Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1838-10-09

themselves bringing up the tailof the Adj |
mipistration. SILEX.
For the Argus.
Since the days Of the immortal Junius
whose letters tended to sever the chains of
IAN oppressive and despcablo administra-
ton, and also afforded to English literature
a standard for the most pure and elegant
style Of cpistolary composition, no wri-
ter has yet ventured upon the public with
such modesty, and. with a greater promise
ofhis efforts being handed down for the
admiration Of future ages, as a correspon-
dent Of the Columbus Democrat who long
Injured to all the tender endearments of
both social and public life, has assumed
the cognomen Of the heaven born 'sChari-
IT,"
| Lest the ebullitons Of his genius might
prove ephcmoral, and for want of public
direction to them, be fated to sink "unbles.
, sed, unhonored and unsung," I propose to
descant upon the relative merits and de-
merits Of his productions, by way ofen-
couraging him to perseyere in a work,
which doubtless will eventually immediate
the absurd theoficks of whiggish dogma 10
the establishment, permanently, Of pure
and unsOphisticated Democracy.
Before presuming upon THIS delicate
task, | viii here be permitted to congratu-
late the amiabe editors Of the Democrat
upon the accession Of so much rich and
! racy materials, with which their papers
have lately been adorned. Surely in the
reception Of such communications neither
wealth, patronage, Office, nor the still over
, bearing influence Of extreme friendship
could have suIfused their checks vita that
blush, which attend those whose uncom.
promising conscjences induce them to ac-
; commodate any scribbIer that can interest
! them, at the expense Of public morals and
: good order. But the writings Of "Chari-
: ty'' might elicit the soHcitudes of the most
accomplished journalists Of the day. His
, letters are apparently the odSprings Of a
strong mind long addicted to methodcal
/ reflection, and well seasoned with good
:. principles and useful information. His
I style IS a fabric Of strong material, some
: what roughly hewed out, and lack a more
! strict adherence to those rules of compost
; ton suggested by pr. Blair in his excel.
= lent work on rhetoric. The chief object
I Of the author seems to be however to ex-
= hbit fact and differences, without regard to
: the embellishments oflanguage. His SEN
! fences are frequently broken, and as it
= were, dislocated either by erroneous pune
tuation, or by that iniudicious protraction
: which laws a writer under the necessity oil
: stringing together a great many little
!, members and subordinate circumstances.
: In few words, the author is seldom flu.
? ont, but always forcble. la his metaphors
, a great deal must be presumed Vi on the
! fOrbearance and the olfactories of his. rea.
ders-they are drawn from the most nau
seous and loathsome objects, and SO vivid
Z " are they presented that We forget tht
: occasion Of their introduction in the ranl
i otIensiyeness Of the objects themselves.
Now, the aim of this criticism is to poin
out some of the prominent and obtrusive
? attributes of his manner, and to advise hin
: Of the danger he is in Of in1pairing the pop
: ularity of his writings by .neglecting tor
, much the graces and fdsinations Of com
position. It is true, he often brings out ;
: thought with uncommon yigor and facility
4 Of eypressior1, occasionally warming BIZ
q readers with Tie honest zeal, the manly
u independence Wit, which he entorces tau
2 subiect,-pnd sometimes surprises Witl
/ his nitbv and caIstic manner OF drawing
{ an argument to a point. ie should kpoS
3 however that the confidence which be feel
!. in the strength of his position and therec
Z tifude Of his cause, betrays him now ant
Z then into an omission of sonae sleIs IN BIZ
= reasoning; and then, his conc loEs seen
= 10 be more the round asseverat ofdog
rnatism than the result Of close dialectlea
I, precision. This is by no means q Pre-
!" dominant fault for he is remarkable 10
& sound inductions and a steady adherence
& to facts.
"a So far as / Gun Judge from all the 81
. cunstances attending these letters, th
= fault Of the author may be traced to tire
sources--to haste, 10 want Of originality
= and too great d fondness for imitation
IS Such defects are calculated - deprive hlT
+. ofths full pfaises ofauthorsllip. and nligH
u u induce tsls suspicion, that this a6harlty
IL was no other parsonage an janus
ID disguise for there are many who dous
that two heads are better than ono on
=. sho8ld Be a fish head MAUI e.
Eb0 shall decid We find u
% Columbia Telescope SatE e
ag Iwine alrac a letter rom tD
e. ia. "a gent eman Ia south IAlola,