of more than thirty thousand pages, declares to me that he could discover nothing in his most private notes which was not honorable. Under the microscope nothing could be detected even when passions were raging the fiercest, which had the least taint of envy, jealousy, meanness, bigotry, or any unworthy feeling." The general impression he derived from looking over the whole correspondence was, that Governor Andrew "ranked among the purest, the most generous, the most magnanimous, the most unselfish and patriotic statesmen of the world." At the same time, he was the most unconventional of men. He was simple in his tastes, natural in his appearance and conduct, and had a gentleness and a youthful artlessness of character united with a lion heart in courage. "His armor was his honest thought, And simple truth his utmost skill." He passed more than twenty years in an arduous profession, and never earned more than enough for the decent and comfortable support of his family. He devoted his best years to the country, and lost his life in her service. His highest ambition was to do his duty in simple faith and honest endeavor. Of such a character the wellknown lines of Sir Henry Wotton are eminently applicable: "This man was free from servile bands Of hope to rise, or fear to fall; And having nothing, yet had all.” |