The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-05-22
is8 sy1Jt 9IATIAirs
LYNcnBUBG. MAY %. ls27.
AlODESTY

apparent instnctIyeness of the Chinese leaf, and
almost crisped by their own bushes, which the
admring gaze OF the multitude calls 90 their
cheeks We have all heard Of these men.-po-
cts, philosophers and politicians, who could in
di,e verses, apothegms and essayswith master
ly hand, but who could never, in consequence OF
their lamentable difidencc, rise to the public ho-
nors of their country More ardent souls with
Inferior intellectual powers, have outstiipped
them in the race Of ainhition, and mounted 10
the summit of the ladder whilst they stood nem.
bling at its base Our own country, at the pre-
sent moment, furnishes forcible illustration Of
this truth We see John Quincy Adams aud
Henry Clay the FIRST bungling rhetorician aud
The latter mere preiender TO eloquencc, filing
the highest Offices in the country, whilst Andrew
Jackson, who,possesses every requisite OF a great
aud good man. and Thomas Ritthie who is a
very Sully of a statesman, are entirely over
looked in the distribution of the oaves and fish
es Can tins be the effect of accident Ger
ftainly not The people are fond of hodness aud
are dazzlcd by enterprise whether it be exhibit
ed by a Washington or a Napoleon. They are
captivated by musical sounds, though, like the
voice of the Syren, they lead to destruction /;
whilst the lessons OF wisdom are unheeded, be
cause, dcspising meretriciouS aid, they greet the
ear in rough and unpublished strain Adams
aud Clay, unluckily for their country, possess
Tic powers 50 well calculated 20 win applause,
and to " buy golden opinions of men"--1bey
despise the virtues of rustic homellness and
carelessness, and strive to catch popular applause
by the use of +" thoughts that breathe and words
that burn" Adams writes, il is admitted with
the ease and smoothness OF placid stream, and
either gives the razor's edge to his satire, or
scatters over his compositions, with prodiga
| hand, all the beauties of language: but il is only
glittering surface, beneath which is bleak and
barren waste--conyeying music TO TIC car, but
yielding no qualification TO the mind Clay has
the voice and manner OF Belial, with all his Gun.
ming arts of persuasion. Like Nliltons second
rate Devil, he can make the worse appear the
better reason" and induce men to smile while
he is pointing the dagger at their hearts. He
can win their confidence by the mere magic of
his words, while lie is basely undermining their
| liberties. And his, too, is thin and teache-
rous veil, beautifully bespangled, and enticng TO
the view, but concealing mass of dcformity
and vice. Who, then, shall say Tor PopuH
r0r Dei2 Assuredly not We, who see such vi
cious and weak men appointed to preside over
fhp dpzfi 1ft liz Viii
Gus & gifted individuals are permitted TO pine a
way and die in the hopeessness of their diff
dence.
The consequences of this unfortunate DISPOSE
cries of sound from the path OF reason, are seen
i'll the mal-administraton of public affairs since
the election Of Adams and Clay. Deceived by
thcr control of language which enables them TO
| conceal the deformites of their characters and to
put a false coloring on their principles the peo-
pie rashIy thought that they were men of talent
capable Of regulating the operations of the com
pick machinery of government. But. sadly, IN
decd, have they been disappointed They have
learnt, by woiul experience, that schools and
colleges, and foreign travel and legislative halls
and courts of law, aud the students closet, are
not the places in which to rear statesmen. The
corn-feld and the camp are the proper spheres
of action Tor men who aspire to be clothed with
civil power. He who cutiyates corn, must know
the wants of the people, and be intimately ac-
| auainted with all the bearings and influence
which that great staff of life has on the agricpl
hur.al. CONNER cial and manufacturing interests
of the world; whilst lie who, at the same period
of life. was poring over learned works, is there
| by only qualified to be an Interpreter or com
incubator Of difficult and obscure passages III
black letter lore lie. too who las welded the
sword with eclat, viii always be ready TO use
! the same weapon to cut the 1ordian knot of ne
! eotiaiion. while protested diplomatist will prefer
using bis pen, TO show his controversial adroit-
ness aud TO pre-, ent the fusion OF human blood !
Surely, surely Andrew Jackson ought be Pre-
sdeni Of the Uui,ed States.
But il Andrew Jackson ought to be Pre,i-
dent. who ought to be Secr etaryof Statc II is
very delicate matter 10 attempt TO give advice
10 Presidents that are but as hen jackson IS
only an isto.5e, aud is wtlal remarkable for
tne doeility WIN Which he listens to advice, aud
the readiness with which he follows it, even when
+ il conflicts with his own views and wishes, We
beg leave. as Que OF his most loving admirers,
/ To su gges, 10 him the name of an individual for
that appointment Although the gentleman 10
whom We refer isnot much known TO fame, yet,
Tits his excessive modesty alone, and not his
lack ofabty, which has hitherto kept hun IN
.hc mack ground. lie Is intimately conversant
with that most celebrated of all honest and can
did statesmen, Moehiarel, whom he boasts OF as
his great model. The cunning and insincerIty
of Charles Fox he holds in utter contempt and
AYERS that if there has been any statesman OF
modern fines at all to be admired, ii vas the H.
lustrious Castlereagh--a maa remarkable for
his love of liberty, for fs devotion TO the good