The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-02-20


professions anterior to September, 1887 7 IL
cannot be that tho N. III. Senator is ambitious
for place. Why is it that he returns with SO
much facility to the support ola measure, wor-
thy Of the old federal party, and is cal
culated to consolidate the power Of the gene
raj government 1t cannot be that his early
predictions we're in favor OF federalism. No.
We are "bound TO believe that the distinguish
ed public men Of our country, whatever may
be their passion for prefermeni their ambition
for place, are nevertheless governed in their
public course by considerations OF patriot
ISM
So far from Mr.. Riyes being ambitious for
place, il is matter Of perfect notoriety that
the contrary is the fact. He could have filed
any, the highest place, under either the late or
the present administration IL he had been in
clined to accept the offer. There is no place
in the gift ofihe government that lie either de-
sires to fill, or would accept if offered to him.
We venture to assert that there is no man in
the nation less "ambitious for place" than
Mr.. Riyes, and no man in Congress would
more readily retire entirely from public life,
than he.
/ The Senator from New Hampshire. whose
classical Accomplishments. rs eyinced in hrs
| speech, require not our applause, made the
following alluson, which, we must confess,
with all the reading we have given Herodotus
and Plutarch, we are quite unable to appre-
ciate
81 pray that the Senator himself may not become,
like Theplsoces, dissatisfied with this second choice
and like him. repair Sparta and there have awarded
to him again the second honors, but that he WILL unlike
the Athenan general love Themstocles less and Greece
more"
Themistocles, we believe, was conducted
to Spartaby the Lacedemonians. who award
ed him the prize Of wisdom, and Eurybiades
the prize of valor, honoring each with the
crown of olive. Themistocles could not have
been dissatisfied with the Grecian award, for he
was universally allowed to be the most distin-
gushed general; nor did he receive the second
honors at Sparta, but the prize Of wisdom, the
crown of olive, and the handsomest chariot in
the city.
| IfMr. Hubbard intended the following allu-
sion should apply to Mr.. Rives, he does him
no less injustice, than he makes sad havoc
with the history of Themistocles.
| ~ pray to Heaven that there may be no American
Themstoces who may have contributed to elevate the
fame and establish the liberties Of his beloved
try will like him, desert that country in the day Of its
danger and seek protection, like the Grecian Themis
toces, with the enemy OF his country and throw HIM
self into the arms Of the Persian monarch and the
mighty energies OF his mind in conjunction with that
enemy. to suppant the institutions Of his native land
even should that enemy give him "a Magnesa Tor his
bread, Myus for his meat, or Lampsachus for his
wine"
If we have read the story right, Themisto-
cles was so much enpied for the distinction he
had acquired in elevating the character of his
country that he was falsely accused oftraito-
rous designs, when most exerting himself for
the benefit Of the Athenians, and Ostracised.
Mr.. Hubbard will permit us to refresh his
readings with the following not inappposite
paragraph
"The Athenans, unable any longer TO bear that high
distinction in which he stood, banised him by the Os
racism and this Iothing than they had done
to others for the Osracsm, or ten years ba'ishmem,
was not much intended to punish this that great
.
delights The disgrace of superior characters, and To-
ses part Of her raaeor By herJaH r
Themistocles was prosecuted even while in
exile, because he would not enlist with the
traitor Pausanias in the conspiracy against the
Athenians, and was obliged TO flee with great
secrecy to Asia, and implore the protection Of
his ancient enemy, the King of Persia, with
such rancor was he pursued. When Egypt
revolted, and was supported in that revolt by
the Athenians, Themistocles was commanded
to exert himself against his native Greece. He
could not be prevailed on TO obey the sum-
mons, and preferred to destroy himselfby his
own hand.
AS Mr.. Hubbard makes Themistocles a
/" traitor to suit the case, and attempts to
identify Mr.. Rives with his classical concep-
ton, we will refresh his recollection with
more condensed and comprehensive descrip-
ton of that distinguished Athenian, from his
life:
These signal services to his country cndcarcd The
mistoclcs TO the Athenans, and he universally call
ed the most courageous of all the Greeks, who fought
| against the Persans. He received with the most
distinguishing honors and by his prudent Administrations
Athens fortified with strong walls her plra-
| ces rebuilt, and her harbors were filled with nn-
merous and powerful navy which rendered her the mis-
tress of Greece Yet in the midst Of that glory, the
conqueror of Xerxcs incurred the dspleasure Of his
countrymen, which had proved fatal to many of his
predecessors He was banshcd from the CITY, and af-
ter he had in vain sought safe among the
publcs Of Greece and the barbarians Of Thracc he
compelled to take refuge in Persia. Artsxerxes, the