Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-03-16
Entract of Letter from, Washington.

1t is amusing to witness the progress of the era nd
drama which is now being acted-as fashionable phi
lologers would say--in this metropolis The " Pre-
sident perceves the advantage his Northern rival has
gained, as manager of the payers,-is evidently dis
satisfied with the part cast to him, and feels if he
were acting for the benefit of him who is 'sthe line
of safe precedents."
When in the late extraordinary debate. Mr. Web
eter, with an unwonted fervour, pronounced
ga barren sceptre in their hand,
Thence 10 be wrenched by unlireal hand,
No heir of theirs succeeding"
the Vice President appeared to shrink horror
stricken like Macbeth when he saw he place reserved
for hmselfat the table, occupied by the ghost of the
murdered Barquo. That debate was decidedly the
most powerful and interesting that ever witnessed.
You know am accused of having strong Southern
preudces, and that have always denied the charge.
But on witnessing this great contest, betrayed my
outlines, for found my feelings enlisted in behalf
of MIR Hayne, and really thought once, that he had
overcome his adversary. The illusion however,
vanished: as soon [ saw the Northern lion rise
from his lair, and pass by the unnoticed hyDna, to
attack the tiger which was invading his domain,
trembled with anxiety, and e Stoutest held his
breath for time" You know the result, but no lam
ruage can describe the tremendous conflict which
produced it. Having driven the royal adversary
from the field, the monarch letlred with the same
nonchakance which marked his onset. Then ensued
as kind of afterpece, the udicrous scuffle between
the Hyona and the Bison of the West. The latter
literally made ''the fur fly, and paved and gored
with such rapidty precision and effect That IN little
time there scarcely remained enough of the former
shew what species he belonged TO. The eccentric
speecf of MIR Barton, though verbose, tautotogouS,
and pedanc. suited the occasion admirably. When
he spoke Of the crowd following The President mot
from political faith but for the loaves and fishes,
could not repress SMILE notwithstanding The odious-
ness of the reality. 1t recalled to my mind the elo
ouent invecve of our own Leigh against modern de-
1eneracy. / tried to persuade myself that Virginia
did not contribute 20 swell that molly crowd ofpoti
cal hucksteers but the truth cannot be disguised that
she furnished her quota, whilst our humble and I'M
aspiring neirlbor on the South, sustained her cha
rocter TO- political integrity Even the fraternity of
the tune in North Carolina Showed abstinence in
this universal scramble for FISH, worthy of all praise
I have heard of only two N G. Editors sending in
their to the QIce Of re1oards One ofthese
is the editor of the ,ooie h0e Jackson paper at Fay
ettevle, and the other is the editor OF Kindred
press at Salisbury. l know nothing OF this pair per-
sonally, and little politically having seen ell
Their Of their papers, which / am told seldom trave
North of the Cape Fear: but / understand that dur
ing the late administration, they were the most noisy
decaimers in all Carolina against erecuiUe patronage
the corruption IF The press, and sfch stuff. Tha
the laborer is worthy Of his hire is generally sount
doctrine but doubt its orthodoxy, in politics a.
well as in religion, in all cases where it clearly ap
pears that the motives Of the aborer arc corrupt
where in the apt language Of Mr.. Barton, he toile
-ssnot through faith, but for fish cannot say tina
such were the motives Of these two unknown wor
thi6s; but when sec them applying for their ration