lence, to which he resolved to reach, and which became in some sort a guiding star to direct and invigorate his footsteps in the toilsome path of distinction. Whether this standard was drawn from some living model of high talents and exalted worth, from some historical example, or from some ideal combination formed from both these sources, it forcibly suggests to us a reflection full of encouragement and hope to such of the rising generation, as despising ignoble ease and inglorious obscurity, generously aspire to true greatness. I believe that no youth of ordinary intellectual endowments, who thus fixed in early life the standard of his own attainments, and exerted himself with becoming resolution and perseverance to reach it, ever failed to attain to a very high distinction. I as confidently believe on the other hand, that no one ever became eminently distinguished in any of the great and useful departments of human affairs, who had not before him in the incipient stages of his moral and intellectual developement, some such standard of excellence to direct his aspirations, and stimulate his exertions. It is a wise dispensation of Providence, that in all those useful arts and sciences which contribute to the substantial happiness of the human race, by improving their moral and political condition, the will and the moral attributes of men, incomparably more than any intellectual endowments, fix and assign the rank they are to hold among the distinguished benefactors and ornaments of their kind.

How many thousands of intellects, naturally equal to that of WASHINGTON, have sunk into inglorious oblivion, for the want of this high moral power to stimulate and direct them? It may be almost said, that within certain limits, wide enough to gratify the

highest aspirations of virtuous ambition, men are the authors of their own destinies, and that their own will is the measure of their attainments. This brief speculation will scarcely be considered a digression, when we reflect that it is so strikingly illustrated by the life and character of our lamented fellow citizen. After finishing his classical studies, he applied himself for some time to a course of reading, principally moral and historical, preparatory to the study of his profession. It was in this interval that he informed one of his then recent school-fellows, that he had formed and laid down for the government of his conduct, certain rules, drawn principally from ethical writers, which he considered it his duty to observe through life. In the same conversation, the different systems of moral philosophy having been brought into discussion, he expressed his very decided opinion, that any system of morals not founded upon Christianity, must be radically defective both in its requisitions and its sanctions. Indeed there is abundant evidence drawn from his conversations and writings, that from a very early period of his life, a sense of the obligations of religion was superadded to a deep sense of the moral obligation of all his various duties.

With his mind thus prepared and impressed, he commenced the study of the law in the office of our distinguished fellow-citizen, Judge CHEVES, the excellence of whose moral character, and the high powers of whose intellect, constantly exhibited before his pupil, cannot but have contributed in no small degree to develope the high qualities he soon afterwards displayed. He passed his examination, for admission to practice law, before he was twenty-one years of age; and Judge CHEVES, having been with

drawn from the bar by his duties in Congress, transferred to him his immense business, with this memorable advice, given in reply to an expression of diffidence, and of a sense of his responsibility: "My young friend, never distrust yourself." Thus encouraged, and sustained no doubt by the consciousness of his own powers, he assumed the responsible charge, and destitute of experience as he was, commenced at once a career of successful practice, and very soon ranked with the first members of the Charleston bar, distinguished as it then was by the high talents that adorned it. His forensic eloquence possessed one striking peculiarity, which will no doubt be recollected by every one who had the pleasure of hearing him. There was a perspicuity and lucid analysis in the statement of his case, so skilfully exhibiting the facts, that he had generally produced conviction, or a disposition to be convinced, before he had even commenced his argument. This, with his high character for integrity and candor as a practitioner, gave him a great and merited influence over the minds of juries, and rendered him one of the most successful members of his profession. In a city where high talents, directed to virtuous ends, are never permitted to remain long without their appropriate reward, he was soon summoned, by the general voice of his fellow-citizens, to represent them in the Legislature of the State. He entered this body when he was only twenty-three years of age, and very soon disclosed those peculiar powers of clear perception and solid argument, combined with that propriety of language, distinctness of enunciation, and general felicity and persuasiveness of manner, which rendered him so effective as a parliamentary speaker, and caused him very soon to be classed among its

most distinguished members. He was equally remarkable for those less dazzling, but more useful talents which qualified him for the practical business of legislation-exhibiting a combination which I have seldom met with in an equal degree in the course of my legislative experience, and without which the most commanding powers of eloquence serve rather to illustrate the orator, than to benefit his country. He was emphatically a business man, and as the head of a committee, he had few equals in the laborious industry and excellent system, which enabled him to digest and prepare measures for the House with promptitude and accuracy, or in the judicious selection of topics and clearness of exposition which enabled him to carry them through it. These high qualifications gave him a commandiug influence in the House, which so young a man had seldom before exercised.

He had served but two terms in the Legislature, when, as I happen to know, most unexpectedly to himself, he was elected presiding officer of that body. In connexion with his assuming the responsible duties of this appointment, I cannot resist the temptation to relate an anecdote strikingly illustrative of the resolution and perseverance which never deserted, but always sustained him.

It happened that he had never looked into a book of parliamentary rules, and he felt that he knew almost nothing on the subject. According to the usual practice of legislative bodies, the house adjourned over without doing any business the first day, except to complete its organization. He borrowed from a friend a copy of Jefferson's Manual, which he then opened for the first time, retired to his room, resolved to master its contents before he slept, and did not close his eyes that night. Thus much I learn from a

worthy friend, to whom he communicated it in an unreserved conversation many years after the event, while urging him to assume a responsible trust, and to illustrate this remarkable opinion by which he enforced his advice:-"I have always found that good sense, and a firm purpose, with competent general education, qualify a man for any thing." What follows, I state from my own personal knowledge. He took the chair next day, as thoroughly qualified for the discharge of its duties, as any presiding officer I have ever known. Indeed I remember to have been struck at the time, with the unhesitating promptitude and accuracy with which he despatched the business before the House; and during the whole time he remained in the chair, I do not remember a single instance in which his decision was reversed, or even an appeal taken from it. His manner of presiding, combining suavity, dignity, firmness and self-possession, commanded the universal respect of the House, and gave him a weight of authority, and power of preserving order, which I have rarely observed in any other presiding officer.

› Previous to the expiration of the term for which he was chosen speaker, he was elected by the Legislature, Attorney General of the State, and continued in this office, until he was elected in 1823, to represent the State in the Senate of the United States. He was elevated to this high station at a very interesting period in the history of our federal relations, when it was deemed highly important to place the very first talents of the State in the federal councils, to maintain and vindicate those great and peculiar interests of the Southern States, which are inseparably connected with an unshackled commerce with foreign nations, against that unjust and fatal system