Newspaper Page Text
Tiie Athenian.
FOR THE ATHENIAN’.
/j r shair.—There is • pood bill homely saying, thst
hisin-r a Monkey climbs, the 'more lie shows his
■ mjl. Your correspondent “Athens Minstrel,” took
■ i high a leap in your Iasi, that, he not only showed a
,o i;-Tenoy of tall, but much I fear, entangled itninonirst
the thorns that infest the sides of Mount Parnassus.—
If sn I would reroeiTnenil the following petition, addres.
■md o> Apollo, as the surest means of extricating him-
selffom so cruel a dilemma.
« Oh! that l hud the iringt of a Dore that I might fly
airni/ and"— hide nnj head.
" Oh! bright Apollo! guardian Dove,"
11 Perched in" your mountain “ vale,"
IJear! Oh Hear, “ thy murdeihl luvu,"
“ His rutldcss fate bewail ?”
“ Hast thou not wings to fly” adnwn
This eurseil “ mountain’s" steep,
" Where ntflinn” brambles thirk ant strewn
To make its Minstrels sigh and wet p.
■’ Parting through fields of sun-bright sky,"
(tit. Watts for my Pegassns,)
Aloft I thought to soar on high.
Out soon was tangled on Parnassus !
And now alas! with all my" ills’’—
“ By woes iinnuiiil.er’d (irest"—
I’m doomed to hang halfway the “ lull,”
tin which I Imped “ a lasting rest."
T hen hear my pray’r—my dying breath
(bills In thee fnr quick “ relief,”
"1>:.! ease those thousand pangs of death,"
“ Thai tnoek the worlds belief."
And Oh! should my inhallnw’Alread,
Again thy sarred mount profane,
May lightnings blast nty stupid hesd,
Tho’ liftman's glory lights the flnmo.
DOGGEREL.
* MISCELLANEOUS EXTRACTS.
/Vos.—Of tlip sinti'l early kinds of |>eas, one
pint will sew (attr.orditu; to Loudon 1 n row of,
twenty ynrds, for the larger sorts for main
crops, the same measure will sow n tow of
thirty-three yards. The drills for the early
sorts may be one ineliund a Italfdcep ; and two
feet and a half, three, or four feet asunder, ne-
eordiiit' to the height to which (lie pens usually
grow. Pens that are to grow witho"t sticks,
rei|inrc the least room. For summer crops
and large sorts, make the drills two inches
r]> up, und four, live, or six feet asunder. The
distance along the drill should he according to
t!ie size of the peas nod the season. The
frame, three in the space of an inch ; the
churlton, hotspur, and d.varf marrowfat, two in
an inch ; the Russian blue and middlo size
sorts, three in two inches ; the large marrow
fat nr Knight’s, n full inch npnrt.
Soil nnci sitiuitian.—The soil should be
moderately rich, and the deeper nnd stronger
l’or lofly growers. Peas are not assisted, lint
hurt hy unreduced dung recently turned in.
A fresh snmly loam, or rout! stair, nnd n little
decomposed vegetable mailer make the besl
manure. The soil for an early crop cun hard
ly ho too dry.
Tofortcunl (in early crop.—Sow in lines
from enst to west, anil stick a row of spruce,
hemlock, or pino branches nlong tho north
side of every row, and sloping so ns to bend
over the plants, at one foot or eighteen inches
from tho ground. As tho plants advance in
height, vnry the pnsit|pn of tho breaches, so
.is they nmy always protect them from the
perpendicular cold or rain, nnd yet leave them
oocnto the full influence oftho sun. Some cover
during nights nnd in sovere weather, with two
boards, na led together lengthwise, nt right an
gles, which forms a very secure and easily
managed covering, hut excludes light.
