go the flattering promises which his professional pursuit held out to him, he became a member of the Colonial Legislature, where he displayed the most firm patriotism, and most unimpeachable integrity. He continued a brilliant opposition to the violence of the mother country, and the ablest supporter of the rights of his own, until the year 1775, when he was called to a seat in the patriotic Congress, which laid the foundation of our independence. In 1776, he was appointed Brigadier-general in the national service, and so continued during the revolutionary struggle. He had been previously appointed to the same rank in his native state. In 1777, he had the command of the post of the Highlands, and contributed essentially to preserve the union of New-England with the other states. The attempts of the British General Howe, to form a junction with Burgoyne, were completely frustrated, and the latter, disappointed of the expected succour from New-York, was compelled to lay down his arms, and surrender his army prisoners at Saratoga.

Mr. Clinton was Governor of the state of NewYork, for eighteen years after the surrender of General Burgoyne, and was President of the Convention of that state, which ratified the National Constitution. His whole life may be said to have been usefully and honourably engaged in the service of his country-he mainly laid the foundation of the system of finance, economy, and good policy which has raised the state of NewYork to be what it is, equal to the most prosperous, if not itself the most prosperous state in the union. He successfully resisted riot, rebellion, faction and toryism; he well knew how to temper rigour with docility, and when to apply energy in support of mild persuasive. When the state of the nation seemed to permit, he sought retirement

from public life; but however necessary to his years and state of health to continue in his beloved retirement, yet when the political calm could not be continued without the aid of all the real friends of good government, Clinton listened to the call of his country, he accepted of a seat in the Legislature, and helped to crush faction, by raising Thomas Jefferson to the Presidency of the United States.

In 1801, he was again elected Governor of the state, and in 1804, was elected Vice-president of the United States, by the same number of votes that elevated Mr. Jefferson to the Presidency; the duties of this station were performed with sound judgment, and to the satisfaction of all.

On the question of granting a charter to the late bank of the United States, the Senate being equally divided, he prefaced his casting vote by the following remarks:

GENTLEMEN,

"As the object which I am called upon to decide, has excited general sensibility, I must solicit the indulgence of the Senate, whilst I briefly state the reasons which influence my judgment.

"Permit me to inform you that the question to be decided does not depend simply upon the rights of Congress to establish under the modification, a bank; but upon their power to establish a national bank, as contemplated by this bill; in other words, can they create a body politic and corporate, not constituting a part of the government, nor otherwise responsible to it, but by forfeiture of charter, and bestow on the members, privileges, immunities and exemptions, not recognized by the laws of the states, nor enjoyed by the citizens generally? It cannot be doubted but that Congress may pass all necessary and proper laws for carrying into execution the pow

ers specifically granted to the government, or to any department or office thereof, but in doing so, the means must be suited and subordinate to the end. The power to create corporations is not expressly granted. It is a high attribute of sovereignty, and in its nature not accessorial or derivative by implication, but primary and independent.

"I cannot believe that this interpretation of the constitution will, in any degree, defeat the purposes for which it was formed; on the contrary, it does appear to me, that the opposite exposition has an inevitable tendency to consolidation, and affords just and serious cause of alarm. In the course of a long life, I have found that government is not to be strengthened by an assumption of doubtful powers, but by a wise and energetic execution of those which are incontestible. The former never fails to produce suspicion and distrust, whilst the latter inspires respect and confidence.

"If, however, after a fair experiment, the power vested in government, shall be found incompetent to the attainment of the object, for which it was instituted, the constitution happily furnishes the means for remedying the evil by amendment; and I have no doubt, that in such an event, on an appeal to the patriotism and good sense of the community, it will be wisely applied.

"I will not trespass upon the patience of the senate, any longer than to say from the best examination I have been able to give the subject, I am constrained by a sense of duty to decide in the affirmative, that is, that the first section of the bill be struck out.”.

The patriot, statesman, and sage, fell at his post, in the city of Washington, on the 20th day of April, 1812. His country, and his native state

in particular, mourned over a loss that was irreparable, and sighed at the sight of a vacuum which could scarcely, if at all, become occupied by equal worth. The chairs of the Senate and House of Representatives at Washington were shrouded with black for the remainder of the session, and the members wore crape on their left arm for thirty days. The funeral moved from the front of the Senate chamber, attended by the President of the United States, the heads of departments, members of both houses of Congress, officers of government, and a great concourse of citizens and strangers. The military paid his remains the honours of war, and the inhabitants evinced their respect and regret by shutting their stores and dwellings during the day.

BRIGADIER-GENERAL

WILLIAM DAVIDSON.

WILLIAM DAVIDSON was the youngest son of George Davidson, who removed from Lancaster county in Pennsylvania, in the year 1750, to Rowan county in North Carolina. He was born in the year 1746, and received his education at an academy in Charlotte, the county town of Mecklenburg, which adjoins Rowan.

On the commencement of the revolutionary war, Davidson repaired to the standard of his country, and had the appointment of Major in one of the regiments raised by the government of North Carolina.

With the North Carolina line, he joined the army in New-Jersey, under the immediate command of Washington, where he continued until his line

was detached in November, 1779, to reinforce the Southern army, commanded by Major-general Lincoln. Previous to this, he was advanced to the rank of Lieutenant-colonel. Having delayed by permission, in North Carolina, on a visit to his friends in that state, he did not arrive near Charleston until after it had been so closely invested by the enemy, that he could not enter the town; he thus escaped being captured.

After the surrender of General Lincoln and bis army, Lieutenant-colonel Davidson commanded the militia called out to quell an expected insurrection of the loyalists of North Carolina, who began to embody themselves evidently to aid the enemy. He proceeded to execute this duty; and was severely wounded in an engagement with the loyalists near Calson's mill; the ball entered the umbilical region and passed through his body near the kidneys. After some weeks confinement, he recovered, and immediately repaired to his command, having been recently appointed Brigadier-general, by the government of North Carolina.

After the battle at the Cowpens, he employed himself actively in assembling the militia to enable General Greene to stop the progress of the advancing enemy. He was detached on the night of the 31st January, to the ford of the Catawba river, where Lord Cornwallis was expected to pass. Davidson possessed himself of the post during the night, with three hundred men; the conAlict that ensued will be best explained by the following account of it, extracted from the memoirs of the war in the Southern department of the United States, by General Henry Lee.

"A disposition was immediately made to dislodge Davidson, which the British General, O'Hara, with the guards, effected. Lieutenant-colonel