EULOGIUM 
 
 GOVERNOR CLINTOtf, 
 
 / 
 

 
 I 

 
 EULOGIU1YL 
 
 The following beautiful Eulogiura, is from the pen of S. Simp- 
 son, Esq. of Philadelphia, and is reprinted in this form, to en- 
 sure its preservation among those who appreciate^the talents of 
 the writer, and the splendid abilities and patriotic services of 
 our beloved CLINTON. 
 
 When a great public benefactor descends to the tomb, it is the 
 republic that suffers ; and the void occasioned by his death, is just- 
 ly lamented as a national calamity. The people mourn for their 
 country and themselves, and seek consolation for their loss, in the 
 soothing contemplation of the greatness and virtues of the illus- 
 trious citizen, whose fate they deplore, and whose patriotism 
 they venerate. There is a melancholy pleasure in recalling to 
 our gaze, the splendid attributes of a departed sage ; and giving 
 an intellectual form and image to the immortal worthy, whose 
 corporeal substance has passed away to mingle with the elements 
 that composed it. 
 
 To die, is the fate of all men a fate, fixed by the unalterable 
 decrees of nature, which, nor power, nor rank, nor genius can 
 avert ; but to die full of years, and crowned with honors, an ob- 
 ject of envy to the great, of admiration to the million, of rivalry 
 to the ambitious, beloved by friends, venerated by the world, 
 and lamented by all who appreciate virtue, genius, and learning 
 is the chosen destiny of the select few, whom God has endow- 
 ed with the high and commanding attributes of mind, and exalt- 
 ed in the sphere of humanity, by combining virtue with genius, 
 and benevolence with science. To descend to the tomb thus full 
 of glory, thus followed by the tears and the lamentations of mil- 
 lions of free people, is not to die, but rather to change an earthly 
 for an eternal existence ; and to come into the inheritance of 
 that immortality of renown, which is the reward of a life, nobly 
 spent in promoting the felicity of the species, advancing the 
 prosperity of the nation, giving vigor to freedom, and durability 
 and perfection to our free institutions. 
 
 Thus has descended to the tomb, De Witt Clinton ; a man, 
 who, ia whatever light we view him, strikes the beholder with
 
 the traits of genius, and the altitude of greatness. As a politi- 
 cian, who could outstrip him in the race of glory ? As a states- 
 man, where shall we seek for his equal, or his superior? As a 
 man, who is more virtuous, amiable, engaging, benevolent, and 
 urbane. As a scholar, who can boast learning more profound, 
 judgment more solid, taste more refined, imagination more crea- 
 tive, invention more sublime and beautiful, and composition 
 more classical, eloquent, and melodious simple in its proportions, 
 but beautiful in its structure like the temples of Greece, replete 
 with grace and grandeur, but so chaste that all traces of labor 
 were lost in the brilliancy of its effect. 
 
 Possessed of a capacious mind, an ardent fancy, a store-house 
 of knowledge, a flowing elocution, and a commanding oratory ; 
 combined with superior personal advantages, inclination pointed 
 to the world of politics as the orbit of his glory. Who can con- 
 trol his destiny ? The impulse was that of genius. The highest 
 range of duties are grasped by the highest range of faculties. 
 The art of government is the sublimation of human wisdom ; and 
 the highest conceptions can alone wield the destinies of mankind, 
 to improve, benefit, and bless them. Clinton's genius was not of 
 that secondary class of greatness, which passively administers a 
 system already formed and established, with prudence, order, 
 and harmony. This is the part of ordinary statesmen, who are 
 fashioned by the square and compass of the schools. The gigan- 
 tic vigor of his genius could not rest to turn the wheel of a ma- 
 chine, which for a thousand ages had regulated the government 
 of mankind, in one unvaried order of stationary mediocrity. His 
 mind was created to soar, and by necessary consequence, the 
 bent of his genius was to improve mankind by new creations. 
 Thus, he has stamped the impress of his genius on the age in 
 which he flourished. A waste of useless waters lay embedded 
 on the earth, accidentally beneficial in a partial degree to the 
 powers of man but directed, governed, and regulated by the 
 genius of Clinton they became the fountain of abundance, the 
 source of individual opulence, and the basis of national grandeur. 
 Equally waste lay the common tract of the HUMAN MIND ; here 
 and there enlightened with a solitary ray, but the great mass 
 presenting a dense and gloomy aspect of ignorance and turpitude. 
 Struck by the wand of his genius, this inert mass has become an 
 active body of intellectual vigor, and moral worth. EDUCATION 
 spread her beams over the surface, at the command of Clinton, 
 and all became light, life, and loveliness. In the same manner 
 did he produce harmony out of the chaos of our Federal Consti- 
 tution, by devising that fundamental amendment which discrimi- 
 nated the election of the President from the Vice-President of 
 the United States. 
 
