Not long after his admission to the bar, Mr Ames was called on to appear in the character of a statesman and a legislator. Having been attentive to the native im pulses of his own mind, and carefully observant of the drift of his genius, he had now a sufficient knowledge of his powers to perceive that the senate chamber, ra ther than the forum, was to prove e\ entually the theatre of his renown. Notwithstanding, therefore, the voice of private interest to the cont•ary—for what honest Ameri can has ever grown rich in the service of his country?— so highly was lie enamoured of that reputation and glory which conscious ability whispered was awaiting him, and so ardent was his desire to move for a time in his proper .sphere, that he now, perhaps, courted rather than decli ned the conspicuous walks of public life. Nor do we regard this disposition as amounting to a blemish in his character. On the other hand, we consider it as tanta mount to a virtue. That great man is so far deficient in greatness, who is not ambitious of his just reward, the gratitude and applause of the virtuous and discerning portion of the world, consequent on the performance of exalted duties. Even Washington himself, that resplen dent epitome of all that is great and excellent in our nature, was no stranger to the love of renown.
After having acquired distinction in the discussion and arralig, 11Witt of re I nun points, of local ‘, hr ve elected a delegate to the ()mention the state of :\la:-, sadisetls, who h ntc i in the at* 17,,1 with a Njev6 0, the ratification ul the federal «flislitotion. 11tr1' all 0p lnc SCIA•CI itself 1)1' 11w-di and ample augmentations to his faint. The subj, et mid( r 1'0051- (4:FM1On \I :IS c 111111ClItl1 It ,he\ated awl c paud(d his 11,11, II, its uwu dhuru,jous, railed forth all the ferlours of his mind. it 1% a`i a dCC Or NVilutill'r the United Stan s should Le blessed with a wise, free,and ancient evium the awful spectacle of a national chaos; a people passing in convulsions from laction to anarchy, and from that, 1)( c haps, to the calm of a military despotism. It was during the session of this convention that he gained sm h high and well merited eclat, by that spec linen of parliamentary eloquence, his speech on die subject of biennial elections.
In the hist congress under the federal constitution. which met at New York in the %ear All. Ames appeared in the house of representatives, as a member from that district in which was included the city of Boston. During the eight years of the Washington administration, he retained his seat in that august as sembly :—august let us call it ; for it \\ as composed or the ablest and most virtuous men of the nation. Rome, in her best dal s, would have gloried in a senate so en lightened and dignified ; and the states of Greece would have committed their dt stinks to a council so pre-emi nent in patriotism and wisdom, This period of eight years, during whif It Mr Ames held a seat in the legislature of the union, was all-im portant to the people of America. In the course of it, the
most momentous concerns of the nation were discussed and adjusted with that sagacity and disceinment, that wisdom and integi ity, which their weight and the crisis so pressingly demanded. The complex and mighty ma chine of a government calculated to maintain its ow n existence, and to embrace and reeohcile the different and clashing interests of an extensive country and a nu merous, high-spirited and jealous people, was construc ted and put in motion. In addition to this, successful and satisfactory arrangements were made on the score of the most important of our external relations. By a wise and humane system of policy, combining the prin ciples of justice and force, conciliation and liminess, the friendship of the Indian tribes was secured. With Great Britain and Spain, an honourable adjustment was effected in relation to all our points of difference. A spring was given to commerce which carried our flag to every sea, and brought to our shores the products and riches of every climate; and, by a dignified neutra lity, the nation was preserved from the threatening vor tex of a foreign alliance.
In the achit cements of wisdom and the duties of pa triotism, necessarily appertaining to these transactions, Air Ames held a share that \I aS ample and distinguished. Persevering in his att,:ntions, and faithful to the trust reposed in him by his constituents, in no instance did he indulge himself in absence from his post. On every question of interest and importance, he took an active and responsible part in debate. His eloquence was al ways adapted to the occasion—argumentative or impas sioned, playful or serious, lofty or satirical, according to the subject, and the prevailing temper and disposition of the house. It was rich in every thong, both as to matter and manner, calculated to delight, impress, :mil instruct. Although it might not always com nice his opponents, it seldom offended them, and never Jailed to excite their admiration, and command their respect.
His speech, on the appropriations for carrying into ef fect the British treaty, was certainly the most august and resplendent exhibition of his talents; and may al most be regarded as constituting an epoch in modern eloquence. An English gentleman of distinguished attainments, who was as present on the occasion, frankly acknowled1;ed, that it surpassed, in effect, any thing he had ever heard in the British parliament. I le even preferred it to Sheridan's celebrated speech in the case of Warren Hastings. It had, perhaps, more of the irre sistible sway, the soul-subduing influence of ancient eloquence, than any thing that has been heard since the days of Cicero. The circumstances attending its deli very were peculiar. A brief recital of them will not, we flatter ourselves, be deemed uninteresting, or regarded as a departure from the duty of the biographer.