Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1826-06-10

fee Of S~ecre.ary Of State, sold the vote Of his con-
stituents. This he avowed his ability and will
i'nsness to prove, but when called upon, he failed
to do so, and by cowardly shrinking from the con-
test, "added the last negative 10 his character"
If we were disposed TO render this gentleman
still more odious in the eyes OF the people than he
already is, we might advert to his affair with Col.
CUNNING, aud the scenes at Edsefeld Court
House; but as we are not disposed to harrow up
the private acts OF his life, any more than we are
disposed to scrutinize the secrets Of his bed cham
Der, we shall not suffer ourselves to indulge in the
consideration of this disgusting topic. Sufficient is
1t for US to say, that he is the only man who could
survive the disgrace which that affair generated,
and from which we gladly turn away in silence.
Mr.. M'DUFFIE is now about thirty-fve years Of
age. His person presents nothing singular or re-
markable; nor does his countenance bespeak the
possession Of unusual genius or intelligence. A life
Of study and turmoil has sadly operated on his con-
stitution, which, as it never was remarkable for its
strength, promises soon to surrender the possession
Of "this earthly tabernacle, - and to consign its pos
SCISSOR to an untimely grave. Asa public speak
er he is very interesting, and in his cool moments
may be ranked among the unusually eloquent
But when excited, he loses himself, rants and raves,
violates all the rules of FULLY and Quintillian. and
browns the senses of his hearers with his furious de-
clamation. Selfinstructed in the art, he scorns to
ioliUw the examples of the masters of the art Of elo-
cutIon. and sticking for originality, he holds himself
up to ridicule and contempt; he makes no selection
f language-his speeches are spontaneous and un-
.,udied. and abound with rude and wild metaphors
add figures. lie utters whatever presents itself to
,is fancy, and, reckless Of consequences, assails all
Who 40 not meet with his views. and too frequently
,~espatters them with coarse ~inyectiye and vitupe-
alton.
Having made politics his only study, his ac-
quaintance with The refined authors IS limited, aud
lie rarely embellishes his speeches with Quotations
from the poets. Among them Milton is his favor
tie author, and from PARADISE LOST he sometimes
boirows with freedom. But ali the political wri-
tiers since the days fEdward the Coniessor, are ia
''''o' ~ .aA'"t oNe 'S ""N 'SsSi 10 ~
hem for aid in support OF his arguments.
in private life he is sad to be amiable, and bene-
volent, gentle, afTable, aud courteous, and IN all bis
transactions perfectly upright. lfin his public life
he had pursued a correct policy, it is no, improbs-
ole that ere this he would have been honored with
The confidence of government, but hurried away by
the promises OF Mr.. CALHOUN, who, it is said pledg-
ed himselfto bestow upon him one Of the first Off
cs in the gift of the Executive. in the event OF his
election to the Presidency, he departed from the
paths of duty and discretion, and in grasping at the
shadow lost the substance. Where he will end,
ADD how far he may succeed in eiiectins the de-
signs which he has commenced, is a problem which
time alone can illustrate. 1t is TO be iamented that a
man of such talents, n man Of so many constitutional
virtues, should madly PROSTATE himself AZ the idola-
trous shrine Of Ambition, aud for a mess Of pottage
and less sell his birth right.