 For the last thirty years, the name of De Witt Clinton is asso- 
 ciated with the conflicts of party, the improvements of our Fede- 
 ral Constitution, the diffusion of knowledge, and the acceleration 
 of our prosperity. To him, are the people indebted for the first
 
 impulse givem to an opposition to the abuses, usurpations, and 
 dictatorial tyranny of the central power. And to him, shall we 
 be still more largely indebted, for such an amendment of the na- 
 tional compact, as shall limit the eligibility of the President to 
 one term; thus cutting off at the roots, all intrigue, corruption, 
 and venality. 
 
 Deeply versed in national law, Mr. Clinton was highly distin- 
 guished for his legal acumen ; a quick perception of great gene- 
 ral principles, and the essence and substance of what is under- 
 stood by the term Jurisprudence. No man in the country could 
 boast superiority to Clinton, in all that related to the science of 
 government, and none could claim to be his equal in the art of 
 government, two very distinct branches of intellectual power, and 
 but seldom found united in the same individual. 
 
 Such is the grand outline of the colossal genius of DE WITT 
 CLINTON. In filling up the picture, countless charms attract the 
 eye, and splendid incidents, while they captivate the fancy, also 
 enchain the heart. 
 
 As a politician, Mr. Clinton was ambitious of fame and power, 
 and no aspiration was ever supported by claims so just, and ta- 
 lents more brilliant. Local politics, however exalted, could not 
 prevent those claims of the country, from calling him to become 
 a candidate for the highest honors of the nation. But here the 
 rancour of party spirit interposed the barrier of bigotry to his ele- 
 vation. Inferior men combined to check his career; and the 
 machinery of faction succeeded in exalting to power, the seconda- 
 ry class of inefficient statesmen, who, without such artificial 
 means, must forever have remained in obscurity. But even 
 combinations would have failed to ostracise him, without the 
 auxilliary force of calumny. The cry of ambition was raised by 
 the ambitious, to cover their own venality, and screen their in- 
 trigues and bargains : and a man, who never thought of power, 
 but to do his country service, was offered up a victim upon the 
 altar of faction, to appease the indignation of demagogues and 
 factionists. 
 
 Among the chief constituent qualities of greatness are moral 
 courage, energy and decision. The noblest invention may pro- 
 ject, the acutest ingenuity devise schemes of national utility ; 
 but they will burst into air, unless reinforced by vigor of execu- 
 tion, and inflexible determination. These attributes appeared in 
 bold relief in the character of Clinton. When he projected his 
 grand canal system, fools were convulsed with laughter, and fac- 
 tiouists thundered their malediction through the union. But the 
 great mind of Clinton, remained firm and immoveable, sustained 
 by the consciousness of his superior genius, and the force of a 
 colossal intellect, that could see what others were blind to. 
 Few men possess this moral courage in so extraordinary a degree 
 as did De Witt Clinton, because few men are so lavishly endow- 
 ed with the omnipotence of genius. He lived to see the laughter 
 of fools converted into adulation of his wisdom ; and the growls
 
 <r 
 
 of party change to the acclamations of applause. I speak truth 
 if any are offended, let them seek consolation in repentance 
 and self-humiliation. 
 
