Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-05-06

how many black halls woro placed for Il In the bslloine
box, and would test truth, not by truth, but BY numbers.
The next time l saw De Lamsrtine he had received from
his own native town an invitation to represent IL in the new
parliament. This was indeed Aatterng; not that the cleo.
tors OF Macon were more enlightened, or royalist, OF pat.
rouic than those OF Bergues, bat as il is true that generally
speaking, n prophet hath no honour amongst his own PEG.
pie, it was complimentary to him. that those who knew him
best were most anxious to be represented 10y him. The
family of DE Lamsrtine, indeed, Is one ofnoble and honou.
rable antiquity. In the memorial Of the states OF Bugun-
DIV his family was registered. The old chateau and estate
Of MonceauN have descended from generation TO genera
ton. AT that very Macon which now DE Lamartne NJ.
presents, his relations were imprisoned for their faithful nd.
hercnce TO the cause OF Louis XVI; and the mother OF the
subject of this sketch hired n house near the prison that she
might, from a window which looked over its gate, shew
daily to his father their beloved child Alphonso through the
bars OF the gaol. Faithful to the old Bourbon race, tbs DE La.
marines would have all suffered for t%hathdelity at the close
OF the last century had not kobcspicTrc expired. How true
it is that time is the great rcvcaler of mysteries, the mighty
magician which rcconcies all contradictions, clears up all
doubts, and removes all obstacles; for here is DE Lamartine,
once the pulling infant smiling NJ it, imprisoned father
through the prison gates OF Macon gael, now representing,
in the French Chamber Of Deputies, the very same princi-
plies for which his father was incarceratcd, and returned by
the electors Of that self same Macon.
The position which DE Lamarune trt took ON his en-.
trance into public life he has not been able To maintain.
lie set out with a resolution not to become n party man.
:. g., in the ordinary ncceptaion OF the word party; and
To be the chief Of those who looked To the social evils
of France, and sought to remedy them. | do not find
tault with the change That has taken place, because m
France it Is really very difficult, it not impossible, To
steer clear of party politics and of political partisanship.
But yet the fact Is the same. DE Lamartine has be
come IN his turn n colleague OF Berycr, n supporter of
Guizoi, an approver OF Cum; Mole politics, and. finally
C'tell II not IN Cath, and publish II not IN the streets oi
Askalon,") the most forward, bold, decisive opponent OF
that Conservative policy which himself and his party often
pronounced To be the only one compatible with peace on
the one hand, and with the honour and happiness OF France
ON the other.
DE I.amantinc, as n poet, is the boast and admiration Of
his cOunfry. and lg unnuaSunnally merits NIL the fame
and popularity lac enjoys. But his poetical attributes rem.
der him a fuciuating and Indifferent statesman. To-day,
he pleads the cause of Poland with fire and energy. To
morrow, he proclaIms at the tribune the advantages OF a
close alliance between France and Russia. To-day, he
pleads the abolition of slavery, and a. the magical words
drop from his lips, ho nvets the attention and secures the
sutTages OF even an unwilling audience. Tomorrow, he
Indignantly rejects the night Of search, and tells the best and
most honest minister France has known for a century
"You are unfit to govern. You are repugnant TO the glo-
~, interest, and nationality of France" And Why BE.
cause that minister VI. Guizot, will not violate the treaties
which were deliberately signed with Great Britain for put
ting an end to that very slavery, OF which he complains
lie would arrive at the end without making use of the
means. He would put down the slave trade by visiting other
vessels, and by scizing the lawless pirates; but he would not
allow ofsimilar searches being made on board French YES
sells
Again: to-day he pleads with incompatible cloquence on
the subject of the affairs Of the East, and places before YOU
Turkey" a mere corpse, a body without a soul, a form
without animation. lie tells You that tins Is as IL ought 10
be, that prophecy requires IL, that the march of events will
have ii so, that Mahommedanism must be supplanted by the
Christianity, and the Crescent by the Cross; ana then, in his
own poetic strain, he presents before YOU that cross, tn
umphing over all preJudices, and suUduing eventually all
things to itself. But, