Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-02-15

that Gen. Smyth might have prohted from the
late senatorial election, when he kindly served
as the organ Of certain gentlemen in Congress,
TO convey their dictation to the Legislature Of
Virginia. But as we said before, his friend.
ship is disastrous and fatal. He touches no
10 an nor measure without blighting-prosperi.
~ waits upon his enmitles-whle experience
is lost upon his inaptitude.
Being denied the letters for publication, i,
may be still expected Of US to give sketch Of
their contents. They were very short and pi.
thy-giving an alarming picture Of fhe danger
OF the Republic from Adams and Clay-in,i.
mating the necessity Of his presence 10 save
it-but showing nevertheless a hankeriHg after
the Office of Governor. They seemed TO say,
he would and he would'nt-he seemed willing
to divide himself-not 80 go to buhtts"-bul
one half to be Governor, and the other mo;ety
TO stay in Congress. His presence was the
more requisite to watch the administration, as
/ the supper par, of Virginia was one theatre Of
their Intrigue" The mode in which his friends
argued the preliminary question Of postpone
ment, was amusing enough-that Gen. Floyd
was necessarily to be elected, if nominated,
Was taken for granted There was no doubt
about Mat--tbe great doubt was, where he could
best serve the Republic, a, Washington or
Richmond. 1t would be unfair not to admit
that the reading Of his letters, and the unwil.
lingness of his personal friends TO nominate
him, would have defeated his election had il
been certain before--but in This case his cleo.
ton never could have been certain, nor do we
believe that under any circumstances (even
crisi,) he could be elected. One cannot forbear
to observe how true it is, that distance lends
enchan,ment TO the view" All persons nom-
mated in the House of Delegates are transcend
ant, and we are inclined to think that peculiar
and valuable custom, The foundation of our in.
moderate propensity to call all our public men,
great men. But be this as it may, Gen. FLOYD
appeared in the nominations, not only greai,
but a Uery great man--Gulliyer in LilliDut-
Without saying word Of his priv ale charac.
ter, which is not in controversy, and which we
know 10 be excellent, when did Gen. Floyd be.
come such Uery great man? His speeches in
Congress, whenever he has occasion 10 speak
beyond half column, are conlused-and evea
when within half column, never Profound
These are the only monuments Of his great
ness that we krow OF, and if with these mate
rials biographer was 10 set about writing his
life, we ask his panegyrsts, how 6ng he could
make it-not how entertaiDing-but how long?
We do not believe he could possibly, using the
materials judiciously, beat Tom Thumb in
ength-though since the new style introduced
by Writ in his Life of Patrick Henry, we will
not be positive on this point. Let US strip dis
lance of its enchantment, imagination Of its
coloring, and the eulogiums of his friends Of
their natural Partially, and we shall find Gen.
Floyd to be man OF plain sense, very mode.
rate requirement, great violence, and impetu-
osity Of temper mistaken for genius and gran.
deur of thought, and which frequently drive
him to error and injustice. II you add to this,
great solemnity Of carriage, you have all his
greatness-except those qualities of the heart,
which are claimed for him by his friends, all
Of which we concede with pleasure. But we
will proceed 10 the nominations.
Mr. Christian Of Charles City, took occasion
to say in second speech, that he understood
Gen. FLOYD was for Gen Jackson, and he de-
sired it to be understood that he would not be
for Gen. Floyd nor any other man, unless he
was for General Jackson! Suppose as in 1923
not man Of any distinction in Virginia was
for Gen. Jackson, what would Mr.. Christian
do? Devotion 10 abstract repubicanism, long
public service, undoubted patriotism, attach
ment to the Constitution and limited con-
struction-all the labors Of the body, services
Of the head and qualities Of the heart, are
worth nothing with MIR. Christian, unless the
candidate can abide the new test of being for
Gen. jackson! Was ever SO false and unworthy
sentimen, addressed TO ao enlightened Legis-
lature? We apply not these terms to the man,
but 10 what he said. We teseech him for his
own sake to retract tive believe il to be The
bastard Of particular circumstances (Which we
need not explain) and not the genuine offspring
of his judgment and feelings. What vicious
and deplorable state Of politics must that be in
Republic, when public man thinks he isbest
supporting his political friend, by avowing SO
slavish doctrine as this-a doctrine which
circumscribes the range Of our natural and re-
publican independence in the choice of our ru-
lers TO one man-which rewards hypocrisy, s.
Furnishes virlue-and which if admitted, must
absolutely Danish that blessing Of personal and
mental freedom, from the land, for the security
of which, the Republic was established, and is
alone worth preservation! But we wish it 10 be
bser.ed, that it was only in the opinion of Mr..
Christian, that the avowal OF this doctrine
would benefit DR.. Floyd. Itbeneftted him with
no part Of the House. We doubt if PROPOSE
ton was ever announced on that floor more
strongly and universally disapproved.