Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-02-19
EDITORS CORRESPONDENCE.

EDITORS CORRESPON DENCE.
Mr. Sao,oden:-At the dawn of this our "day
Of Cancellation and compromise" know yeu
will like the beginning Of the good work. made
By the House Of Representatives, in the choice
of Gales and Seaton as printers. For my own
part, though suppose you do not agree with me
there, hope the sane spirit may eyince itself iii
giving to Green the printing OF the Senate. He
deserves that much for his independence, though
he has been Justly rebuked, in the loss Of the
printing for the House. for his heresies now. and
his former sins in building up this abomInable adj
rninistratiou. l don't mind knocking saucy
fellow down, now and then; but il l find that
have hurt him so much he can't Immediately get
up again, why IN help him up and administer
some cordial Into the bargain.
What is the matter with MIR. McDuf6e? Is
he sick or mad? He looks so woe besone-so
joyless and GriendIsss, that "my bowels yearn
for him." There he is, pacing up and down the
aisle of the House the live long day. wrapt In
the gloom Of his apparently cherries thoughts
and MISUNDERSTANDING nobody aud hardly
any thing that passes around him. Such deep
and sulen abstraction is not wont to him, though
he is never the ''gay Lothario," but seems al
ways bent on "hgh and welshty matters.''
| have just been reading a newspaper which,
not long since, never read without satisfaction.
Why, what in the name of wonder has come over
YOUR friend of the Richmond Uhig? Would he
sacrifice every thing to speculation-ana bstrac.
tion-an idealitys The right OF secession can
never be surrendered. says the Wing. Waving
the very important previous question as to the
existence of that right, of what Importance is it
in the form in which il Is claimed? Why not
just as well revert to first prnciples-to natural
Law, and call il the right OF Revolution? 1t
amounts to that in our system. IL is essentially
revolutionary. Ii would be attended with about
the same consequences to the system alter
separation--thoush there is, Ia be sure, very
material difference between cutting the knot with
the sword and u0tyins IT by a vote. The Wing
is TOO fierce By half-too exclusive too ntOlerant
ton much inclined to the Procustean mode Of
fitting men and things to its lIking-thuush it
does all this with great talent. Ii seems TO for
get that there are two sides to the great questions
now at issue, and two parties tU consult, who
have equal rights and who are equally honest aud
in earnest in support Of their respective sides
1t is for yielding at once, aud tn fear too, all that
South Carolina asks-sacrfcins 'aDy and every
thing in blind haste to patch up an accommo.
dalton TO avert the present storm.
| beg pardon for this DEPRESSION from the usual
contents Of my notes, which are designed en-
polls, but have, some how or other, unacc ounta-
bly, strayed to Richmond on the present occasion.
To return.
What strange things have happened here dur.
ing one short week! Are on the eve of the
millennium. Ii must be so, think. The Lion
has taken his bed by the side Of the Lamb, and
the little child can now, with IMMUNITY, put bis
hand on the hole of the cocatrice! | am here
in the identical place from which l have indted
so many sweet pages to you, aud am, / believe,
the same Figaro as ever; and yet there seems to
be a metamot phose either in me or in all around
me! II looks confouudedly odd to see in close
and familiar association men who but week or
SO ago bent their eyes upon each other only in
malignant defiance. or consuming hate. And
vet this is literally so, or else am not Figaro
The book, too, which could not rest quietly on
the shelves together but few days since-tbe
antaguniZins theories On political economy, the
antipodal commentaries ON Constitutional Law,
the fierce opponents, IN pamphlet aud newspaper
form, in the long-sone strifes Of other DAYS. -
Row rePose. cheek BY juwl, in all the quiet and
complacency Of the assured friendship of a cen.
tury's Duration! What is to happen nextl OF
i certainty, the School master is abroad! And
such School master, too! Why, he beats your
grammar grinders, who make you complete in
that science in forty-eight hours,-and your
writing masters, who Can turn pothOoks and.
trammel-fellow into an elegant photographer in
half minutes; he beats these all hollow. For
he can uilledrn The toolishness Of halt century
in day, and turn an ass into Solomon as quick
as you can say Jack Robinson! | make no per-
sonal illusions to any wiseacre in these parts,
my dear sir-so don't reject my morsel on that
account; but do say. that am ready TO burst
with curiosity and establishment. | wish Dave
Crockett was here now. just to give US the bene.
mt OF his another wit" on these monstr0ns i'm
provements-and TO take few lessons from this
wonderful teacher. - have done! Here
come H-y C-y, ]. Z. C-n, D.
G-n, and C-s We, in close con.
Sersation; and see they are looking right at
me:-So down goes the pen Of
Yours, ever, FIGARO.
Library Room in the Capitol,
Washington, Feb. l6, 1858.