Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-04-02

rum under the present government OF Maine.
This matter is now in course OF investlga.
ton before Congress.
Citizen Genet has appeared in the Albany Ar
gus in an elaborate defence Of Mr. Van Bnren's
instructions to Mr. McLane, and formal cen
sure of the conduct of the Senate Of the United
States. Without referring to his conduct to-
wards President Washington and his administra-
ton, or his own recall, he sets out thus
DIPLOMATIC ENQUIRIES
On the late proceedings in the Senate of the Uni
ted States, relative to the nomination Of Mr..
Martin Van Buren,, as Minister Plenipotentia.
nv and Envoy Extraordinary Of the United
States near his Britannia Majesty.
By EDMOND CHARLES GENET,
Formerly clerk and interpreter in the department
of foreign affairs of France, from the year 1878
to 178O-attached to the embassy Of France at
Vienna in l7S0-first clerk in the department
of foreign affairs under the Count de Vergen.
mes, from the year 1871 to l787-acting Sc
cretary of legation in England with Count de
Moustier, in l785-secretary of legation with
Count de Segur, at the court Of st. Petersburgh
from the year 1887 to 17S9-accredited as
Charge d'Affaires at the same court from the
year 1889 to 1792-appointed Plenipotentiary
of the French Republic to the United Provin-
ces of the Netherlands in l792-Minister Pie
nipotentiary near the United States of North
America. in l795 and ireland since this
last diplomatic office, voluntary servant Of
the cause of Liberty in America. The true
vOtaries of that sacred cause, no more than the
real Ministers of the Word of God. being in
need Of diplomas to fulfil their call and their
mission on earth"
How will the Senate be able to withstand an
attack from this ci-devant dignitary with so ma
ny diplomatic tites?-Nat Gaz.
The ethics Of the political press in this coun-
try, instead of improving seem really to become
more and more vitiated daily; and. so that dis
tinguished adversary can be reached no expedi-
cnt is thought too base to be resored to-no false
hood too gross to De adopted. On the recent &C.
casion Of the Centennial Celebration at Washing
ton. it was remarked upon with regret, by the
National IntelIigencer, that the President did not
accept the invitation IN dine with number of
his felow-citzens, who met together to honor
that day: I'VE may state, b. the way, that the
President did not honor with his presence any
part Of the ceremonial, either by Congress or in-
dividuals on that oocasion:) and in special refe-
renee to the speech delivered bv Mr.. Webster at
that dinner. the National Intelligencer added,
6 that he, (he Presidency could not but have
risen from that table wiser, if not better, man
than he sat down to it," We do not know how
Others may have been affected bv reading that
noble speech; but for ourselves we can say, that
we cannot conceive the degree of human virtue
or knowledge which might not have received an
accession by perusing it-how much more, then,
by listening to il, as delivered with all the emo.
lions of great orator, warmed by a glorious
theme. Yet offence seems to have been taken at
the idea, that Andrew Jackson could be enlig ht-
ed or improved by listening to the eoqueDce Of
Daniel Webster. and such suppositiOn is re-
sented by the followers of the President, as de.
rOgatory to his dignity! 1t is on this hypothe-
sis only that we can understand the language in
which the ALBANY Argus of Monday, and the
Evening Post of yesterday, indulge respecting
this fesIlval-and> that we ind clue to the uni
form insensibility Of the Jackson press, to the
noble exposition by Mr. Webster, on that occa-
sion, Of the noblest of characters. They who can
fill up column after column with such speeches
as Mr.. Benton delivers in the Senate of the u.
States, or such refacinaenfos as Mr.. Edmonds or
Mr.. Talmadge cOncOcts for our own, on ques.
tons of transient and secondary interest--can
find no room for an illustration of the character
and career Of Washington-pOrtrayed with the
enduring truth and vsor Of genius. !,
Silence, however. in this last particular, is an
affair between these journals and their readers:
but calumny, eaves-dropping. the tattle of ahis-
pering malevolence, the gatherings or inventions
Of pumps who track the footsteps If an unsuspect-
ing man in his cOnvivial hours, and forge when
they cannot find the lie that may wound or black
en- him; these arms which all must despise
who desire to retain their respect or that OIL
others, and whose hatred 'sof the excellence
they cannot reach" does not bind them to the
infamy and the danger--il honorable men did
not scOrn even retaliation BY such means-of thus
assailing an adversary Yet. in the Albany AT
gus Of Monday, we find such paragraphs as this
in reference to the dinner:-
Did all the partakers in "that entertainment"
rise from the table wiser or better men? Rumor
tells another tale. Rumor says that the fn5ie of
{" that entertainment" was little else than Bac-
revel, gross and foul as the hypocrisy
OF the dinner orators on that occasion, or even
the Jesuistica cant Of their euosists of the Intel
ligencer. Is it not true. that, heated with the |