Slicking peas.—All peas fruit better for
sticking, and continue longer productive, es
pecially the larger sorts. Provide branchy
slicks of such n height as the sorts may re
quire. For tho dwarfs, three feet high; for
ihe Charlton and middle sizctl. four or live
feet; for the marrowfats and larger kinds, six
or eight feet; for Knight’s and other tall mar
rowfats, nine or ton Icet. Place it row of sticks
io each line of peas, on Ihe most sunny side,
east or south, tlrnt the attraction of the sun
tatty incline the plants towards the sticks’
Place about half tho number on the opposite
side, und let both rows stand rather wider at
top than nt tho ground.—JV. E. Fanner.
To rain eatly potatoes.—Tnko the potatoes
whole and cover them with horse litter of a
moderate warmth—let them remain there till
they put forth shoots of four or five inches in
length, which they will do in two or three
weeks—Ihcn tnko them carefully from the fil
ter. nnd put them perpendicular, nnd equal
with the surface, in a light dry soil, with more
horse manure. If tho season bo tolerable,
they will vegelnlo amazingly fast. In eold
countries, the last week in A prtl, or first of
Alny, is early enough to venture them out.—
.V. K. Farmer-
If I have failed to prove that the pursuits of
agriculture mnv lie ns lueraliro as other em
ployments, it will be an easier ta^k to vindicate
their pleasure nnd their importance. I need
not dwell on (hut retirement, one nflhe purest
enjoyments of this life, nnd the host prepara
tion for the future, on those healthful ocenpn-
tions, on that calmness of mind, on that high
spirit of manliness anil independence, which
naturally belong to that condition.—These arc
attractions which must have docp roots in the
human mind, since they have in all times fas
cinated at once the imagination, and won thu
judgement of men. But I may be allowed to
sav, that, in this nation, agriculture is probably
destined to attain its highest honours, and thnt
the country life of America ought to possoss
peculiar attractions The pure and splendid
institutions of this people have embodied the
brightest dreams of these high spirits, who, in
other times and in other lands, have lamented
or struggled against oppression; they have re
adied the lino conceptions which speculative
men hnve imagined, which wise nten have
planned, or bravo men vainly perished in at
tempting to establish. Their influence in’ re
claiming the lost dignity of man, and inspiring
the loftiest feelings of personal independence,
may be traced in every condition of our citi-
xens; 'but,' as afl objects are roost distinrt bv
insulation, their effects are peculiarly obvious
i« the country.
The Americtyi farmer is the exclusive, ab
solute, uncontrolled proprietor of the soil—His
tenure is not from government. The govern
ment derives its power from him. There is
above iiim nothing but God and (be laws ; no
hereditary authority usurping the distinctions
of personal genius; no established church
spreading its dark shadow between him and
heaven. His frugal government neither de
sires nor dares oppress tho soil; and the altars
of religion are supported only hy tho voluntary
offerings of sincere piety. His pursuits, which
no provision can render injurious to any, are
directed to the common benefit of all. In
multiplying the bounties of Providence in the
improvement and embellishment of tho soil, ip
the care of the inferior animals commitcd to
his charge, lie will find tin ever varving and
interesting employment, dignified hytlic union
of tho liberal studies, enlivened hy the exer
cise of n simple and generous hospitality. His
character assumes a loftier interest by its in-
flueiire over the. public liberty. It may not he
foretold to whnt dangers this country is destin
ed when its swelling population, its expanding
territory, its datlv complicating interests, shall
awaken the latent passions of men, nnd reveal
the vulnerable points of our institutions.—Rut,
whenever these perils come, its most steadfast
security, its unfading reliance, will he on that
column of landed proprietors—the men of the
soil nnd of the country—standing aloof from
the passions which agitate denser communi
ties, well educated, brave and independent, the
friends of the government without soliciting its
favours, the advocates of the people without
descending to flatter their passions; these
men. rooted like their own forests, mav yet
interpose between the factions of the country,
to heal, to defend, and to save.—Iliddtc’s Ad
dress.
