Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1830-03-16

press teemed, during an excited political
canvass. 1t was charge of which there
was not only no proof or probability, but
which was, in itself, wholly impossible to be
true, No man of common information ever
believed syllable of it. Yet it was of that
|class of falsehoods, which, by continued re-
petition, through all the organs of detraction
and abuse, are capable of misleading those
who are already far misled, and of further
tanning passion, already kindling into flame.
Doubtless, it served its day, and, in greater
or less degree, the end designed by it. Hav-
ling d,ne that, it has sunk into the general
mass Of stale and loathsome calumnies. 1t
is the very cast-off slough of polluted and
shameless press. Incapable of further mis-
chief, it lies in the sewer, lifeless and de-
spsed. 1t is not now, sir, in the power of
the honorable member to give il dignity or
4 decency, by attempting to elevate it, and to
Introduce it into the Senate. He cannot
change it from what it is, an object of gen.
eral disgust and scorn. On the contrary
the contact if he choose to touch it, is more
likely to drag him down, down, to the place
where it lies itself.
j But, sir, the honorable member was not,
for other reasons, entirely happy in his ilu-
Banquo's ghost. 1t was not, think the
friends, but the enemies. of the, murdered
Banquo, at whose bidding his spirit would
mot down. The honorable gentleman is
fresh in his reading of the English classicks,
and can put me right if am wrong but,
! according to my poor recollection, it was at
/ those who had begun with caresses, and
ended with foul and treacherous murder,
that the CORY locks were shaken? The
!, ghost of Banquo, like that of Hamlet, was
an honest ghost. 1t disturbed no innocent
man. 1t knew where its appearance would
strike terrour, and who would cry out a
ghost! 1t made itself visible in the right
quarter, and compelled the guilty, and the
conscience smitten, and none others, to
start, with
"Pr'ythee, see there! behold look! 10!
] "lfI stand here. saw him"
Their eye balls were scared twas it not so,
r sir p who had thought to shield themselves,
, by concealng their own hand, and laying
!, the imputation of the crime on low and
. hirel;ng agency in wickedness, who had
t vainly attempted to stifle the workings of
t their own coward conscience, by calculating
= through white lips and chattering teeth,
r "thou can'st not say did itl' have mis-
; read the great Poet, if it was those who
Y had no way partaken in the deed of the
e death, who either found that they were, or
4 feared that they should be, pushed from their
t stools by the ghost ofthe slain, or who cried
g out, to spectre created by their own fears,
r and their own remorse, avaunt and quit
e my sight"
5 There is another, particular sir, in which
!. the honorable members quick perception
:, of resemblances might, should think, have
o seen something in the story of Banquo, maxi
n ing 1t not altogether subject of the most
e pleasing contemplation. Those who muir
: dered Banquo, what did they win BY it?
y Substantial good? Permanent power? Or
disappointment, rather, and sore morti6ca-
$ tion-dust and ashes-the common fate of
!, vaulting ambition, overlapping itself? Did
J. not even handed justice ere long commend
e the poisoned chalice to their own lips Did
a they not soon find that for another they had
r "filed their mind ?"-that their ambition.
e though apparently for the moment success
e full, had but put barren sceptre in their
i grasp? Aye, sir,
t A barren sceptre in their grippe,
" Thence to be ,crenched by an unlineal hand,
Nosen oftheir's succeeding"
S Sir, need pursue the allusion no farther.
e leave the honorable gentleman to run it
r out at his leisure, and to derive from il all
n the qualification it is calculated to admins
# ter. If he finds himself pleased with the
| associations, and prepared to be quite salts
d fed, though the parallel should be entirely
d completed, | had almost said, am satisfied
|, also-but that shall think of. Yes, sir, I
g will think of that.
,, In the course Of my observations the 9TH
o er day Mr.. President, paid passing trb-
y ute of respect to very worthy man, Mr..
}. Dane, of Massachusetts. 1t so happened,
: that he drew the ordinance of 1857, for the
n Government of the Northwestern Territory.
It :. man of so much ability, and so little pre-
tence; OF go great capacity to do good,
t and so unmixed disposition to do it for its
:, own sake; gentleman who acted an i'm
: portant part, forty years ago, in measure
the influence of which is still deeply felt in
! the very matter which was the subject Of
d debate. might, thought, receive from me a
!, commendatory recognition.
s But the honorable member was inclined
: to be facetious on the subject. He was
d rather disposed to make it matterof ridicule,
y that had introduced into the debate the
: name of one Nathan Dane, Of whom he as
0 sures us he had never before heard. Sir, If
t the honorable member had never before
: heard of Mr.. Dane, am sorry for it. II
+; shows him less acquainted with the publick
r men of the country, than l had supposed.
i Let me tell him, however, that sneer from
:. him, at the mention of the name of Mr..
J, Dane, is in bad taste. It may well be a
e high mark of ambition, sir, either with the
o honorable gentleman or myself. to accom-
s plsh as much to make our names known to
: advantage, and remembered with gratitude,
: as Mr.. Dane has accomplished. But the
i truth is, sir, | suspect, that Mr., Dane lives
!. little too far North. He is Of Massachu-
d sets, and too near the North star to be
8 reached by the honorable gentIeman's
: telescope. If his sphere had happened to
!, range South of Mason's and Dixon's line,
ha miohf nroha hlvy have Gonna vuifhin the