Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-12-16
FURNISHED DAILY BY
MUEt. SNO " ID EN-,
OPINIONS OF TIE PRESS
THE PRESIDENTS SS.4GE.

That the annual commune aticn from the En-
ccutive tn Congress, which we have lately spread
before our readers, is the composition oil several
hands. is as obvious as that its suggestions are
the fruit of more minds than one Not to speak
Gf the difuseness OF it, SD little akin to the char
acter Of General Jackson. the style is generally
too elaborate to be taken for his. In much of the
message, and in its general aim and tendency,
we recognize the subtlety and decentralization ct
practised politician. rather than the straight tor
wardness OF one who has been all his LIE accus-
toned to march directly to his object In some
parts we have lectures upon morals and meta
physics, which would grace professors chair;
whilst the johnson periods of other passages,
betray pen accomplished in classic literature.
To this diversity of origin, probably, may be at
tributed the want of cohesion Of different parts of
the Message: whence it happens. that, while eve
~ one must find much in it TO approve. he may
chance also to find, even in connection with what
most pleascs him. something to condemn. The
frankness and drectness of the presiding mind APP
pear almostevery where tOhaye been controlled or
naturaized by the scruples. qualifications. and
exceptions, of the official advisers. So that the
Message, long as II Is. requires to be closely
studied. and its various passages carefully CON-
pared, before certain conclusions can be drawn
from it. There are sO.ne parts, indeed, which
so aicely couatcrpoise each other as TO leave the
reader. at las. In doubt 10 which of them pre-
pondera,es. Wat. MttMgencer.
Whatever opinions may be entertained of the
merits of the various propositions contain
ed in the Presidents message, or in whstever
frame of mind il may have been taken up by the
reader. or whatsoever he NAV conceive to be It's
real author-whether Mr.. Van Buren.
thinks. or Mr.. Berrien another thinks, or AS
barry Dlckins asa third Supposes-jamong al! the
conf ,c,ures. We believe no one has guessed the
President himselfl Or whether as still fourth
class thnks. it be the JOINT labor of all the good
heads around the Prcsident-it is impossible for
the most prejudiced to lay it down. without the
warmest admiration. In lucid arrangement. Vi
sor and condensation of thought, power and just
hess of reasoning, correctness nf the general SEN
timeut aud force aud simplicity oflangua@e. it at
least comes I'D to. if it does not excel, the must
chased aud flushed models of the class Of COM
position to which it belongs. We have no tavors
10 ask. and none TO giye--hut thus we think and
thus we say
SO much for the message as an intellectual eff
fort. There are few ct The op:nions advanced in
it. to which We do not assent. ur which we have
not had occasion to support IN the course Ut our
editorial labors. nur wonder IS, at finding so
hear a conformity of sentiment between the Presi-
dent and ourselves! That after opposing his
election first, and his administration last, we
should find ourselves at this advanced stage,
holding political 'cncts almost identical with hls
Or rather, that we should find him holding pO-
li'iual tencts almost identical with ouE-for he
and 40, w, has undergone these notifications
which have produced the approximation.
Richmond Uhig.