 It was owing to this superior trait in his intellect, that he was 
 enabled to vanquish opponents, surmount obstacles, and remove 
 difficulties in the path of his vast designs, that common talents 
 wo*ald have sunk under. It was this trait that gave him such 
 powerful command over circumstances, persons, and events; and 
 stamped him with the attribute of action that attribute which 
 is peculiar to genius of the first order, without which, invention 
 evaporates in theory, and wisdom dwindles to the imbecility of 
 an abstract rule without which, eloquence is grovelling, and 
 learning useless. 
 
 I am aware that the grave has but just received the remains 
 of Clinton ; and that in thus doing justice to his memory, that I 
 tread upon the live coals of the burning lava of faction. It is too 
 early to write the history of this illustrious man but it ought 
 not to be too early to pay the homage of truth to his real merit. 
 Envy, and fear, and rivalry, die with the object that excited 
 them ; and while his grave is yet open, every political chieftain 
 ought to advance to the brink, and cast in his poisoned javelin, 
 invoking the forgiveness of the Great Spirit, whose giant power 
 made inferiors tremble, and equals, if he had them, hate ! But 
 this is past. The ice of death withers the malice of the heart, 
 and plucks calumny from the tongue of envy. 
 
 But the patriot, in delineating the great traits of such a char- 
 acter as Clinton, is instinctively prompted to inquire, how it has 
 happened, that a statesman thus fashioned in nature's brightest 
 and richest mould, never attained the highest summit of distinc- 
 tion, to which the people were desirous of exalting him ? History 
 responds an answer in the banishment of Aristides, in the fate of 
 Cato but he desires to know the real cause, not the analagous 
 effect of injustice and proscription ! He seeks for it in the history 
 of parties, and he finds it in the depravations of government ; he 
 beholds it in the supremacy of a CENTRAL POWER, superior to, 
 and above the people in the intrigues of CABINET CORRUPTION 
 in the law of CABINET SUCCESSION in the UEIRSHIP of Se- 
 cretary panders to Presidential demagogues and he closes 
 the volume of his country's history, with a sigh, a blush, or an 
 imprecation ! 
 
 But let me hush indignation on a theme, where every sylable 
 should breathe nought but harmony, to be in accord with the 
 spirit whose departure we deplore ; and where every feeling 
 should melt to the sweetness of the benignant temper that glow- 
 ed in the bosom of this pure patriot. Thank God, his glory re- 
 quired no such distinction to make it full and perfect. CLINTON 
 will outlive, and outshine those whose names are inscribed on 
 the roll of presidential honors for his name and his genius are 
 stamped on the face of the nation wherever a river rolls its wa- 
 ters to feed a canal, wherever a college, or a school rears its little
 
 spire, or lofty dome, to indicate its spiritual aim ; whererer lib- 
 erty is loved, and the rights of the people prized, the name of 
 CLINTON will live not in mouth honor only but in the deep 
 affections of the heart in gratitude for his public benefactions 
 and services ; in admiration of his genius, and in veneration for 
 his philanthropy. 
 
 Let no one so far mistake, as to suppose I am attempting to 
 write the eulogium of De Witt Clinton ! I am not qualified for 
 the task ; I have no set phrases and drilled thoughts, suited to 
 the theme. Nor does Clinton require an eulogium. There too, 
 he is superior to most men, on whom the world, with little dis- 
 crimination, lavish the title of great. His eulogy is written on 
 the page of the nation not the page of history but on the face 
 of our soil, on our rivers, our canals, our literature, our science, 
 our legislation, our institutions, and our charters of liberty. No, 
 thank God, Clinton's glory requires no presidential honors, no 
 elogium's extravagance to make it full, splendid and perfect. 
 From my soul do I pity the man, who appreciates genius by the 
 standard of office, or bestows upon office, the homage that ought 
 only to be consecrated to genius. 
 
 And yet CLINTON ought to have been President, for the sake 
 of the country. Because his faculties wfere fashioned on a great 
 scale, and he was capable of doing great things. Because he 
 was one of nature's colossal works ; and like WASHINGTON, 
 JACKSON, NAPOLEON, and other illustrious sons of genius, was 
 created to benefit, bless and enlighten the country he adorned. 
 The greater his sphere of action, the greater would have been 
 his usefulness ; and we may judge of the transcendant extent of 
 his power, when we consider that even as the Governor of a 
 State, he has done more FOR THE WHOLE NATION, than all the 
 Presidents who have held the hand of legitimate imbecility, to the 
 wheel of passive government. 
 
