Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-02-12
POLITICAL "REMINISCENCES.

We have received, d,-says the Boston Mcr-
camille Journal, a copy OF pamphlet of about
100 pages, which is the first part only of'Po-
litical Reminisce including sketch OF
the origin and history Of the Statesman Par
ty' of Boston, by John Barton Derby, late
Deputy Surveyor of the Customs This is a
work which will produce quite i.uttcring a
mong the Office holders: it is written IN an oil
hand style, and apparently with much truth
and openness-and completely exposes the
gross corrnptions and cunning intrlgues of
the leaders of the Jackson party--and the
mode of operation by which they obtained
lucrative offices on the accession Of Andrew
Jackson to the Presidential Chair. The wri-
ter was one of them-and he had done much
with his pen, as Editor of Jackson paper at
Dedham, to blackball John Quincy Adams
and urge the pretensions of General Jackson
For his services he was rewarded with the
post of Dtpny Surveyor! ! In this pamphlet,
he does not spare himself any more than 9TH
ers. He acknowledges that he labored un-
der strange halluclnation Mt the tlmc,-and
looks back on his political course with repen-
tance and disgust.
For this exposition the author is entitled
to the thanks of the honest portion of the
community, although he relates nothing which
was not strongly suspected before. lie lifts
the veil, and places before his readers, in full
light, the total destltntion Of principle OF ma
ny of the prominent members OF the party IN
this State. He particularly describes the
causes which led to the famous tax upon the
Custom House officers, and the manner IN
which it was collected. In a word, he sets
Jacksonism and msrule before the public in
their true colors. No honest Jacksonman can
pcruse this book without blushing for the par
ty whose principles he has exposed. And no
individual whose bosom contains spark of
patriotism, can look over these graphic sketch
es Of the political character OF individuals
drawn from the life, and these records OF dis
graceful transactons,- without literally la
mcntng the degraded condition of his coun-
try.
The following extract feelingly portrays
the situation OF an unfortunate being, who
urged by ambition, and deceived by shadows,
sacrifices his independence and honesty to
patty
Let my youthful readers reflect on the
case | have been describing. Here was n
young man, engaged in an honorable profess
sion, (Which already yielded him sufficient
income, and promised future independence as
well as dlstinction,) led away by that jack-o
lantern, "a baleiul meteor.) the desire Of office,
10 the gradual deserticn of all his better hopes
and prospects; madly plunging into the are
IA of party with "a zeal without knowledge"
deceived by false expectations, and selling
'ff his library and his business: binding him
self hand and foot, and through sheer neces-
'ity, putting himself at the mercy ofany ordl-
lary patron; obtaining an inferior appoint
nent, and subjecting himself to all kinds Of
,Xtortion, as all public officers inevitably do;
sinking under the intolerabe fatigue and
confinement Of labors as severe and as unn-
ellcctual as those of horse in a bark mill;
deserving his mind and body gradually de-
aging; compelled to endure in silence, the
insolence of authority" receiving his wages
# slavery monthly, and feeling that one dol
ar, fairly won in honorable competition by
uperior talent and industry,-was worth
dealt out as they deal out, sat feet
ng tiac," food to the animals in menagc- |
le; conscious Of the contempt of the free peo- /
Le by whom he was surrounded; and at last
,sing the only consolation which could have /
ustained him under such manifold humllia-
ons, in the conviction that he had aided i'll I
ringing confusion and mlsrue on his coun-
y!
"lf there is any situation more completely
retched than tins, am ignorant oft And
ct such is the fate Of all the inferior officers
the Customs, if they happen to be deserv-
lg of a better. My young reader, be assur-
d, that when you exchange your present oc-
upation for a place under Government you
ecklessly fling away your happiness, and vo-
lntarlly accept Of misery and degradation"