mind of Jefferson.
With regard to the oppressions of the mother country--the justice and necessity of resistance by the Colonies, their kindred hearts beat in unison. By a thorough investigation of the principles of law and government, Jefferson became rapidly prepared to enter upon the great theatre of public life--the service of his injured country. Planting himself upon the broad basis of Magna Charta--encircling himself within the pale of the British Const.i.tution--he demonstrated most clearly that the ministry of the crown had long been rapidly advancing beyond the bounds of their legitimate authority--exercising a tyranny over the Colonies not delegated to them by the const.i.tution of the monarchy they represented. So luminous were his expositions of chartered rights on the one hand and acc.u.mulating wrongs on the other, that he became the nucleus of a band of patriots resolved on LIBERTY OR DEATH.
At the age of twenty-two he was elected to the legislature which enabled him to disseminate his liberal principles throughout the Colony. He proclaimed himself the unyielding advocate of equal rights and had engraved upon his watch seal--”Resistance to tyrants is obedience to G.o.d.” By his eloquence and unanswerable arguments he kindled the flame of opposition in old Virginia which increased as tyranny advanced. In 1769 a resolution was pa.s.sed by the legislature--_not to import a single article from Great Britain_. In the advocacy of this proposition by Mr.