Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-05-27
"wednesday Morning, Mag go
WASHINGTON IRVING.

the article of Mr.. Randophs behavior at St Pctorh
has kicked quite dust among those editors n. The
North, whom Mr. Irving retains to puff him in hi;
tive land by sending them presume u stray volume
now and then, by complimentary episte or by get
ting the favor of them to read his proof sheets r
venerable contemporary has obligngly condensed tho
illusions OF their Jealous indignation and supcradded
something of his own We quote from his paper of
yesterday
WASHINGTON IRvING-A Toad Eater!
An attack has been made upon W. Irving by an Editor
of this City, so much coarser than common, call
ZIP blush ofindgnaonin the checks of some of his own
political brethren.-Tho paper itself wo never read
and all that We see of its nvectives, is occasionally
piece put into hands for inspection extracted into
some other paper-It was only IN the columns of
New York paper that we, for the first time, the
following attack:
'sA courtier and sycophant such Washington Ir
vng-a toad-cater by trade-is, aud must DO under
standing suspicion whenever great men are his themes.
Washington loves great, particularly when he is also
rich, man, dearly, and would do any thing in
to accommodate him. Suppose the whole story of the
Pcnipotentuys eNravagances the Court of the Car
was fiction, what it to Washington Irving? He
thought it would oblge great man. and the sickly
though cunning sentimentalist looked no further"
This vruent and unjust attack has been drawn upon
w. Irving simply by the circumstance of his having
dared to what Prince Livcn said in vindicaton
Of John Randolph For this act of Justice injured
man, W. Irving, of the ornaments of his country,
Is to be held up ''courtier sycophan and toad-
eater!"-The N. Y. American with whom it is seldom
lot to agree, does credit TO itself by rebukng" in
the strongest terms of Indignation, the and
founded aspersion What it says is much better
than any thing which offer upon this occasion,
that prompted to republished t--as an act of
strict justice to w. Irving-whose NAME the author
ofthe letter in question: the first to make known
TO his countrymen, frorhe pen of Mr.. Irvings Cor
respondent himself
''These (says the New York Amcrican) are harsh
terms to apply to any one, much less such ind
viduai, we find nothing in the circumstances of the
to warrant this gratuitous invectve nor he
glow of excitement or the ''warh of passion"
language and offensive. such attacks as
this-nis- directed in their object, and unaccountable
in their naturehat destroy the just influence of the
press 1t is the excitement which such language pro-
md lastly, it the indignant feeling such
with from generous minds, that makes those connected
With the press, blush for their occupation,
ave have been told by Americans, on returning from
abroad that they ashamed to lend to stranger
the newspapers received from their friends in this
country, account of their caumnious contents. IF
snch emotions excited in the breast of Americans
moved from the of action, by the disparagement
OF political characters how must they become aggra-
waited whom the subject of the outrage-an individual
who has kept himself aloof from the poisonous
atmosphere of party feeling,-is the pride of his
native soil, and whose very name is pass
port to consideration for his countrymen through
ont Europe? Will not they, too, in transport of
indignation 'forget the duty of patriotism and the
controlling influence of reason?" any of our readers
think that Ia sPousing tIys eIrnesuy VIC attach I
too much importance to mere newspaper paragraph
they should remember that while the subject of is of
that sensitive who most keenly alive to
tce he has not in this instance been cited at the legit
bar of criticism, but held up to derision before
tribunal, to which he is aInenable than any
other private Individual That though in this city,
where Mr. Irving fresh the hearts of the many with
whom he has ever kept up warm and close intercourse
any attempt to lessen him in the esteem affections
of his countrymcn appears preposterou there may be
places where the kind and generous nature of the
his elevation of character, and almost romantic
patriotism, and above ALL his zealoas tenacty of the
rood opinion of his countrymen little known
that Misrepresentation might produce its effect But
wore it so, why should we keep any terms with this
depreciatng spirit, which seems to haunt real ex
cellcnce wherever it asserts itsel? Why should
preserve patience with THIS unprovoked detracon
OF wel-earned celebrity, when pretension of evory
kind swells into unmoiestcd importance around us?
Ii
ncans, players, and militiacaptans be pulled into
Hor;etv from every quarter without the unwhoIesome
blast whitening the aures of those who have really adj
vanced the reputation of their country? The fame of
such the author of Columbus belongs TO the
Hon at arge and let every true American look we'll that
no hand tamper with common property"
Nr Walsh himself although he docs not like Mr..
Randolph, and has not, we think on some occasions,
done full justice to the literary morris of Mr. Irving yet
expresses himself upon the present OCCASION with a
propriety and TRUTH which reflect credit upon himself
He says he is glad that 'The York American
has keenIy rebuked the - for an editorial par
agraph very unkind and derogatory Washington IT.
ving"-He says, that 'Mr Irving has given
cause to any of his countrymen for the least
bragg offence; his spirit bland and benefcient
the lustre of his genius the tenor Of his produc-
tions Every where in Europe ne has been the active
and liberal friend of every American worthy of his
esteem, who had the good fortune to como within his
sphere of personal action influence His love of
Country has shewn itself in those details which prove
Immediately the movement of the heart; aad if
ne the author of the letter concerning Mr. Randolph,
which occasioned tho nvective of the - -, It's
and the generosity of his nature. The New York a.
mcrcan remarks that attaches Importance to the
letter testimony in favour of BIr Randolph, because
the diplomatic relation of Prince Levon to the writer
precluded real expression of opnion but every
who knows the character of Washington Irving, must
believe that he really laid upon it and is sincere
I1,every point.
'Ir is not Fthc warrior, the orator, and the
statesman who alone, respectively, oXa the rcpu
ation and promote the welfare Of their country Tai
Cns and culture dispositions and performances such
those of Washington Irving national credit and
"onciatc foreign regard in degree not less sautary
with an operation not IS durable and d1iiusivc-
Literature is field of honor, which the most civil
lied nations look with the proudcst and oaEccst onu1.
Ton When ticir champions in tbrillianjly succeed,
radiance is reflected, which they fondy and grateful
y appreciate in this view, the author of the Sketch
Book-tho Life of Columbus-thc Conquest Of Grena-
da-s the principal boncfactor, and should bcthe cher
ishcd iayoritc Of us ALL he has trophies, where
republic possessed scarcely any literary fame;
whore, indeed, tho doubt had been often expressed
and too generally entertained, whether the proper IA
rucs had notbceu denied rude gene ration We
need not dwell the direct pleasure whiei the bcout-
III works Of r. Irving have m;nistcrcd the reading