 In relation to the state of NEW-YORK, the works, the name 
 and the glory of CLINTON, must form a stupendous monument 
 of pride and renown ! Why ? When that question is put, or an 
 answer wanted, all monuments will be useless all worth of no 
 account all virtue a chimera all genius a phantasm ! 
 
 As an ORATOR, we have no men who are superior, few equal 
 to CLINTON. On the floor of the Senate, he has convinced, cap- 
 tivated and carried away an audience. In this respect he was 
 far above Washington. In literature and science, he was also su- 
 perior to the great father of his country ; as an author, no Ameri- 
 can, no European writer, soars above him. Firm, dignified and 
 self-collected, he expressed breathing thoughts in burning words. 
 
 In the SCIENCES, he was deeply versed ; botany, chemistry, 
 mathematics, and the various adjunct departments had been con- 
 quered by his genius to his absolute control. 
 
 Polite literature and poetry claimed him for a pre-eminent dis- 
 ciple. In the bower of the muses, it was the highest delight of 
 the patriot statesman to repose after the toils of government.
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 8 
 
 His ambition was to excel all others in literature, science, and 
 the art of government ! 
 
 Acting on the maxim, that knowledge is liberty, and liberty pow- 
 er, he prosecuted with untiring assiduity the task of diffusing 
 education! Convinced that public virtue, and moral purity, are 
 in proportion to intellectual improvement, he aimed to promote 
 the happiness of mankind, by making them wiser and better. 
 
 Grandeur captivates the imagination. VIRTUE wins the 
 heart. Who can refuse to be an enthusiastic devotee at the 
 shrine of glory ? Who can abstain from burning the incense of 
 affection on the altar of morality ? Clinton is a rare example of 
 private virtue in a great public character. His life was unblem- 
 ished by a spot on his honor, or a stain on his morals ! Does such 
 a man require a eulogist ? What combination of the sublime and 
 beautiful can excel such a picture of a patriot citizen, consecrated 
 to the enduring admiration of posterity ? 
 
 As a friend his heart was warm, his attachments eternal, or as 
 firm and unalterable as his life. But my object is not a display 
 of his private virtues ; yet we may remark without infringing on 
 the limits of our subject, that Clinton amidst his household gods, 
 was not inferior to Clinton as the statesman, the politician, the 
 patriot, the scholar and the philosopher. 
 
 Yes, he was a great find a good man, a brilliant star of genius, 
 and an exemplary model of virtue : this is true greatness ! And 
 who can hold back the tear that gushes to the eye, when such a 
 man falls ? It is the tribute due to humanity ! Could I not weep 
 over the fate of Clinton, I should myself be a recreant to my spe- 
 cies but, perhaps, you knew him not, perhaps his excellent 
 heart never warmed your bosom perhaps you only knew him 
 through the voice of fame ! Then weep over poor humanity, 
 that such a light should be extinguished in all the glory and full- 
 ness of its cheering blaze, by one rude blast of death ! Frail mor- 
 tals ! Ye stand in the greatness of genius, emulating the gods in 
 power and intelligence when lo ! one breath from the trumpet 
 of fate, hurls ye into nothingness. Pay a tear, at least, to your 
 own frailty ! 
 
 But I have transcended the bounds of an unstudied and spon- 
 taneous tribute of respect, for the genius of a great public bene- 
 factor ! It is not the effusion of a weekly journal that can do jus- 
 tice to the talents, learning and actions of DE WITT CLINTON. 
 That task is reserved for the biographer and historian. But the 
 homage of the heart will break forth the tribute due to the pat- 
 riot must be paid by the citizen. His talents always extorted 
 our admiration his sudden demise has struck us with astonish- 
 ment and covered us with gloom. 
 
 Before concluding this article we cannot but express a hope, 
 that the intimate connection subsisting between Clinton and Jcf- 
 ferson will now be revealed to the public ; and that their mutual 
 correspondence will be published, as illustrative of the opinions 
 and characters of two of the greatest worthies of the republic.