Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-10-20
SIM PSON'S LETT ERS.
[rrom the Philadephia United States Gazette.
TO TIE PUPLIC-LETTER 4.

D AlltT seven YEARS utUOHS StItUgtD u 10
break down certain abuses, and establish
men in authority who would reform them,
and who were pledged to reform them
now bchcld the bitter fruit which had
crumbed 10 dust and ashes as the hand
grasped it. The very reverse Of the
objects contc mplatcd had been alized. -
The most corrupt and offensive coalitions
were written in garipg characters on the
face of the cabinet. The first step of
Gen. Jackson was to adopt "A ruinous prnc-
ticc, which he had been elected express
sly tn put down and abolish iorevcr-,hc
admission of Presidential candidateS at the
council board ofthc cabinet! lie adopt
ed MIR. Van Buren us the ,'hcir 10 the
EMPIRE" his first act being TO nominate
his successor, and thus make fatal IN
road into the freedom of elections, by put
ting the stamp Of authority on the favor
itc of the executive, and supersding the
free choice ofthe people. Mr.. Van nu-
ren, too, had been the most violent OF all
the rancorous opponents of Gen. Jack
son; and, from his proximity to Major
! Eaton III the Senate, gave rise to the nat
ural belief, that his appointment was but
/ the consummation ofprevious understand
ing, and the consideration paid for his
| support Here, he touched the rock of
! corruption with the rod Of intrigue, and
| the fountain of discord gushcd forth in
streams too powerful for the feeble hands
! Of age to allay, or direct into channels -
lie nominated his successor, and factions
instantly dcrascinatcd the country in their
conflicts iof future power. 1T was, per-
haps, a mstnke-an error of Judgmcn
the btunder OF ineXpericncc-b its foun-
datlon was corrupt, and its consequences
have proved fatal. No force of power
no influence of authority, in II free and
: enlightened country, ever can succeed In
forcing mcdiocrity to high places-or IN
vest with the magic of genius the down.
ward propensitics of a grovclling mind. -
When that calamity beias nation like
this, it must be the work of finiatuation in
the people, and delusion in the leaders
But why should an enlightened people
| bandagc their own eyes to take those of
other men-a really free people never
| will
! On all sides the coalition was manifest,
and the corruption glazing. Mr.. Van Bu-
rem and hi. friends were secured and re
wardcd. Mr.. Calhoun and his suppor-
ters were gratiiicd by the treasury, and
some minor stations-morc to soothe them
from opposition than to promote their in
tercsts or CRAFTY their pride.-The in
tention of getting rid Of Mr., Calhoun,
even at that early hour, was evident, by
showing him that Mr.. Van Buren, was in
the "chair of suCccssion," while Mr..
Calhoun, in compliance with republican
usage, would be left out of the chair of
the Vice Presidency. 1t was an unnat-
ural alliance that placed a statesman so
highly gifted, and patriot so inflcXlhly
lust as John &. Calhoun, in conjunction
with men so measured in talent, so loose
in principle, and so groveIng IN their
views, as the adhercnts of the secretary
of state-to say nothing Of that frank,
honorable, and lofty bearing which ex-
hibitcd so splendid a contrast in his favor
and threw his pIgmy rival into such mid
night shade. 1t was enough to sec the
| President of the Senate presiding with
Roman dignity over that august body, to
satisfy the least sagacious mind, that he
held no qualities and feelings in common
with the men of the government, which
could create atiinitics between them, or
permit them to tolerate him near the
throne, without conspiring his destruc-
ton! Impressed with those ieelings,l en-
| dcayorcd to become personally acquaint-
ed with Mr.. Calhoun--but the hustle x
confusion incident to the approaching
close Of the session, deprived me of that
satisfaction.
| During my continuance in Washing
! ton | had but one, or at most two, inter-
views with the now secretary OF war
lie appeared absorbed in the contempla-
ton of the greatness which had suddenly
burs. upon him. lie was lmpenctrablc,
cold, selfish, and calculating, we IN
tcrchanced but few opinions; and his OBJ
scryations upon the discomfort which
ntimatcd to him would be felt, II not ex-
pressed in PENNSYLVANIA, upon the choice
of the cabinet, evnced the utmost con-
tempt for the opinions Of the people, and
the most ineKcusabe arrogance in his
new situation. twas evident both in the
manner of Gen. Jackson and his biogra-
! pher, that as soon ms the election tcrmin-
atcd, new train ofthoughts and feelings
had entered into their breasts; that they
now as much despiscd the sovereign peo.
pie, who had placed them there, as they
had courtcd them with abject solicitation
for their votes, before the close of the
ballot boxes On one occa casion, Mr. Ea-
ton burst into laugh, exclaiming, "what