The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1824-06-01

THE DISCLOSURE
90! that mine enemy had written q book
was the memorable exclamation, In a periOd Of
remote antiquity, Of a virtuous bot wounded
spirit and Us pungency and point have lost
nothing from age, since the fatal facility Of the
press has given Unreasonable increase "a the
force and effect Ut words committed I'd paper
Some of our most distinguished public charac-
tiers 0i this present agc have bad good reason 10
make application ID their own particular cases
Of The teAt we have quoted Prom the time 81
the publication Of the Cunningham correspond
ence TO the present, when the letters between
President Monroe and General jackson, after a
corsl derable, bat Intellectual struggle Tor con
ceaiment, have been forced into light, the unior-
iuBaie writers, whose opinions have been thus
immalurely exposed, have bad sufficient cause
TO repent oftheir imprudeuce, and consider II an
Erii houI IN which they were thus tempted ID
bctray hemseyes.--Most men, III whateyer
class 1r condition Of the various notifications 81
society they may be found, viii sometimes In
duige II loose thoughts, and hazard opinions,
which they never intend shall be tried BY the
test Of sober judgment and deliberate eXamina-
ton, but are only considered proper to pass OF
az desuliory remarks, not calculated TO affect a
general character for good sense and discretion.
IL IS however commonly true, that although no
u
few really frst rate men are ever found 70 com
init themselves by hasty expression ofcrude
opinions that may be afterwards thrown out
against them to mark their weakness Or versa
tiiity, Offering effectual imPedimeHts 20 their
in honor or pOWeF.--AHpoieprl
great and unreseFved a talker a. ha was sal dom,
If ever, said foolish thing and Washington,
during a long life Of exposure and trial, was
never betrayed by time or Circumstance into
any uuguardedness of expression, or rashness
Of conduct. This singular felicity VI character
may indeed be ascribed in some measure TO the
of what General Lee was pleased
10 term that rascally virtue" prudence, for
which be was 50 emi1ently distinguished, yet
impartial history can no more deny him the
reputation Of being great than good. twas not
easy 60 detect him even IN a mistake and though
he found il necessary at one period Of his adj
ministration to recall Mr.. Monroe from his
ministry at the =" terrible republic" for misun
Outstanding or misusing the powers with which
he was clothed, il only proved that the individus
al who had been entrusted with the concerns of
his country, at a place where even his best
feelings in favor Of the rights OF man led him
astray, was not the most suitable character 70
meet events and circumstances that took place
subsequent to his appointment
II cannot be denied that this recent disclosure
must produce very considerable modification 70
the distinguished personagrs, who had for some
time previous cOurted concealmeni by bubble
and equivocation, even if they can escape the
deeper shame and condemnation Of direct and
evasion Of truth. The advice Of
General Jackson 10 Mr Monroe, relative to Sc
lecting his cabinet eOunsellors, and conducting
his administration generally, though not pre-
cisely, IN totidem rerbs, the same as reported BY
Mr.. Lowrie, is yet proved 10 be substantially
sO,-and had il been regarded BY him with
magnanimity becoming the chief magistrate Of
a I &c people, might have rendered him more
useful as well as a wiser President--The other
remarks as to what the General might have him.
self done, in the penitude Of power, are equally
unfortunate in affording materials for an esti-
mate OF bis civil or moral character. They in
dictate ferOcity of temper as well as perversity
of judgment that are sufficiently opposite TO
every quality that can contribute to form the
character of great or good man. In such dis
closures We perceive nothing Of that force Of
sagaciiy and wisdom of conclusion, which are
essential characteristics Of profound statesman
and practical politician The General has been
a lawyer, Judge and senator, and can there
fore he hardly allowed the excuses Of one bred
exclusively in camps, to screen himself from the
revolving adherence which must be universally
felt at the sanguinary principles he has so un-
quali6edly avowed But as we are under no
very serious apprehension Of being subjected To
a code Jaeksonian, even if the General should
be our next President, we shall spare ourselves
and our readers the trouble Of any exposition or
examination OF doctrines too ridiculous 10 be
dangerous and too absurd to require refutation
After all, in this affair, the General may have
been tempted by the previous letter Of the Pres
ident, charging some OF the most unaItered and
MA la l.
chical principles, 10 say something while doing
justice 10 those whose patriotism had been too
conspicuous TO be denied, upon a subject of
which he knew but little, and that little had
reached him through the poisoned channels of
prejudice and malignity. Going off, as be did.
like some Of his own pieces, al half rock, Il Is
not strange that he made a random shot, that
could do no other harm than By its recoa upon
himself