Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1838-08-16
THE YANkEn AND rHE vIRelNrAH.

beings very unlike. They love each other
passably, and are very often at variance.--
These are the same men who have cut
each others threats in England, under the
names of Cavaliers and Roundheads. La
England they have made peace, thanks to
the interposition Of the new dynasty, which
is neither Stewart nor Cromwell. In
America, where no mediatory power ex-
lists, they would have devoured each other,
as formerly ia the mother country, had not
Providence cast them, the one to the
South, the other to the North, leaving be-
tween them the territory where were for
merly stretched out the neutral States Of
Pennsylvania and New York, with their
satellites, New Jersey and Delaware. The
pure-blood Virginian is open, cordial, ex-
pansive he has courtesy in his manners,
nobility in his sentiments, grandeur in his
ideas, aud is the worthy descendant Of the
English gentleman. Surrounded by slaves
from infancy, and thus spared from manual
labor. he has but little activity-he is even
lazy. He is generous and prodigal I; around
him, and in the new States more than in
the impoverished Virginian, reigns profu-
sion. When the cotton harvest has been
good, and the prices are firm, he calls
all and every one, excepting his held slaves
to enjoy his opulence, without giving him
self much trouble Of what will be the CONF
ing harvest. The practice Of hospitality
is for him duty, pleasure, happiness.
After tho fashion Of lbe patriarchs Of the
East, or the heroes of Homer, To regale
the guest whom Providence sent him, or
an old friend recommends to him, he splits
an OK, and for washing down his substan-
tial repast, produces Madeira, which he
prizes as high as his horses, that has twice
made the voyage OF the great Indies. and
has at length repesed during full twenty
long years. He loves the institutions Of
his country, and nevertheless, he shows
with satisfaction TO the stranger his family
plate, the devices Of which, half effaced by
time, attest that he descen.ls from the pri-
mitive colonisis, and that his ancestors
were people Of good old English families.
When his mind has been cultivated by
study, and voyage TO Enrope has graced
his person and polislledshis imagination,
there is no place in the world where he is
unworthy Of figuring there is no destiny
to the height Of which he cannot elevate
himself; he is one Of those men whom one
is happy to have for companion, whom
one desires as friend. Gifted with an
ardent head, and warm heart, he is the
timber IF which are made the great ora
tors. He understands better how to COM
nland men than to conquer nature, or mas
ter the soil. When he possesses certain
dose Of tho spirit Of order, and will not
say of disposition (for Of this he is we'll
provided but of that active perseverance
so common among the brethren Of the
North, he unites all that is requisite to form
man Of superior abilities.
The Yankee, on the contrary, is reser-
we'd, concentrated, mistrusiful his humor
is pensiye and somber, but uniform his
learning is without grace, but modest, and
nevertheless, without meanness; his de-
portment is al first cold, often little prepos-
sessing his ideas are narrow. but prac.i-
cal he conceives well that which is suit
able, but has little sentiment oc what is
grand and noble. He has not the least
particle of chiyairic constitution, and ne
ver,heless, he is adventurous, and takes
pleasure in roaming life. He has an ac-
tive Imagination that brings forth original
conceptions which they here call Yankee
notions. 1t is not poetry, il is whimsical
iiy.-The Yankee is the laboring ant he
is Industrious and sober he is economic
cal on the poor soil Of New England, he
was formerly 50, even to sordid avarice ;
transplanted to the promised land of the
West, he remains measured still, but counts
less his cOppers.
In New England no has good deal Of
prudence but once launched into the midst
Of the treasures Of the West, and he be-
comes Spectator, gambler even, al'ho'
he has horror for cards, dice, and every
thing that is play Of hazard. or even Of
address, excepting the innocent game ol
nine pins. He is cunning, subtle, sly, al
WAYS calculating, drawing vanity from his
tricks, by which he surpasses his inatten-
tive or confiding purchaser, because he
there sees proof Of his own superiority VI
mind he has, moreover. the resources Of
mental restrictions for keeping his con-
science in repose all cunning, as he is,
he expediies his business, because he well
knows the value Of time. His house is u
sanctuary that he does not open TO the pro-
fame; he is little given to hospitality, but
when no accords it. it is with prodigal;ty.
He handles words without effort; being,
nevertheless, not brilliant orator. hut Q
close lOgician. For to become statesman,
he needs that expansion Of split and Of
heart which causes Us TO conceive, and love
the nature of another, aud that naturally
induces US to take the part Of our neigh
Dor, all in benef,iing ourselves.
The Yankee is individualism incarnaie /;
with him the bump Of locality and separa-
bili,y are developed to tho highest degree.
But IL he Is an inferior statesman, he is u
gifted administrator, q maa Of prodigious
business. IL he is little fitted TO govern
men, no has no, his equal for ,ransaciing