The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-01-26
JANUARY 26, 1926.


more of a statesman. But look to the record
of his administration. and you find the nat
ural temper OF the man distinctly visible IN
all the operations of the government, up TO
the very moment when he overthrew HIM
self and his whole party by his hazardous
political movements
The cautious neutrality of Washington,
which obtained for him, in the cabinet, what
had already been awarded to him in the held
the title of the American Fabius-was "a
bandoned by Mr.. Adams for more bold and
presumptuous aspect, bearing, and attitude.
The Quiet dignity, and august plainness OF
the former, were put aside for something
more absolute and regal. The continuance
Of the American government under Wash
ington, through all its foreign negotiations,
was erect and natural, very strons, simple,
and grave. But, under Mr.. Adams, although
it appeared loftier and more imposing, and
attracted more attention, it had sort oi the
atrcal look, and was. i'll reality, much less
formidable.
Then came Mr.. Jefferson. He was the
third President lie was undoubtedly,
man of more genius than either OF his pre-
dccessors.-FIs talent was finer, but not so
strong He was a scholar and aphilosopher,
full Of theory and hypothesis. And what
was the character of his administrations
! Was it not wholly given up to theory and
hypothesis, experiment and trial! He turn
ed the whole Of the United States into a lab
oratorv--a work-shop--a lecture room; and
\ kept the whole country in alarm with ms
demonstrations in political economy, leSis-
| lations, mechanics, and government. Hence
it is, that, to this day, it is difficult to deter
mine whether his administration, on the
whole, was productive of great beneht or
great evil to the American people. he
most extraordinary changes, transmutations
and phenomena, were continually taking
place before their eyes; but they were, gen
erallv, unintelligible; SO that he lett the
country pretty much in the situation that his
fame at Monticello is at this moment, alto
gether transformed from its natural state
altogether different from what it was, when
he took it in hands-a puzzle and problcm
/ to the world.
To him succeeded Mr.. Madison the fo,rtl,
American President. lie was altogether OF
different Observation-Disclosures plaus-
BILE, adroit and subtle. Out of his admin
istration grew the war between his country
and this. 1t has been question much agit-
ated among many sensible men, and respect
able politicians, whether Mr. Madison
whose temper was neither quarreisomc moi
warlike, really wished for, and prompted
and expedited the war or not> ] nave heard
the same question warmly debated among
his countrymen and friends. They had
probably, never seen, or had overlooked the
significance of paper i'll the "Federalist,'
"a work produced by Mr.. Hamilton, Mr.. JAY
and Madison, in defence Of the constitution
then about to be adopted by the American
people,) written by Mr.. Madison himself
= when young man, in which he shews plain
? ly and convincingly how vast an augmenta
. tion Of patronage, and, Of course power, thu
President of the United State would derive
: from state of war. No man saw it so clear
4 lv at the time--no man remembered 1t, al
7 ter the debate was over, 50 distinctly; anI
no man could have proiited by it more reso
= utely than did Mr.. Madison, when he cam'
a to be what, when he forctold the evil, he ha'
G no more idea of being an Emperor--th
q President ofthe United States, with an am
pie power to fulfil the prophecy.
The next and last of the American Pres
e idents, is Mr.. Monroe, remarkably pla
d sensible man--very honest, and, but tor tn
! last message of his, which is wholly unlik
any thing that he has ever written, or said
! or done before, should be inclined to thin
IS of a very prudent cold, and phlegmatlc TEN
& perament. Yet what is his administration
~ but history of the man himself--or rathe
; a biographys--If all this be true, we hay
= no interest in understanding the true charac
ter of the five men out of whom the mex
It President of the United States will be chos
l. en-.
4 Mr. Monroe, the actual President at thi
~ time, is an old fashioned Hooking man who's
l. manner is a compound of natural, stron
- simplicity, and artificial courtesy. Hcisve
& ry awkward, and very affable; with coul
;, tcnancc and address so distinguished for sui
y stantial good sense and downright honest
rs like that which we ottentimes meet with
,e humble life among the uncducated-that
n YOU should encounter him, accidentally
the company of men of the world, witho,
~ knowing him, you would take him for sci
s. sible man, quite unaccustomed to such soc
'e ETY., and altogether above the folly and
j. fectation of initiating them. But. let som
. one tell you that this sensible, uneducate
: man, is no less a parsonage than the Preslt
AT ent of the United States, and you would l.
- likely to discover something most awful
A. his pllinness of manners: something befo'
;, whose quiet rebuke the grandeur and beau
u of courtly bearing would fall away like
Is fectaton. Yet it is not so:-Mr. Monroe
lie really an awkward man; and SO are most
he the candidates at this moment, "a!l, all awi
~. ward men,"
y A,I ya+ h;c ocnuired courtesy. and so