Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-05-13

does not remember Mr.. Livingston PauPhe.
AGAINST Thomas Jefferson, and the epithets and
language there applied TO the great champion OF
the 6 Republican Party" In those days! VINO
has forgotten that Mr.. Livingston continued T., his
nersecution of Mr.. Jefferson even IN private lie,
sueiny him as private individual tor a tresPass!s
We mention this merely to show now dentocf@',
cailu the Government is going to De admlnisterea
bv General Jackson, who afhrms that he is iol-
loving the footsteps of Mr.. Jetferson!! But Mr..
Livingston stands before the country, or has
stood.-for we hear something, IN these latter
DAYS, of his having effected settlement or com
prOmise, in the unenviable situation 0f fuOhc
Defaulfer to the amount of upwards OF one hund-
red thous dollars He is. besides, now upwards
Of seventy years of age--old and feeble-and ex-
ceedinsly unpopular in Pennsylvania, where his
course with regard to the Nicholson claims, has
set the whole state against him. These and other
reasons have induced even the Richmond Eaqm-
rer to object to his appointment; and wbtH mat
print complains, we may be sure there are u:9'"ht
reasons; for when there is possibility OF h'ia$
silent, the Enquirer is as dumb as an asse' -
Indeed, in Virginia as in Pennsylvania. NJ" ~
vingston must be unpopular. 1t was he OF whom
John Randol phi spoke, :" as a man whom he would
not touch but with a pair Of tongs "-Whether
Mr.. LIS legal attainments and acknowledged
ability and research, will counterbalance these
other objections, the public must determine. For
ourselves, we had rather have another IN his
place, but since he is there, we are determined
to deal fairly with him.
Mr.. McLane, as Secretary Of the Treasury,
must also cause the - exclusive Democracy" to
stare little The great Republican Party"
really must be sadly off: Of this gentleman, our
readers will bear US witness, we have always
spoken respectfully, nay, we have taken every
proper occasion to applaud his talents. The toll
lowing extract from the Boston Palladium con-
tains some particulars of his life worth remem-
boring:
.Mr. McLane is the son of Allen McLane, a
revolutionary veteran, who long reposed from his
tolls, in the snug birth of the Collectorship at
New Castle. Jefferson, the first reformer. did
not venture to remove him from this situation, al
though he was one of the most open, decided, and
influential Federslists in Delaware. Under such
parentage. and, in the school of such Federalists
as Romney and Bayard, and in State where
party distinctions, as in small communities, are
severe and uncom promising. was Mr.. McLane
brought up. He came into Congress in the year
1917.
{" The 'sera of good feelings having then
commenced, under the auspices of Mr.. Monroe,
there was little room in Congress for party strife.
The old parties had laid down their arms, not to
embrace as brothers, but to take up new mea-
sures. The Tariff, Internal Improvement Sc
minole, Missouri, and South American questions,
successfully arose to agitate Congress and the
Nation. MIR. McLane took a prominent part in
these discussions, and became distinguished as a
ready ard forcibe debaier. In questions of fl
nance he discovered great acuteness and sagaci
ty, and his labOrs in the Committee of WAYS and
Means were highly valued. In the session of
1823-24, question occurred which brought
forth Mr.. McLane as a champion of old Federal
principles and policy, in opposition to the first
talents of the House. 1t arose incidentally upon
a motion, we believe, to clear the galleries while
the electoral votes were opened and declared
The practice in the administration of John Adams
was relied upon as precedent, which led to an
attack upon the policy of that administration.
The debate soon took wide range; and Mr..
McLane entering into it, with his characteristic
ardor and courage, sent defiance, if not disnay,
into the democratic ranks. His defence was as
successful as his attack was irresistible. He
boldly compared the Federal with the Democra-
tic administrations, claiming and maintaining tor
the former pre-emnence in patriotism and wis
dom. The deep impression made by this speech
is well recollected by those who heard it. 1t
was pronounced by many to be one of the abest
speeches ever made in Congress. Mr.. McDuffie,
who was burning with Impotence to answer it,
but was prevented by decision of the Chair,
expressed his regret that the most able aid elo-
quent vindication of Federal policy ever heard in
that Hal! should pass without reply"
TO this we shall add nothing, save that we be-
lieve that Mr.. McLane will support, in his new
situation, his former fame and character.
Judge White is to be the new War Minister,
and of him we do not intend to say much. We
do not admire any great deal his character, and
consider his talents as only second rate. He was
designated by the intrepid Barton as palace
slave" and is said by some justly to have earned
that appellation. We hope. however, he may do
weII-certainly he can write better English than
Major Eaton, and stands, in point Of morals,
when compared withrhin,, " as chaste as ice, as
pure as snow" In that much, at least, we are
gamers, and, as the old proverb says, we ought
not - look gift horse IN the mouth, but thank
God for the gver!'
MIR. Woodbury., at the head of the Navy, stands