Maumee express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1838-02-24
couMUNIcATToxs.
SELDOM SOBER.

among the many situations in which
man may be placed, where he is liabIs
TO acquire habits Of idleness, loose
ness of principle, and use Of intoxica-
ting liquors, there is none more danger
Gus than that Of a Politician. But with
In few years, even this situation has
been rcnderedless dangerous than at she
time the individual whose most familiar
cognomen stands at the head Of this
sketch figured upon the political theatre.
Edward S., or, as he was more
frequently styled, Seldom Sober, was al
one time the most wealthy, influential
and popular members Of the society ~
which he moved. His father was one
Of the Pioneers Of the Valley Of Wyo-
ming, and having acquired handsome
fortune, rose 10 the highest standing in
society, and spared no pains in giving
his children such an education as would
fit them for filling any station ia life to
which they might be called. Edward
was graduate at old Havard and was
endow ed with the finest talents--the adj
monitions and cncouragements Of bis pa
rents had filled his bosom with a lively
ambition TO excel, and strong zeal in
the pursuit Of knowledge. Immediately
after he left College, he entered the office
of an eminent lawyer, and bent all bis
exerlions in preparation for a profession
al life.
At the age Of "a, he stood at the Bar
of the District Court, the acknowledged
superior of all its members, in. poiatrof
eloquence and legal attainnents. He
was now the arbter of his own destiny.
Nature and education had done 6all for
him which the most ardent expectations
could demand, and the proper applica-
tion Of those attainments only was want
ing to render his success complete. And
had he continued in the patti 10 honor
and emolument thus prepared for him,
his brow, ere now, would have been en-
twined with the richest honors, and for
tune would have opened her golden
stores and given him free access to1ail
his avarice might demand.
But, it is misfortune which has be-
fallen our country, that in obtaining the
honors and emoluments ofoffice, the arts,
intrigues, and vicious practices of the
mother country are always resorted 10
bv some, and greater misfortune that
they are the most frequently successful;
to the sacrifice of talent, patriotism and
moral worth. Edward loved populafi
ty-his disposition was overcharged with
sclfesteem, and he became politician
His acknowledged talent, his cIoquence,
and growing popularity soon attracted
the attention of party leaders. and strons
inducements. fair promises, and mucts
fattery. turned the scale--he vieIdeo
to their pcrsuasions, and entered the po-
Iitical arena.
In those days, more particularly thar
at the present time, an aspiran, for polit
ical favor was required to serve regu
lar apprenticeship at political chicanery
and party management; and as roiav-
ton in office" was the prevailing motto.
he commenced his political career by
seeking and obtaining the petty. Office of
Town Clerk, preparatory to the receipt
OF higher donors, and to acquire perfect
knowledge Of party drill, and political
tactics.
To court the favor Of the rabble, he
had recourse 10 the Intoxicating bowl
and, as it was then the prevailing fashion
TO "treat," on every occasion where two
friends or acquaintances met at a public
house, he soon became an habitual visit
er at the bar Of the Tavern, and entirely
neglected the practice at that Ban which
alone could secure him lasting honor
Itis needless to follow him through all
his political movements, and point out
the particular faults which operated to
undermine his principles, destroy his
character, and waste his property. Suf-
fee it to say, that in politics he was sue
cessful-slep by step did he mount the
ladder to political fame, until he had
filed all the offices to which he was eli
gible in the District, from Town Clerk
10 Representative in Congress. This
was the height OF his ambition lin fact,
all he could hope TO enjoy. ButNhe de-
sceaded, step BY step. to everlasting ig=
nomny and shame. faster than he had
acquired those transient and fleeting hon.
ors, which so soon withercd upon his
brow, and served TO render his disgrace
the more scornful.
In his struggle Tor popularity,by prof.
ferlng the social glass to men Of all par
ties. and promising his influence to hum