Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1837-06-02
For the Vermont Phunix.
seth Warner to the People Of Vermont.
LETTER v.

help of .choce spirits, men above the dull
pursuits of civil life" justice compels me to
saw. did not originate with Van Buren,. His
friend and patron, Aaron Burr, was the first
in this country 10 discover and duly appre-
cate this element OF power. In the days OF
that exceedingly subtle politician. this ele.
ment had not become sufficiently developed
and concentrated for successful experiment ;
and he therefore failed But his pupil never
lost sight Of the grand idea. He called it, in
his courtIy, lutestring dialect, the "rrepressi-
bic energy"; and the time in which he has
lived, together with the chcanery and cor
ruption OF few political desperadoes his
associates, who, TO the eternal dlscredIt OF
free people be it spoken, obtained an un.
worthy influence in the state, have favored
him much, in concentrating and organizing
it, to serve his purposes.
Before the late war with England men OF
this "irrepressible energy showed them
selves with considerable reputation, in their
way The seat of their operations was the
island of Barataria. in the vicinity Of tbs
Gulf of Mexico. From this haunt of piracy
these irrepressible spirits, more honorable
indeed than their successors, inasmuch as
they appeared under their own proper col.
ors, issued forth, and served themselves with
the spols. Lottery mongers, and all such
as felt themselves ruined in fortune and rep
utation, by play, dissipation, and contempt
Of honest occupations, formed constantly
increasing body Of hopeful recruits, so that
at the close Of the war their numbers had
become as formidable as their wants were
pressing. But LATTE had become an honest
man; and Burr having become impotent as
well as ashamed of his associates they were
left without head. They were dispersed
too over all the country, and through every
state and the firm and steady hand of presi-
dent Monroe. moreover was upon them, and
kept them down. "Choice spirits" mourned.
"lrrepressible spirits" were ready for every
desperate act that would give them money
and the spois. The power Of sympathy
too began to grow exceedingly strong among
them and the vile party feeling embodied
in the remorseless party edict, of kill or
die" had become their settled rule OF action.
The first ebulition Of frenzied popular
movement, like any other elemental commo-
ton, usually raises the lightest materials
aloft; and that which in times OF repose is
worthless and nothing thought Of now be-
comes most conspicuous. On such occa-
sions, too. audacity supplies very other defect;
and the passions Of the vile, whether inflamed
by revenge or cupidty, will blindly submit
to any voice, however profigate or con-
temptible, that promises to lead them on to
indiscrminate qualification. Such move
ment had become distinctly indicated. The
long delayed but ardently desired mo-
ment was now approaching. Political cor.
morants from various points Of the compass,
instinctively sensing the coming calamity
began to scream their satisfaction at the near
enjoyment Of the spois.
The vacancy that had occurred in the
post Office at Albany in the year 1922, fur
nshed the occasion by which to organize
and rally the dispersed materials for such a
conflict An obscure individual at the time,
whom accident. and party madness, and buck
tail morality had conspired to place in the
heard OF out of the bucktail den. entered
upon the novel scheme of forcing one of his
fellow bucktails. and as such wholly un-
worthy of the place. into that Office, agains,
the will, both Of the president Mr. Monroe,
end the postmaster general Mr. Meigs Aid
ed by the unhappy Tomkins. then become
sot, Rufus King and other New York fed
erals, the attack was made in the true ban
ditti style; and with such an open and sham
less contempt of delcacy and honor, and
conducted with such shark-like hunger for
Office, and perseverance 10 obtain it, as could
not fail to commend the hero of it TO the adj
miraton and everlasting gratitude Of all
bucktails, and such choice spirits as had the
"irrepressibe energy" to rise above the dull
pursuits of civil life The man lost his OBJ.
ject in that instance indeed, but he made his
fortune Neither Mr.. Monroe nor the post
master general Of that day was Of temper
to be corrupted by his hattery, or awed by
his threats of banditti, bucktail vengeance
Van Buren, on that occasion, and his Off
cious nomination, were treated with the con-
tempt they merited; and Solomon Van Rem
salaer, the patriot and soldier, with wounds
then scarcely healed which he received in
a successful attack upon the British lines on
Queenston Heights, did honor to the APP
pointment. But although signally defeated
in this his first attempt upon the spoils, Van
Buren, from that time forth became the child
of promise on which the hopes Of the anon
lous party, then forming, reposed.
The opposer of Madison. the open defer of
Monroe, the enemy Of the brave soldier who
fought and bled in the cause OF his country
in the late war; and the friend, apologist and
patron Of the cowardly bucktais who turned
recreant to their country in its greatest need,
and refused TO pass over and sustain their
bleeding countrymen. who, under the brave
Van Rensselaer, were contending against
fearful odds, and covering themselves with