The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-10-02


prepared, he ably made il subserient TO the attain
ment Of his real object, Winchester mitre that
might be expected soon 70 drop from the age and in
fnnes Of its possesSor, DR. Thomas When Lord
North preferred his request, the King replied that il
was impossible 10 crafty him, the Archbshoprick
Of York must be conferred the Bishop of Chester
The prime minister insisted but the King remained
firm, recaptuated the obligations which he owed to
Dr. Markham, for his care Of the Prince Of w alsss
education, and eft prospect Of eecting any change
in his resolution. Your Majesty then, said Lord
North will, hope have no objection to give my bro
ther the Of Winchester whenever il may become
vacant oh, by all MEANS answered the King
you may rely on 1t promise which soon afterwards
receivedits accomplishment"
But these men never wait for death TO make
a vacancy, and indeed the vicious tribe adhere
10 lie with the tenacity that they cling TO Office;
and, for fear their final departure might not be-
mourned by the people when they are no more,
they are determined to affiict the people with an
guish and mourning whilst they are living, so
that they may rejoice when they are gone.
The President cannot but be aware that these
men are like league ORagan, described in
Modern Chivalry, that whilst they seek any
office, however exalted and however little quail
he'd TO discharge it--a presidency Of college, or
bishop OF a church, minister abroad or the
head OF either department-they would be equal
ly rejoiced 10 accept Of the office of whiskey
gauger.
! cannot resist my inclination TO give the
chapter entire from Judge Brackenrdge's book
not SO much for the benefit Of Mr.. Van Buren,,
who will be private citizen on the 4th of
March, 1871, but for the benefit of his success
sors, as l,could hope through all time In page
1870 of the first book il reads as follows:
. Notwithstanding the fairy Of Imagination
with respect TO the advancement Of league in which
the captain had suffered himself to be engaged yet
sometimes he would begin to doubt with regard the
reality of the prospects, and to question whether after
ALL it probable that the Executive Of the United
States would think him adequate the discharge of
Judicial or ministerial functions, and appoint him
coIdingly. Illuminating one day on this subject a
servant presented billet il from the President
OF the United States, expressing desire to see the
captain and to with him relative to the APP
pontment OF the young man in his service of the
name of league Raglan, to some Office in Govern
ment. Nothing could be more opportune for the
captain at that moment, weary Of his charge and de-
spairing of success, just about relinqush all
further prosecution of his object; and to remand
league to his bootcleaning and horse-currying
formerly. 1t may be supposed that he lost no time in
having his coat and hat brushed, and setting out to
wait on bis exceency. Presenting himself, he
asked to sit down, and the conversation opening
the subject of league and his qualifications for Office
the captain, not willing to be the means of deception
in the Introduction of his valet thought proper to deal
candldy with his exceency, and to give him exact
account of the education and history the bog roter
that it. on full review Of his character, he should
think proper to appoint him the responsibility might
lie with himself For to be candid said the captain,
should doubt the expediency of appointing him, in
the first instance, to any Of the higher offices of Go
vernment such Secretary of State, that of
Secretary Of War; though, presume, requiring less
talents than the former the business of soldier lying
more in the heart than the head As to Secretary Of
the Treasury, should bar that altogether ii might
be unsafe all at 10 trust him with much money
until he had given greater proofs Of fidelity in this
particular, than those of his rank usually found to
ha IIrlnt lima
were not that the sending him of the continent will
put him out Of the way of that superintendent,
which, for some time myself am willing to take of
him, until he shall have acquired habits of diligence,
and principles of integrity in business The President
smiled doubtless the idea of the sans culote (for
such fguratiyely call him, because he had got
IN breeches being at all in the way Of appointment to
such trusts fori thought of the kind had never
come into his mind. He was thinking of an office of
much less dignity, and which nearer to the ca
pacty and grade Of ordinary education II was that
of an excise officer Having mentioned this the cap
tain approved Of it, and thanked his excelery and
took his leave.
league, having received his commission, was elated
beyond measure, and impatient to set to his dis
The captain having n,s p %n h nfans # he
refused to bog-trot any longerthe revenue officer
took leave Of his old master who had previously given
him much good advice with regard to duty in office,
and promised to follow him. he could pro-
vide himself with another servant that he might be
casionaly with such further lessons Of prudence and
morality his experience in lite enabled him to give,
and which it could not be unbecoming in one Of his
age, however dignfed by Office, to receive"
But whoever the President may appoint to
office, never meets with the slightest resistance.
Passive obedience has become the settled doc
trine with most of his prominent adherents, and
with all the tribe of drill sergeants. This latter
class are willing to work awhile without re-
ward and labor most zealously in hope of pro-
motion Like the Spanish sergeants, in their
maraudng armies, they are as badly fed and as
miserably clothed as the privates, and really
more oppressed by their superiors, who are
regularly commissioned. But no man has ever
heard a Spanish sergeant complain of the cruel
ty Of his superior officer, or to urge insurrection
from oppression, injustice, and tyranny; but they
are always teaching obedience to the plundered
and outraged soldiery; because the pay to the
army is given to the commander-in-chief, and
he deals out just what he pleases to his junior
officers, and the whole amount Is generally
plundered before il reaches the sergeants, and
he, with the dignity of his cotton knot on his
ragged shoulder, appeases the soldery by his
own endurance and seemingly disinterested ad-
vice, as he is in the line of promotion, and en-
dures servitude and robbery, because in few
years, he expects TO have commission, and
become a robber in turn Of the sergeants and
men beneath him.
Mr.. V an Buren, depends too much on cunning
to be governed by wisdom. He is more con
versant with men than with books. He is better
at controlling persons than understanding and
regulating things. Whilst he has craft enough
to gain power, he has not ability TO regulate its
influence wisely upon a nation. lie knows bet
ter how to pack the cards than to play them.
He is a politician, not statesman
With such men and such motives OF action,
need we be surprised that there is universal mis-
rule and general discomfort among the virtuous
and intelligent people 2 What stronger proof
can be offered against the administration of
any government than is to be found in the gene
Il