The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-05-31
Washington City, May, 1898.
CORRESPONDENTS.
New York. Nav % 1895.

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| DEAR Sin: There are in all communities certain
number of individuals who like the oyster ensconc-
ed in his shell, are shielded from any kindly nfu-
ences-be they Of friendship, love or sympathy
Over such natures the demon Of selfshness regns
with despotic sway, drying up the Of beney
olence and nippng every ncipiant emotion Of liber-
atty in the bud A close observer can discern the
approach of one Of the above species by the slow
cautious footsep--the suspicious wary glance the
contracted brow, and the repulsive rejection of all
approach a, familiarity except by those from whom
some favor or benefit is anticipated To SUCH in
deed the high priests OF selfshness offer clouds of
incense No token of humiliation is too abject, no
mark Of obeisance too profound.
have watched the course of the present admins
traton narrowly, and am impelled to the concu-
sion, that those in power are deeply imbued with the
above unamiable characteristic.
1t is in this particular that the policy of Mr.. Van
Buren, unfavorably with that OF his gallant
predecessor With General Jackson all was bold
manly Enthusiastically at times on the arb-
| trary, but distinguished by marked candor and dis
inerestedness ~. .r-
The old hero might have been chief magistrate to
this day-he would never have put forth the unwor-
thy sentiment that all that the Government had TO do
was to take care Of itself. The first Cabinet Minis
tiers selected by General Jackson exhibited the lber-
ality of his nature. There was Acknowledgements
BILE in respect but possessed OF more rashness
than prudence--more recklessness than selfshness
Berrien too-the gallant Souihron-Branch, the un-
Welding Carolinian. Mr.. Van Buren, was also Sc
lec,ed but for some his influence was consid-
dered malign by his associates, and the cabinet ex-
ploded View the present Cabinet Mins,ers-those
at least who WELD the power behind the throne-and
who doubt that they worship at the shrine Of the
selfish goddess? Are the Secretary Of the Treasu-
ry and the Post Master General deemed liberal
minded and sympathetic by their most devoted par
tsans Do the knee worshippers of the present dy
nasty claim any feeling in common with their fell
low men, the chairman of the Finance Committee
in the Senate and that of the Ways and Means in
the House? Who ever heard that the editor of the
Globe who pulls the wires and eats and almost sleeps
with the President, ever exhibited any kindness
of feeling except 10 such sustain him in his sine
cure7 From the high places of power descend
in the scale Did General Jackson sustain any man
who, like Samuel Swartwout, combined the chivalric
galantry of the soldier with the graceful bearing
of the geneman2 Mr.. Van Buren's first act was
to eject him from his post. Look at the loco foco
offices in this State. By whom are they filled? BY
selfish partisans. | need not name them-every cit
extent are d-selish-unblessed by SEN
timents of charity for their kind. Their political
attachments are solely based on benefits to be confer
red-paS favors sink into the ocean of oblivion,
leaving not ripple on the surface to show their
briefexslence Knight name almost every prominent
official under the administration, & the pencil oftruth
would depict him with lineaments in which selfish
ness predominaed over every kindly influence
Can such government last IT'S impossible
Power can never be retained when the people choose
their rulers, except the latter exhibit sympathy
with their constituents ...-
To him who exclaims in the spirit of security and
selfishness, IpAtakc care ofmy@lf-the people will
reply WE WILL ALSO TAKE OF OURSELVES, by ele-
waiting men who feel with and for US.
N B. omit placing the Vice President in the
above category. The gallant old soldier is liberal
and kind-bu alas! his influence is less Than nothing
with the President.
| mourn that is So | wish his manly nature
could have free scope. He has his faings but sell
ishnets is not among them.
II is said that the steam ship just finished at our ma
w ward is condcaned as unseaworthy How Is thisl