Cancer.—The following letter, written hy
General Varnuui, of Massachusetts, who for
many years was speaker of the U. S. House
of representatives, is esteemed to he of much
interest. The remedy alluded to, is becom
ing more known anil used hy our medical men.
nnd if the letter subjoins I, carries comfort or
alleviation to a follow creature, wc shall have
the satisfaction of extending the information
therein contained. The letter is dated from
Gen. Vnrnum’s residence, at IJracut, 9th April
1817—as follows:—
Srfi.—Considering it a duty incumbent upon
each individual of society to do all in his pow
er to promote the health, prosperity and hap
piness of all his fellow citizens, I will state to
you the commencement, progress* and rure of
a most distressing disease which has occurred
in iny own family. If you think it worthy of
a place in your paper, I have no objections to
its lining made public—nnd it will afford me
great satisfaction to learn, that the application
which wrought the cure, tins had the same ef
ficacious operation upon others in .similar cir
cumstances.
About seven years since, my wife wns seiz
ed with a cancer on her ancle, which increased
with considerable rapidity nnd was attended
with pain, it continued, sorely to affect her for
nine months, during which time no pains were
spared to obtain tho best advice from those
well versed in medicine nnd surgery. It was
twice attempted to eradicate it hv the applica
tion of vegetable cnusticks ; and many other
applications were unsuccessfully made. The
limb became weak, ami at times, much swol
len. She Imd in a measure lost her appetite,
nml her whole system seemed on the decline.
The sore was deep and bfoatl. In this situa
tion wo commenced the application, which pro
duced tho cure. The principal ingredient is
an evergreen plant, which is to ho found in all
the northern states, in woodlands which pro
duce n mixture of oak nnd pine timber. It is
hy different people railed ever bitter sweet,
wintorgrecn, rheumatism plant, &c. The ho-
tnnieal name of Ihe plant is Pyrola. We made
a strong decoction, by boiling the pyrola in
pure water, placed in a vessel containing con
siderable quantity of pulverized roll sulphur,
and poured the deroetion upon it, boiling hot.
Airs. Varnum took a small quantity of tho do-
cneiion. internally, two or three times a day ;
bathed the defective part adjacent to it several
times in a day, nnd kept cloih wet with it con-'
stantlv on the ankle. She tookjtbout an ounce
of common medicinal salts every second day,
the decoction was renewed as occasion re
quired.—We commenced this system of oper
ation about the middle of April, 1815, and pur
sued it with unremitting care and nlteution,
without variation. In a very few days front
the commencement of the operation, the pa
tient began to realize the henoficial eficcts of
it ; her nppetite wns restored ; her pain was
gradually eradicated , she rapidly gained
strength, both in hotly and limb ; so that in six
weeks the defcctivn ankle wns entirely healed
ond sound, and her health and strength com
pletely restored. It is now almost two years
since this apparent cure was affected, and wo
hnve tho greatest consolation in learning from
her, thnt she has not felt a single twinge of the
disorder sinco that period; wo do therefore
confidently hope, it will nover return. Mrs.
Varnum now enjoys remarkably good henith.
for a person of her age. Some pcoplo may
object tQ making a thorough experiment, in ea
ses similai to Mrs. Vnrnum’s, on account of
the simplicity nnd novelty of the prescription,
but however simple nnd novel it may appear,
nnd however inefficient it may prove with
othurs, Mrs. V. nnd myself, with our family,
have abundant reason to rejoice and bless the
supreme arbiter of events, for tho wonderful
effect which through the beneficence of Divine
Providence, it has had in her case. And I nm
sanguine in the belief, that if early undeviating
experiment’s of the kind be made, they will
prove efficacious in most coses of cancer.
JOSEPH B. VARNUM.
Conveyance of Sound.—The wide spread
sail of a ship, rendered concave hv a gentle
breeze, is^j good collector of sound. It hap
pened once on board a ship sailing along the
const of Brazil, 100 miles from land, that the
oersons on deck,when passing a particular spot,
always heard most distinctly the sound of
bells, varying as in human rejoicings. All on
hoard listened and "ere convinced, but the
phenomenon was mysterious and inexplicable.
