"  Armed  at  all  points  with  constitutional
learning,  lie  is  always  ready  to  meet  the  cham-
jnons  of  nuUilication,  or  of  Locofocoism,  who
attack  the  tenets  of  the  Whig  party,  or  seek  to
palliate  violations  of  law  by  crude  and  datiger-
ODs  expositions  of  our  National  Charter.  His
powerful  speeches  on  the  general  ticket  ques-
tion, and  his  firm  and  unflinching  opposition  to
the  admission  of  the  illegally  electeo  members,
will  not  soon  be  forgotten.  As  an  interpreter  of
llie  Constitution,  Mr.  Barnard,  in  common  witli
the  Whig  party,  belongs  to  the  school  of  Mar-
ahall,  Story,  Madison,  Hamilton  and  Washing-
ton, and  those  who  framed  that  instrument.
He  looks  upon  the  Constitution  in  the  liberal
spirit  in  which  it  was  conceived,  as  tlie  funda-
mental law  of  a  great  nation,  adequate  to  all
tiie  exigencies  and  wants  that  may  arise  in  the
progress  of  our  history.  With  these  views,  he
IS  a  friend  of  judicious  internal  improvements,
the  protective  policy,  and  a  bank  of  the  United
Slates,  and  a  sturdy  opponent  of  the  narrow
Tiews  of  ihe  race  of  Virginia  hair-splitters  and
abstractionist!,  who,  for  all  practical  purposes,
reduce  (he  Constitution  to  a  dead  letter.
"  As  a  speaker,  Mr.  Barnard  is  clear,  convinc-
ing and  argumentative.  He  wants  a  lively
imagination,  which  takes  from  his  speeches  the
attractions  of  rhetorical  ornament  and  illnstra-
Cion.  He  speaks  in  a  measured  and  deliberate
tone,  nnd  occasionally  throws  out  a  loOy  senti-
ment which  shows  the  depth  and  dignity  of  his
intellect.  His  manner  is  earnest,  but  at  the
■une  time  courteous  and  deferential  to  oppo-
nents. He  never  gives  an  insult  in  debate,  and
cannot  be  provoked  to  notice  the  blackguard-
isms which  every  gentleman  encounters  in
bucIl  a  body  as  the  House  of  Representatives.
