Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-10-19

deeming circumstances for their many 6isq uetudes
they may bring Power or Fame, or Wealth, an,
mix one with the great, the cultivated, the vir,u
ously active. But among us they are a men
bramb!e-a field run wild in briers and thorns
where every useful fair plant is siiaed, and no.
thing grows but prickles and poisons.
To make ones way through such ,anglc, With
out having the skin OF ASS, and his capacity to
chew thistles, is out of the question. Any thing Of
better sort must so in strong leather ierkin, the
pockets well lined with provisions, and absolutely
grub his way, MS he goes.
These reflections (whether generally Jus, or not)
have an immediate truth, and are perfectly applica-
bic to the matter which has excited them; which is
this:
Towards the close OF the late Session OF Con
gress, our able and honorable Senator, Mr. Archer
made, upon the Revenue Bill, spcech-for just,
strong, comprehensive views, expressed with oil
the icrvour demanded by the occasion which was,
as We know, hailed. throughout Congress, as one
OF The very hes; and nobes dscourses Of this year
10 it. be signihed that he had been and s, was in
different TO the Land Question: he held that Con.
gress might eonstitu,ionally abandon the Public
Domain to the States might reserve for federal
uses; and that its disposal was but question o.
present expedency, of by no means the highest
moment But he declared that the arbitrary, the
compulsory Negatives. by which the President was
openly attempting 10 force the Legislature either 10
incur the odium of leaving the Public Finances a
complete wreck. by passing no Revsnus Bill, or
else IN conform the measure which they adopted, not
to their own views Of true legislative policy, but
merely to hir corrupt personal purposes. thing
which he, As preventative OF the people, would
never submit The whole course OF the Executive,
in this matter was tbs most daring possible assault
upon the independence Of the Legislature. To
them and to them alone it belonged to Judge what
taxes should be laid and how. THIS was the very
chief OF all the fundamental principles OF Repre-
sentative Government. There could be no Con-
sttuiion wi,hou, it. Nay, tina, single principle
free Constitution Of itself: for give ba, that, and
il would ever create the rest.
Holding, he said, this TO be now plainly the cues
tion-;rhether or not practices and conduct so
plainly and dl.cily intended to subvert this high
Fight OF the Legislature zero to be submitted to
he solemnly declared that, for one, he would so
further. His words will be found in the very spir'
tied and striking passages, which we extract be-
low, and We beg the readers attention 10 them.
Here are language and thoughts tina, breathe the
truest sense and the oiiest patriotism. And 10 I
because it is not prate-beeause 1t is not cant-be.
cause it is the voice Of brave and high minded c
zen, who has not tanned down the free conceptions
of ancient msnliness into a due democratic inanily
because the thinks, and dares utter his
thousht-because he feels like an outraged freeman,
and ventures 10 say So let the hypocrite, of liberty
cry out ever so much-because, in word, he has
not uttered any of that rgmarole OF patriotism,
which fools find significant and rogues find prof,a-
b!e-an editorial expounder Of Rspublcanism out
in the west-one Mr.. John George Harris Of the
Nashville Union, long the mouth piece of such fee
dom as Gen. jackson practieed and Mr.. Speak er
Polk prsac hes-takes Mr.. Archer to task, as a pub
lie blasphemer as who belehes out the mos,
hortd mpieiies against our glorious Constitution
Because he dares say that there are Presidential
usurpetions which mus! bring about a direct de
s;ruction OF Freedom, and that the government it
sell shall. in lis choice, rather he dissolved than
such be suecumbed tour worthy LocofjeO rails
e' q cry OF CONSERVATION, and denounces Mr.. Ar
cher, as one who is ready 10 pull down our Insii
tulionsi
Even so dead, in corrupt, an unmanly and a
counterfeit, Age, do the sounds OF genuine Public
Virtue fall upon the ear of the vo.aries of racket as
Repubeanrm, and Of fudge and fus,ian, as Free
dom
We end, then, as we begun: that Politics are. il
this country, huge briar patch, through which the
smallest creatures make their way with least harm.
Rabbits and rePIiles-thngs that can creep and
wrggle, get along best. Any thing larger, unless
fenced with tie skin Of Jack Ass, has to take the
clearng-toos-the brur hook and grubbing hoe.
and will come out at last, with an empty belly ard
plenty OF nothing but scratches.