Months afterward?, hy comparing notes, it
was ascertained, that at the time of the obser
vation. thebells’nf the city of St. Salvador, on
the Brazilian coast, had been ringing on the
occasion of a festival ; the sound, therefore,
favoured by a gentle wind, had travelled over
one hundred miles of smooth water, and had
been brought to a focus hy the sail in the par
ticular situation on the deck where it was lis
tened to. It appears from this, that a machine
might be constructed having the same relation
to sound that a telescope has to light.
.7 Singular Stranger.— A wonderful and
strange animal, never before seen in this coun
try, has been lately caught on the premises of
a gentleman residing at Reading, Yorkshire.
It has a head like a eat, tore-feet like a leo
pard, hind feet like a ferret, purple eves when
seen in the shade, and of a greenish hue when
seen in the light. It has three white marks
over the right eye and three black over the left.
Itis of a whitish-brown colour,spotted with red.
The tail a beautiful white, tipped with blue.
Athens, April 18, 1828.
The Administration Triumvirate appear to be in what
is familiarly called a nonplus. The country need a Re
presentative at the Court of St. James, for, at the pre
sent period, we have interests of a most important na
ture lying unsettled ; and which require immediate and
aide attention bestowed on them. To these is added a
most delicate subject, which increases in importance
with each day, as each day hut adds to the sore feelings
springing from it ; and what is now comparatively
hut a spark, may, in a few weeks, prove a general con
flagration :—wc allude to the Maine boundary dispute,
and the encroachments of the Now Brpnswiekcrs.—
The Triumviri are aware of all this, but the most difficult
point is to he settled here at home—-to whom shall the
charge he entrusted? It seems, from the Telegraph,
that the two props of the American Atlas, both have an
anxious and an awful squinting at it. Tired of support
in'^ the weight that rests upon them, they arc willing
to relieve themselves at the risk of overwhelming the
mighty mortal who fills the first place, or rather, they
regard his position as a fottciingone—perceive that his
base is crumbling, and would fly from tho ruin that
threatens to destroy them.
Adam's letter to AVehstcr, prior to the last ^residential
election, offered a sop to tempt this Hartford worthy to
embrace his interests:—the bait was seized, and now
comes the tug. Webster wants tho post as his reward,
and Adams cannot say nay. But on the other hand,
Clay wishes to escape the din of wordy, and in his case
effective war, and forbids the President’s yea. In short,
he wants it himself, that he may escape from hot con
tention. Now, what is to be done? Roth cannot be
gratified, and yet both will he, must be.—We com
miserate the state of majesty indeed, and would advise,
as his only and dernier resort, a compromise between
the two. Let them take what each most needs—one
the honour, the other the profit.
Clay, we doubt not, finds his seat too hot for case—
it has not been to him a bed of roses; and if he could
retreat with credit, would, to use a homely phrase,
jump at it, an outfit there of '#000 dollars—a year's pay,
and perhaps more, would line his pockets well, even if
the honour were shorn from his brows on the accession
of Jackson, and would console him in his long hours of
retirement ns the luckiest brag he ever made—and ho
might, in his short oflici.il career, do some net to re
deem his standing in old Kentucky,—perhaps retort
upon his superior for his wish to cede the Mississippi
navigation, by ceding in his turn the fishery right, and
the terra Anna of Muinc.—If he could only do this, and
then make old Kentucky believe it right, he might
again boast among his proud compeers; but wcfcar wc
shall be forced for many a long day to exclaim “ alas!
poor Yorick."
For Webster, we can only express our hope that the
Senate of the United States will never sanction the np.
|Kiintment of a Hartford Conventionalist (be his qualifi
cations what they may) to'such a distinguished post as
Minister to F.ngland. No. Be his talents what they
may, rather let him rot upon his native dunghill, than
thus distinguish a treasonous spirit.
