The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1828-10-06
MIR. ANDREW SIENrNsnN


This gentleman has been one OF the favorite.
offor"ne A man Of accident, he has risen 10
conspicuous height in the councils OF the com
Try, without possessing what We had heretofore
Ordinary moral properties to win ,he affections
of the crowd or splendid abilities to capiiyate
their judgments. II Nj. Stevenson tu.sessas
either the one or the other. we coufess that we
are strangers 10 the fact Tracing him raroueh-
out his whole political career the mind in vain
enquiries for the monuments which his genius has
erected Where are the hcnefcai laws which
owe their origin 10 him What service has he
rendered to the State or To the Union kntnt
vicious aud oppressive exactious owe their re-
mosal to his cxerions We ask in vain. To
what cause then. 10 10 be ascrheh his elevation
to the chair OF Speaker Of the Natpnal Legisla-
tire? II he can point 10 no good wht.urhe has
effected, nor no evil which he ha, prevented
and if he cannot show that his negaiire course
has been produced by causes hey ond his control
he must himself regard his elevation ms one of
those unaccountable events which combination
of fortuItouS circumstances will sometimes pro-
duce, as il only To mock the reason Of mankind.
That MIR Stevenson owes his extraordinary sue
cess TO his own exerlions, is true And, for this
he would deserve the admiration Of his country
men, ii II we're not equally true that those exer-
ton have been Characteristic more of the dcma-
eogue than of The patro,-and that they have
exhibited more Of the art TO which practise1 e.
lection"rrers too often resort than Of the digui-
fed dcmeanor OF the Statesman, presenting his
claims before the people, based upon the ser,i-
ces already rendered, or upon the promise ofthe
future. It viii rot be commended that Mr.
Stevenson derived his claim to the seat which
had been adorned by the talents Of a Cheves
Clay and Barbour, from any services which he
had rendered 10 his conntry--and if he did hold
out expeditions OF better things in the time 10
come, we iear they are destined never to be real
ized No. He owes his elevation to the
madness of party rage, which binding those
who are unhappily under its innueuce, TO the
broad aud paIpable distinctions between right
and wrong at one time rashlv bani.hes an Arls-
tides, and at another defes Nero. II is tsr.
loss, however, to attempt TO account for the fact
that Mr.. Stevenson is IN the Speakers chair, or
to enquire as ~ the means by which he attained
tit is sufficient that he is there. II should,
however, be seen whether he entered il spoiIess
from " intrigue whether if he did not &" bar
gaia' with those who elected him, he WAS not
prepared to "mnHn2e" the matter SO as to he
carried to il by the voice OF the opponents Of
those who afterwards gave him their support
Ifhc did the fact should be known, that he may
receive the reward due to such deep duplicity-
Ii lie did not, it is equally proper that hc should
have the benefit of absolllion from SO weiehlya
charge.
The allegation is preferred by J. Sloane esq a
member of Congress, from Ohio, "a mao of I'M
que stionable talents and we learn also Of un-
questionable integrity--We copy his letter from
the last Richmond Wing. and regret thai we
have not room to accompany II with the peri.
nent aud lorcible remarks of that point
WOOSTER. Quo, August 23I. 1923
DR.. Sir have Just read the letter Of the
Hon. Andrew Stevenson. giving the reasons which
induced him 10 oppose toe present Admnistra.
tIon aud advocate the ele Ciion of Genrrai lack.
son. II Is not NV Intention ~ preseai, ta am
madvert upon that letter, although consider il
extremely vulnerable my objec is To put the
ublic in possession Of fact which may tend 10