Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1827-01-20
nnGMEA.aY CATE@s
SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 20
PORTRAITS OF THE OPPOSITION.
HON. SAMt FL ID. lNGHAM.


We had drawn the Portrait of the Hon. SAM
VEL -. INGHAM from our own resources, aud
were about to publish il, when u friend. residing IN
the western part Of Pennsy ylvana, forwarded To us
sketch OF his history, with request that II might he
published, and as 1t gives more minute narration
than we could OFF,, now present IT to our read
ers, % ,he exclusion of the one which we had pre-
parel for tins number of our paper. We do this
with s"me reluctance, as have always preferred,
on subjects like this, our shades and coorings,
10 those of our k'nj correspondents Our Pennsyl-
vana iriend--nnl he is a writer Of great ability
will be pleased TO accept our hearty thank, for his
favor, although it has been previously published.
Mr.. Inghsms political career j. better known in
the western part of Pennsylvania, than is par
t,zans and compeers. seem to think. Although the
lap.e of twenty years has removed no small portion
Of the distinguished men Of 1905; and although the
complexion OF the two great political parties has
been considerably altered we have among US yet
some Jt the who may be fearlessly appealed
10 for the true character Of Mr.. lnsham. II
memory serves Us, Mr.. Ingham was elected to the
l8 5. He WAS elected as a democrat, but IT was
soon discovered that he OF those politicians
(of whom we have ever had. and perhaps ever
shall have, too many0 who neither think nor care
about what is right, or best calculated to promote
the public interest, but what is most eTpediem as
rslale es to themselves. Acting upon these pr'nc'-
ples-or rather upon no principles at ail--Mr. Ing
ham yaociliated like pendulum between the two
great political parties, who were for the last three
years of the ADMINISTRATION Of Governor McKean.
pretty equally divided. There was at that time, a
few Others in the legislature. who followed the
same course, aud their yaccatng con iuc upon po
litcal questions o. tanned for them, by universal
consent, the name of the flying camp, or "fyi"g
sound we forget which; designation which wa
be.,ow ell upon this little corps OF political J.nnssa-
hes, by Francis Mcclure, at that tune member oi
the legislature. aud OF the associate judges
Of Allegheny county. BY this name they were
known and des,gnsted by all p rites.
The ad,uiD,st alton Of Mr. jefferson then at
the height Of rs popularity. ard whenever ques-
ton touching on, or in appreciation OF, the mea-
sures of the general government was under discus
sioa, Mr.. Ingham always deserted his fedora
friends and acted with the democrats. This ht
well knew was necessary to preserve his standing
with the ds mocrats at home. 1.-THE journals OF tho
House OF Representatives be examined, 1t Will h'
founl that Mr.. Inghsm voted with the ie ieralists
AMI to please that party, for the most high tones
measures, and opposed most Of the important polli
icaI measures proposed by the republicans, will
the exception above mentioned. But when tn
time arrived TO select candidate for governor
succeed Mr.. N'Kean, Mr.. Ingham's political dupli
,oi,y, aud his capacity for low cunning was fully di'
closed. He knew that every attempt to defeat tn
republicans, # they were united, would be sbo
tive. To divide aud conquer" was his maxim
and for that purpose he net in caucus night att
night in the senate chamber. in the city Of Lanca
ter where the legislature then sai) associated wit
Charles w. Hare, Charles Smith, Joseph HEM
hill, and the other federal leader..--These wei
hyhminded aud honourable men, aud refused
Goa cscs with petty faction, who had deserted 81
Aemocraiic party. aud ouly wished federal aij
r~o,nots their own ambition. and mercenary view
anil thus the negocistiou broken of All the
fact, we're published in the papers Of the day.
,,s.,. ol priyae letters from Lancaster: as any o.
,ho y ~ turn to The files Of the newspapers Of III
tine viii fn.. Bu, although the iederalsi' reius