Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-02-20
BRYAN;s POLITICAL, ADDRESS

THE last number of the Nort!, American Review
contains the following notice he Appeal for Suffer
ing Genius,"a ''The Triumph OF Truth"-poens by
DNNlEL bRfAN, Esq. published Washington by
Way X Gideon.
To the poeticai parts of this volume the author has
attached Preface of considerable length in which he
eSi'iahs MS purpose, and large part of which is IA
Ken up in apoogizDg for his juvenile efusion, publish
ed some years ago under the title of the sNIountain
Muse, or the Adventures of Daniel Boone That
work, Che Wild oprng ola rude undiscplined fancy
s latureT Judgment tells him imperfections
and he thinks some persons have formed false esG
mate of his powers poet from an ignorance of tho
Itself
Mr. b'yan is moreover a,prchersiyc, tat certain
readers and editors, into whose hands tie Maintain
Muse happened TO fall, have suffered the films of pre-.
jnu'cc SO far 10 gather around their vision as no. TO be
"oe 20 see clearly tie merits OF his later PRODUCTIONS
vi inns he gives some strong instances in point How,
T inc authors impressions are in reality well founded
we know not, but he IS certainly right in his nosition
mat Inc alterations Of youthful muse oet not to
stamp mans tame forever. in defiance Of The vigorous
a"i mature c!"rts OF manhood Among the great
names at the head of English poetry, lie cites these Of
Shakespeare Pope, Byron, aud Justly asks with wlar
Proprlcty ileIT merits would be decided by their frs;
Pro"nctohS These 1t wouid be idle 10 call I'd at the
present day they forgoiun. And so in other cases
IKE mat OF cur poet, for instance generous criticism
would throw ve over the IN of youth and
'eJoce th"t better Fruits have sprung from maturity OF
years or 10 express the same thought in the poeical
numbers OF the author,
Shall golden ore he s.!rncj ,s,,ns, :, oo,,
rom mines whence baser metals once we're DRAWN
snail eyes reject the suns uucnuded flame
because dark mistS o5sculeL its strups!iur Ja,vn'
40 we say not 50; grasp tho gold whcre Won can find
1t, and enjoy the light weD il comes W. .,rroo
therefore, with Mr. Bryan that If anr ono ,yi,Stl.
through prejudice pcrYersencss has passed ipdo
nent on his later works, merely from an opinion eTi
yea 'iom reTusai OF the Mountain Muse written
fourteen years ago, he has done essential Injustice m
tle author. '''oo :"
The present volume contains two poems. ibe r-, h
an appeal in Behalf OF the Boston BaIl' with The
neneYoIent design of exciting tie sympathy of the pub
j!c for suffering genius;' the second = c.Ilaa -r,
Trump Of Fruth,' and was occa,oDed By fIs esfaL
ishneHt OF TIE censorship over he press in France
The Appeal touches several topics calculated f.,
'die strong interest in the of the suffering
Bard and the deep sensibiIity and kind fcelinrs of
author blend themselves closely with his poci,caI i'm
agcry and give neianciOloIy tone 10 e uitprjus of
his muse Ii IS rather poet Of feelirg dian of L;rl
descriptive powers. tbat should characterize our
author lie IS patriotic, toe a5 vii be seen BIZ lie
following extract:
E"i EHsamds bards hlrseci with patrons now.
Mud Freedom bushes while the Muse prnclainy,
That sons Of genius from Coiumbia's shore
Iamenth Britannica fos teIiug 'iadacss iirI
me favour, wHi,i they vainly seek al home.
o"r VESTS, our AllStonF, aGd LcsIcs, there,
~" there "nr Newtons, aud our Bowmaus, too,
Tie en'yeuiug sunshine Of her s,uies enjoy;
ieir pencils eaten the kiudlin, slow Of aoor
Ard on the canvass life and beauty start
81 their c'c",ing touch. Coluobsuz, rouse!
your mental bondage burst; be free jn thou.f;
Ia taste and judgment free p.G2.
Ia The Triumph Of Truth AIR BRYAN 9ra,ys O.;
va picture Of that political state Of country in which
:, necessary 10 impose restrictions on tie press to
TeYc"t dc diffusion of knowledge and the o3er,tinn
o. 'rce Pi1olpie5--lis muse here speaks with Jecor
ING Indignation. and crowned opurcssurs' and ssrcc
t'd 'ff"n's' who Use Gier power to perpe.uate j-np
rance AMI entail slavery, treated with very litla
ropc"t Considering hat hc sutoc is not aI,6petlsr
o. F2cuchi cast he author has managed il Win Il
F2' deal "i address; and f e towers Of pJcsy are less
pfon.cif scattered bare, ti.a1 in some other Of iii
N"I'c ."' in's deficiency Is 10 pa, IT least stonca
'"F' q" ioe ny rdepeujeU. and patriotic spirit ,If
o.ca'n"s rf"a % thc whole poem
Vs. 'ale pleasure IT. ncl;airr q ~ t,.,,C,f .
10 watch ihs Yo'nmc is protcG; IL j, Li.bry crcltI
70 '"' washington press and couid wish 10 .cc il
N"a2 an cE'ie for printers in ,iat quarter a. ,y,g
is ~ some others. i'0'' % we"
As|III, 10 rented al, ,,l ~ g..