ErorMratus, we are told in ancient History, burnt the
Temple ofDiana, in order to secure even an infamous
immortality. Another of this wise gentry cast himself
headlong into F.tna, hut his sandal was unluckily for
his wishes cast out again, nnd the fool alone survives.
We arc compelled to think at times that a kindred spi
rit is often to be found, and thr.t largely diffused at tho
present day. Individuals are to be met (rari nautes in
gurgite vasto) who think the only mode, and tho best
in their view to acquire a lasting and envied pre-emi
nence, is to Ingin a great man's naino at all events and
in all cases, in order to shower abuse upon it. We
could point the finger to instance* of this kind not out
of our own State ; but abstaining from this, we would
simply ask with Randolph, cut bono, has it yet been
done ? Instead of traducing Mr. C. we would recom
mend a chango of operations, instead of hard names and
acrimonious language, let their batteries be armed
with sweet and soothing flatteries, deify A. & C., give
them virtues without blemish &c. kc. &. and a portion
of the '* loaves and fishes" may fall upon them, even if it
consist of the fragments.—In these hard times, they are
not to be spumed.
The appearances in the Eastern Continent
bode war, and if kindled, when will it cease I
The first part of the proposition is undoubtedly
on tho point of being realized; but the answer
to the latter is beyond human ken. The bat
tle of Navarino has apparently been put up
with by the Porte, but it now is evident only
from a sense of want of preparation to meet tho
injury upon national and sovereign pride, as he
should. I.ate accounts represent him as hav
ing nearly completed his preparations, and
soon the declaration of warfare will be heard
from one part of tho Globe to the other. Aus
tria, wc cannot but believe, will waver between
the belligerents ready to take advantage of
every oppportunity of self aggrandizement, by
negociations with the victorious side. Her
inclinations prompt her to oppose the Levia
than of the North ; her fears at present re
press her exertions. That the Turks will he
overcome unless dissensions arise among the
Triple powers, no one can for a moment doubt,
but their overthrow will be a bloody one. The
war that expels them from the shores of Eu
rope, must be an exterminating one, and the
hostile armies will go puri passu with them in
this scene of bloodshed. It will lie necessary
notwithstanding the milder precepts of Chris
tianity, for death alone will ho able to stop tho
fury of the Turks. Their fatalism renders them
insensible to fear, nnd indifferent to death.
They will smoke their pipe, and say, it was so
decreed, and die without a murmur. The hor
rors of Ismail will be rc-acted, and the Danube
and the Bosphorus will again be tinged with
blood. The Turk will fight for his home nnd
his prophet, the invader for dotnin'oti, for pow
er and wealth ; the strongest incentives that
operate on the human mind. To Austria, the
allurement to join in the contest is strong, the
rich provinces of Wallachia and Moldavia are
as tempting a bait to her, as to Russia, and
a part of them will he her reword, if she join
the allies—the whole in all probability, if the
Porte.—Cannot the allies be distracted in their
operations ? We think they can and will. The
young Napoleon is the rod over France—the
Irish Catholics over England. But titno will
shortly shew.
COSlXftUNXCATXON.
POLITICAL PICTURE.
“ Dens haec fortasse benignn
Reducet in sedem vice. 11
Mr. F.ditor,—Although Providence may restore
things to their proper place, and thereby, our happiness
and welfare be promoted; yet it is a principle generally
conceded, that it is a duty incumbent upon us to U9e
the means that is in ou< power to remove wrongs and
errors, and establish truth and justice, which is the only
sure road to happiness. And if we will honestly use
the means, providence will crown our labours with suc
cess. Before we can be instrumental in the removal of
error, and restoring things to their proper place, wc
should thoroughly understand tho radical cause of that
error. This principle will apply to any subject in which
we may have a concern, whether private or public ;
and whenever there is a prevailing error in relation to
public matters, thero should be a public investigation,
so that all may understand the subject, and act in con
cert in relation thereto.
