Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-07-15

me- S"uhch' Nhea came INTO my priyat
ONCE, L found queer long sided man. a
$ least SIX feet high, with little apple head
: queue ana q lace critically round and ros
as ripe cherry. lie handed me a lette
from his Excelleney the Honorable Pele
Peshell, Esquire. Recommending him martin
ulariy to my patronage. | was a little ipcli
ned to be rude, but checked myself. rcmem
benng that was the servant Of such men a
my visitor, and that might get the reputa
t!on OF an aIistocrat if mads an, distinction
/ between man and man.
'ttell, my friend, what situation do yol
/ wish?'.
"Why-y-y, I'm not very particular. bal
sosehaw or other think | should like to he
a minister, ! don't mean minister of the
gospel, but ono of them ministers TO lorciat
parts"
I'm very sorry, very sorry indeed; there
Is 30 vacancy just now. Would not something
else suit you?"
"Whyy-y-y," answered the sophisticated
man, 81 wouldn't much care i'll took situa-
ton in ono OF the departments. / wouldn't
much mind being comptroller or an audltor,
or some such thing"
My dear sir, I'm sorry, very sorry indeed.
but it happens unfortunately that all these
situations are at present filed. Would YOU
My friend stroked bis chin and seemed
struggling TO bring down the soarings of biz
high ambition to the present crisis. IT last
he answered:
why Wy, yes, don't care Il get COED
collectorship or inspectorship, or surveyor
ship. or navy agency, or any thing OF that sort."
Really, my good friend, Mr.. Phippenny,"
said |, 'Ircgret exceedingly that not o0b all
these places but every place Of consequence
IN the government is at present occupied
Pray think Of something else :"
He then, after some hesitation, asked for
clerkship. and finally for the place Of mes
seDger to one OF the public Offices. Fiudiug
no vacancy here, he seemed in vast perplex
ity, and looked all around the room, fxing bis
eyes at length on rae, and measuring my
heiSh from head TO foot At length, putting
on one oftne drollcst looks that ever acorned
the face oil man, he said, "Aiister you and I
seem to be built pretty much alike, haven't
you some old clothes you can spares"
Oh what falling off was therci from
mission to suit Of old clothes, which the
reader may be assured | gave him ,~ith inf
mite pleasure, IN reward for the hca"ty laugh
| enjoyed for years afterwards"
The Politician, as a matter OF course, loses
his popularity and his place after fhort tune,
andre:Ires to private aud native lnsignihcancc,
but ere he takes leave OF his readers be utters
some startling truths in the plain manly Ian
guage of common sense. We copy them in
the hope that they may euighteD somewhat
the proceedings of those hungry office seek
ers, who in their unprincip lcd struggles for
power and place, sacrifice truth, >Lonor and
reputation:
81 have long seen with fearful and melan-
choly antieipatiens that vast and dispropor
toned space that politics and party feelings
occupy 10 the lives of my fellow citizens to
the exclusion OF other, aud lat me add nobler
pursuits Ihave seen the country thrown in
to fer nent: the charities of life aud the
bonds OF benevelence; the obligations Of
truth, and the ties of justice, all foet as burnt
flax, and scattered to the winds as uothing-
an Offering on the altar of political strife.
have seen the most frivolous objects, and the
most contemplate Offices, assuring vast
and faliacious magnitude, and exciting the
most violent, outrageous struggle Tor their
attainment, as If the parties were oontendlng
for the empire Of tho world, y short, have
seen, as think, the ioger oftme pointing to
that period, not far distant fear, when the
choice ola chief magistrate will be consider
ed al object Of greatsr moment than the pre-
cspts. the obligations OF religion or the pre-
servGtion Of our liberties. IL cannot be dis
gGiseu tnat TIE pdI> NHlSd h5htS '.SsS p'
litical conha grstians is 81; uck out ny the vio-
lent collision Of office holders and office seek
ers, and am aware that the experience OF
others weighs little with us in balancing
our own conduct and regulating our pursuits.
Still perhaps plain narrative OF the unsaits.
factory results of SO many sacrifices oil moral
principles may serve at least to mitigate the
violence OF those contests which end at
length in momentary triumph followed by
lasting defeat Men In&y learn from my ex-
ample how mistaken is the idea that the pos
session of power leads TO Independence, or
enables them 10 pursue their Syvn viii II
there is any situation in life in which we caH
do as We please. il win be found much nearer
The extreme of ths beggar than that ct the
king.
IAN the honorable pursuits of life a;e salu-
tary, provided they are not sought with TOO
great a, idty and at The price OF integrity aud
happiness 1t is moreover the bounden duty
Of every citizen to take strong interest an
the conduct Of public affairs and the prosper
ity of his country. But even patriotism a:
wsn as religion has its limits beyond whch
both become fanatcism. He who sacrifices
those principles of honor, justice, charity and
truth. which are essential to the happiness o
mankind here and hereafter, which never
change and which all agree to poitica
principle which is ever varying ana aboo
which all mankind differ, muslin the end beeen
most mischievous and pernlelous citizen