Family-histories and genealogies : containing a series of ...

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The National Hall of Representatives was the chief field of his influ-
ence. Here, during part of President Washington's administration, the
whole of that of President Adams, and especially during a part of the
administration of President Jefferson, when he was in the opposition, he
stood forth as the fearless yet always courteous, the uncompromising
though cautious, champion of the political principles of the school of
Washington. Though commanding, he was never arbitrary. His opinions
were always respectfully heeded, even by his opponents, however they
might argue against them in frank debate, or seek for vulnerable points at
which to assail him secretly, or endeavor to pierce his armor with shafts of
raillery, as did John Randolph of Roanoke, his frequent antagonist in the
discussion of important questions. Most of the great public questions of
his time have either passed out of the minds of the present generation, or
assumed new aspects through the onward rush of events— " tempora
mutantur, nos et mutamur cum illis "—so that a detailed review of the
political life of Roger Griswold, except in an elaborate biography, might
be out of place. But justice requires that this family-memorial should
recognize his profound loyalty to principle, his supreme and unswerving
regard to what he thought to be right, irrespective of considerations of
expediency, which caused it to be said of him :
" There is no duty he will
not be found adequate to, nor any one from which he will shrink,"'* and
which " extorted even from his political adversaries an affection for his
worth, a reverence for his pre-eminent talents." The secret of his power
lay, as has been said, in the "wonderful promptness" of his mind, which
" penetrated every subject presented to it," and " saw it clearly and in all
its connections. What others gained by study and reflection he attained
by intuition. Having no obliquity of intention, he went directly to his
object.""' No one can read the Journal of Congress during his member-
"" Letter of Chauncey Goodrich to Oliver Wolcott Sen., dated Mar. 26, 1796, in Memoirs of the
York, 1846,
Administrations of Washington and John Adams. . . . Bj' George Gibbs. . . . New
i. 324.
"" Daggett's Eulogium, ut supra, p. 12.
'" Id., ibid.
83*