My object in this essay is to call your attention, and
the attention of the public, to a few remarks on tho
subject of “party politics,” a phrase that needs no de
finition, as it is at this time well understood by every
citizen of our state—but the cause of its existence, and
the distribution to which it will lead us, is understood
by but few. I shall therefore, in this essay, endeavor
to shew its origin and cause; its various effects, both
political and moral, and the ill consequences resulting
therefrom, and the remedy which should he applied.
And in order to bring the subject plainly to the view of
all classes of people, I shall apply i» particularly to our
own state—each individual can then judge from obser
vation (if he bo disposed to consider things impartially)
of tho truth of my remarks.
What then is the origin of party politics ? I answer
that it springs from one of two causes. It springs from
some public measures that have been proposed, which
would materially operate upon the principles of govern
ment, on which subject the people divide in opinion; or
it is a struggle between political inen for power or office,
and tho people divide and rally around the standard of
each of the contending parties. To these two causes
may he attributed all political strifes. We are next led
to enquire which of tho two causes is it that operates
in Georgia? The man who is in office, or who is pre
paring the road to get into oilicc, will tell the common
citizen that those who arc of the opposite politics arc
inimical to our political institutions—that it is now high
time wc should unite and strain every nerve to keep
down the opposite party—that the salvation of our coun
try depends upon tho united exertions of his favourite
parly :—these opinions arc imbued in the minds of the
peoplo of each party by their political leaders ; conse
quently, each party looks upon the other with an eye of
jealousy,—they arc constantly upon the look-out; daily
expecting some grand political inamc\ivrc of their op
ponents, which may shake the republic to its very cen
tre. F.ach suspects his neighbour to be a traitor. That
kind of social and friendly intercourse that has hereto
fore existed, is now exchanger! in many instances for
that of enmity and hatred.—But, Sir, let us consult
facts, and enquire into particulars, nnd see wherein the
people divide in principle. What grand national ques
tion is it that divide^tnc people of Georgia? Do they
divide on the subject of the Presidential election ? No!
Both parties want Jackson for tho next President. We
can sec no subject on which they do disagree :—in all
principles they appear to accord, as well as different in
dividuals of the same party. If then, it is not principle
that divides the citizens, it must bo the struggle of po
litical men for power.—The people first became divided
on the subject of the appointment of a chief magistrate,—
tho claims of each was warmly contested—office-
hunter i enlisted under the banners of each of the com
petitors, and fought vehemently for the cause they had
espoused. Theso same two individuals came in op
position to each other several times in succession, and
the firo gradually increased, and the contest was daily
growing warmer until the division line became plainly
marked. The parties having become distinct on this
subject, it become all-important to those who were in
expectation of office to keep up the contest, they hav
ing been so active in the cause, their expectations
would be forever blasted if the opposite party should
succeed ip power. These were the feelings of the office-
hunting-men on both aides—and the minds of the peo
ple arc daily wrought upon, and are taught to believe
that the man who is most violent—the most like unto
a tnad-man, is the best politician. He who is disposed
to act coolly upon subjects, and with some degree of
reason, is shut out of office—he cannot be heard even
in political clamours—he is not considered so firm a poli
tician as the man who (to use thccommon phrase) " will
go the whole amount,"—and the reason why the people
are disposed to uphold such men in office is in conse-
auenee of their blindness. They are taught to believe
tnat the opposite party are aimmg nt the very founda
tion of our government, and therefore, they feel more
safe when they have such powerful men at the helm of
affairs. But how “ wretched are the mind of men, and
how blind their understandingthere are but few citi
zens who know that they are led and Governed hy men
of corrupt principles. Ves, men of corrupt principles—
I hazard the assertion. They do not know that in the
fermentation, all the corrupt matter rises to the top—
bnt, it is a truth; such is the natural effects of party
spirit, that designing men, who are able to conceal
their wickedness, soon rise to the head of affairs. The i
west base man in the country will fall into tho ranks I
of one party the ofher, and will fight mo9t vehement
ly ; ami he well knows that it is to his intent U k< op
up the struggle, tor so soon as peace is made there id
no use for him among honest men. But so long a*
the battle rages he is well rewarded for his good fighting.
I do not wish to be understood to say that all our
officers in the state are men of corrupt principles, but
that many of them are, I have no doubt, and the
number will daily increase so long as wc are governed
by the present prevailing principle in making our selec
tions. I arrive at this conclusion from the fact of many
of these men being so assiduously engaged in keeping
up the strife, and from the further fact, that we see so
many men now in the state, who have arrived to con
siderable eminence, whom the people would not have
elevated was it not for the active part they have taken
in party politics. They keep the people constantly in
a state’of agitation. The two parties are constantly ip
buttle array—always ready at the command of their
leaders. They are in complete train, and the rc'plo
stand in the same relation to these leaders that the pri
vate soldiers stand to their officers. They are ready
and willing to fight, but they know not for wl.at. The
consultations, plans, and schemes of the officers arc m
secret, and unknown to the soldierthe plan may be
concerted to sell them to the enemy, and they remain
in ignorance until the very act is so for consmnated that
it is too late to resist: and,sir, among the political ranks,
there are officers or managers of as many grades ae
there arc in the army. We find them acting in concert ,
throughout the state. Hans and arrangements ure
made and entered into for the distribution of offices of
the fust rank hy a few individuals, and the people hav
ing confidence in their leaders, do not object. Tho
man who would make any objection to a nomination of
the leaders of his party w rfuld he called an apostab, t
tnry, or traitor, and many other hard names, too tedious
to mention; and if any objection should even exist ig
his mind, he would prefer keeping his silence to being
marked with such epithets. And offices of inferior
grade arc confided to a few managers in the respective
counties. These county managers havs the entire con
trol of all offices which are elective by the peoplo of
their respective counties. They arc a servile set cf
men, always obedient to the command of their superiors,
and would* hurl any man out of the synagogue the mo
ment they received the command. These kind of man
ugeinents the people all may sec, if they will hut open
their eyes,—bur, it is justified on the ground that we*
should act in concert, all must go together; for if we divide, #
the opposition will prevail—and that we may all go to
gether, we must have leaders. These ore facts, that
cannot be denied,—all political arrangements are. madt
in secret; secret councils arc yearly held in every coun
ty, for the purpose of making nominations, private cor
respondences arc constantly kept up throughout the
state to arrange and divide out the higher offices, and
yet wc are told that this is truly republican. What! se
cret councils mul private correspondences to regulate the ay.
point mint of offices for our government, republican ? No.
it is anti-repitblican,—it is a bane to democracy. Sc
cret council to regulate tint w hich is to be done by the
people at large! then should be no secrets concern
ing matters belonging to the public—there should be no
secret understanding or council in relation to what man
shall represent us next year. Our government is re
publican dejure, but so long as this principle prevails,
it is a republic defacto. It is in practice aiistocratical;
and, Sir, if w ehavcenaristocratical form of government
in practice, let us give it legal sanction—let us not hold
out false colours. But it is said wc are now struggling
for liberty, and should place ourselves under discreet
loaders till wo “ put down the opposito partyand tho
opposite party say the same thing.—If this be correct
doctrine, one half of the cilizcns of this state must fall
a sacrifice to the other; and win* should this sorrifico
,bc made? Why should one half of our citizens rise up
in arms against the other, when both are contending for
liberty ? It is not for liberty—it is solely for the benefit
of those who arc see king power—those who care not
so much for the public weal as for their own aggrandise
ment. Let us state a casr that is familiar to all, which
will shew how political matters are managed, and the
political fire disseminated among the people: The
honest country Squire comes to town, anxious to hear
the |H)litical news—he calls on his friend A. who is s
Judge of the Inferior Court, and in whom he has much
confidence—he asks the Judge for tho political new*,
and who are candidates to represent us next year ? The
