Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-05-04
Mr., w BSTER'S SP Il e G II
c q " C l. u d + d


This letter. sir. is curiosity. AS pa
per. describing political movements, and
exhibiting political opinions, 1t is without
parallel. It, phrase is altogether militia.
~. It reads like despatch, or bulletin
from head quarters. IL is foil of attacks,
assaults, and repuses. II rrcoun,s move.
ments and conni or movements ; speaks OF
occupying one position, falling back upon
another, and advancing TO third; 1t has
positions to cover enemies, and positions TO
hold allies in check Meantime, the ccler
ity Of all these operations reminds one -;
the rapidly of The military actions o! the
King Of Prussia. in the seven years war.
Yesterday he was in the South. giving
battle to he Auslrlan-to day he is in Sax.
ony. or SlIesla; instantly he is found tn
have traversed the Electorate. aud lie facing
the Russian and the Swede on his North
rrn frontier. If you look for his pace on
the n,nr. before you find It he has Quilted
il. he is sIwavs marching. fvlug falling
back. wheeling, attacking, defending, sur
pt,.lrg; fighting everywhere, and lighting
all the time ln one particular, howevct,
the campaign described IN this letter dlf.
fer from the manner III which those of the
great Frederick were Conducted ] think
we nowhere read ~ the narrative of Fred
erick'S achievements. Of hi. taking p'si
iIon IT, cover an enemy. or position To
hu'd an alv IN check. These rcfnemenls.
in the science of tactics aud Of war are Of
mote rrc"ut discovery.
Mr.. President; public men must certainly
be allowed TO change their opinions. and
their a-soclatjoGs, whenever they see H..
M one doubts lh,s. Mcu may have Gruwn
wiser, they may have aua,n"d to better
and more correct views Of great public
suhec's Il won'd BE- uu.nrtunst". ii there
were any code winch SHOULD obllge men, IN
pubic or private life. to adhere tn opinions
once more entertained, IN spite of eXperl.
ence snd better ku"wledge. aud against
thcr own c"Ovicti"ns OF their erroneous
chItactrr. Nevertheless. sir, it must be
acknowledged. that what appears to be- a
sudden, a. we'll rs a great change. natural
" produces shock. confess. for one |
was shock d. when the honorable gentle
man, q, the last session. espnused this bill
of,he Administration And when first
read this letter Of N ,vcmber. and, in the
short space Of column and a half, ran
through such n succession of political
movements. all terminating IN placing the
honorable member IN he ranks Of our op
poncnts and CG'itl,ng Inn 20 take his sea,
as he hiss done, among them, if not at their
head. confess fell s,I greater surptr-e.
AN ,hs seemed good deaf too abrupt.
Sudden movements of the affections, whelh
er personal or political, are lutte out oi
nature.
Several years AGO, sir. some Of the wits
OF ENGLAND wrote mock play. intended &c
ridIcuIe he unnatural and false tecllng, the
senGmentaiity, Of certain German scboo
of literature 10 this play, two strangers
are brought together al an Inn. whit
thew are warming themselves at the fire
md before their acquaintance is yet five
minutes old, one spr'ngs up and exc'a'n
to the other, "a sudden thought strike
me! Let W. swear an p'"rual rlend-hip!'
Til. nff' CT iorale offer was INSTANTLY ac
cpp,ed and the friendship daily sworn, IN
changeable and etetual New sir, how
long THIS eternal friendship lasted or II
what manner i, ended, those who wish t.
know. muy learn by referring to the play
But It seems TO me-. slr that the honora
BILE member has carried his political scull
men ali,v good deal higher than Ia" tllgh
of VI" German school; Tor he app"a's /
have fallen suddenly 'n love, not with srran
gers, but with opponents.
Here We ali had ben. sir, con''ndn
agaln., til" progress OF EXecnIvr pnwe'
and more particularly, ,d most strenuous
~, against Tho projrcrs and experiments
the Administration upon the currency
The hnn"rahe member stood among II
not only as an associate. but "a lcade
We lhonnht "" were making SOM beat
wnv. Tue People appeated To be comln
TO our supaor' and our assistance. II
country had been reused; every snccosslN
election weakening the strength of the ~
versary, and increasing our own "
were IN this career Of success carrie
strongly forward by the current Of publ
opinion, and only needed TO hear the chee
ing voice Of the honorable member,
sOnce more TO the breach, dear friends once more
and we should have prostraied. fnrnve
this anti constitutional. anti commcrcl,
anti republican, and anti American pole
of the Administration. But. instead
these encouraging aud animatng accent
behold IN the very crisis OF our affairs,
the very eve of victory. the honorable me,
Der cries QUITO the enemy--nni To US, |
allies-but TO the enemy -" Holoa!
sudden thought strikes mo! labaadon I
allies Now think Of it, they have
ways been my oppressors! | abanC
them, and now lie, you and me swear
eternal iriendshlp!"
Such proposition, from such quart
sir. was not likely to be long wihslo'
The other parry was little coy, but, up
the whole. nothing loath. After PROF
hesitation, and a lI,'le decorous biush,ng
owned he soft impeachment. admitted
equally sudden sympathetic impulse on
on h side and, since few words are wan