Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-03-21
AZ NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

\
Hanover noradoxical the assertion may appear, II
is certain that there times whom man insghlf-
canoe his best recommendation; happy mea'ocr'y
of talents screening him from becoming an OBJECT o en-
w Such q being invites no scrutiny, ana Pro'oheS
no criticism Nobody feels the least curiosity about
his actions or opinions His religious or political tenets
are matters of perfect Indifference, as they exercise no
influence over Others and he IS suffered TO pass quietly
| on his way, unenvicd unmoested, and unohserVed'
happy in his obscurity. and thrice happy III his Insight
| ticance.
| But with all this there is thing for which such a
man is peculiarly qualified, and that is an "AyAILABLE
cASDIDATE for party which either has no principles
or is afraid to aNow them. When nothing is known,
nothing can be brought against him. NO one has ever
thought il worth while record remember his ac-
tons or opinions and he nothing before, you
can make any thing of him new He takes new start,
and may steer for any point of the compass without
crossing his track.
| Some such sort of man is Cen Harrison, who has
been selected a candidate of the various fragments
of factions which constitute the universal Wing party,
so called from containing little of every thing lie was
without doubt, preferred to his distinguished compet
tors on the score of that exemplary mcdocfIty tor
which he is sngulary lllustrious, and such IS the
magical effect of this happy insignhcance, that even
his unsuccessful rivals do not think his good fortune
worth envying. They unite in his support with most
commendablC magnanInty, and, without DOUBT, laugh
IN their sleeves Ike Charles the Twelfth OF Sweden,
when he talked of sending of his old boots 10 pre-
The selection Of this old gentleman was, indeed, a
master stroke of policy. Nothing more easy than
to make him any thing the party pleased. IL 4 great
General, such the equvocal character ." all ms
exploits that, whenever victory had been gained,
it was difficult tell whether 1t owing to ms tor
unatc blundrrs won by others, in despite OF his
mbecilIty His military fame was enve!opcd IN doubt,
and It's very mystery rendered susceptible oil the
most exaggcratlons. The msts that had ga.
hered around hs reputation, produced that species OF
u
buted not only TO enlarge his dimensions, but 10 DIS
tort his tllcncss into strange, unnatural, and dispro-
! portioncd magnitude
So also with his qualifications as an orator and states
man. The same happy obscurIty shieldcd hl!n from
the conviction Of beng either or the other Al!
he had said forgotten; and rs every act OF MS
life had been stamped with the ncdIocry OF his cha
raccr those who relied III the obscurty OF the past,
could find little nothing either 10 prove or disprove
his prc,ensions All that now necessary was Tor
him TO say ncthng and do nothing, remain perfectly
Guiet; appear as little before the public possible 1--we
ON sinccure, drink VINE, and call it hard cider =
and there would be nothing 10 prevent his pass
inr for a Hero Statesman, and an Orator, al least
long enough to serve as " an 0r0iiab'e C"nd,da'c.
! This is the great difficulty with the worthy old gen
teuan who finds right hard to keep the secret OF his
imbecv and is astonshcd al his sudden greatness,
that he scarcely be kept quiet iis keepers are
Obliged to watch han closely, and conine HIM, under
the pretencc of farming, TO The North Bend where, we
are credibv informed. he is permitted 10 deliver nai-
gura addresses TO pigs and poultry IN order TO alIay the
citrrvcScence of his garruy. The same authority
states that all the reese have been banshed from The
prelscs in consequence Of the whole flock having sa-
lnlrd one of the Generals naugnrals with q tremen-
dous hiss which was considered rather omnous and DIS
respectful The old gentleman takes tins supervision
and restraint in great dudGcon, and swears, when he
gets into the White House, he viii talk much as ne
plrascs whether he lets The cat out OF the bag or not
tor he under contract 10 serve only tour years, ana
those wIo have made him great man, in spite OF ma
turr may take all the trouble ol keeping him so during
| that time
| II is understood that he is never left alone for mo-
mcnt lest ne should lei the secret OF his being an
Aboonist 10 the Democracy. His keepers are aware
that this modest, moderate, and unassulnng sect, do
not REQUIRE any further assurances of the Generals de-
voton and ask public, in consideration OF having re-
ccivcd so many private pledges of his orthodoxy. In
short the poor gentleman little better than prison.
err and like the mysterious divinity OF the fadallahs
carefully screened from the SIGHT OF hls worshppers
for fear they should discover he nothing but super
animated old woman. In the mean tIme the mrsis
become more impcnetrable, the obscurlty more pro-
found, and the shadowed hero more sublime in his d.
mcnsIons He is only the brighter from the surround
ing darkness: and his silence almost becomes awful
lie looms greater and greater like The shadows of de-
parting day. and like them viii be greatest at the mo-
mcnt his sun sets forever His highest good fortune will
be the Disappointment of his bcd-rdden dreams Of
bton for he may then escape ordeal through which
he cannot pass without tctrayng his weakness and
have the unparalleled felicity OF carrying with him TO
his grave the secret of that lmbecilty which the pos
session of power would most assurcdly disclose. Foil
ed, he may possibly die little great man-succ"ssinl,
his empty unSnbstantia reputation, will vanish like
spcctrcs at the dawn Of day Gicbe.