Judge tells him that Col. B. nnd Major 0. arc candi
dates. The honest Squire tells him he is not so very
well acquainted with the characters of the men, and
would be glad if lie would candidly inform him*on the
subject. The Judge tells him that Coloncl B. is a very
honest and intelligent citizen, but he belongs to the op
posite party:—that Major C. is caid to be a little tricky
in private dealings with his neighbours, and is not alto
gether so intelligent ns the Colonel, but he is a firm jx»-
litician, and should therefore receive our support, for
you know, Squire, things have arrived to suen a crisis
that we should elect men of good politics, and not suffer
these little objections to the moral rectitude of men to
weigh any thing;—for although tho Major is not looked
upon &9 altogether honest and honorable in private deal
ings, yet we may safely confide in him in tho manage-
ment of public affairs.—After this discretion of.the two
candidates, he enters into a general discussion of the
politics of the day, and to support him in his assertions,
he invites the good Squire into his reading-room, and
introduces him to his book-case,
Which is spacious in its structure,
Though like tho ownor's scull,
Has till the forms of outward sculpture-—
*Tis but an empty hull—
For its contents consists of nothing but the Georgia
Justice, Prince’s Digest, a few bundles of newspapers,
and a few reports of the proceedings of tome political
meetings which have been culled togcther'to give nr
expression of the choice of some favourite candidates for
the highest offices in the country, and these reportu
h»v* been sent to the Judge by some of his superiors in
tho ranks of political managers. But, Sir, pardon nv:
for this digression-1 will return »o the conversation be
tween the Judge and Squire. After reading a few re
ports and political essays, the interview is closed with
an cxortation of the Judge to the Squire, strictly enjoin
ing and requiring him to endeavour to unite the people
in his neighbourhood in their vote at the next election
for Major C. as he is the man suited to the time.—The
good Sauire is, hy this time, crammed full of politics,
and ready to deal out freely and honestly to his neigh
bour, perfectly willing and anxious to distribute nil he
has received in his neighbourhood. When he arrives
at home his good wife would fain hear something of the
latest fashioned robes that arc contained in the late ar
rival of the goods of a certain merchant—but the good
lady is informed by her honest husband that a thought
of the robes never onco entered his head during bin
stay in town—that the wholo of his time was occupied
in state mattersand then undertakes to relieve hi:*
mind of its contents, by a relation of what had passed
between himself and Judge A. and of his fixed deter
mination to support Major C. at the next election. The
good lady being so well versed in politics, makes some
objection toMajorC. and prefers Colonel B. from a con
viction that if a man was dishonest in dealings of a pri
vate nature, that he ought not to he trusted with public
affairs. But tlio Squire soon silenced her when ho
came out with a full detail of what he had just acquired
at the book-case of Judge A. He, in the close of his
conversation, told his wife that she was wholly unac
quainted with politics—that thero was a wide difference
between politics and honesty— that tho little fraud that
Mai or C. had committed was wholly a matter to be Fet
tled between him and hil God; but that his petiltcs is n
matter in which we are all concerned, and particularly
at the present time, inasmuch as at the next meeting of
the legislature, all tho state officers were to be appoint,
ed. This doctrine thegood Squire is daily preaenmg to
his neighbours, and they all believe him, because they
believe him to be an honest man, and would not preach
false doctrine.
This, Sir, is a trne picture, go far as it gees, of w hat
is dailv transpiring in our country. It is almost a uni-
yervally received doctrine, that if aman is not so hone.*
in his private relation* with his fellow-man, he mnv
nevertheless be strictly an honest politician.—Such is
the political derangement under which many men arc
labouring, who are men 6f considerable intelligence,
ond no doubt honest men, that they would prefer u •
man who they knew to be not strictly honest, if ho be
long to their own party, to the man of firrt rate talent.'
and honesty, if ho was attached to the opposite party.
Not reflecting that the heart is the motive power of ali
a imn’a action*—although e dUfconect man may sort"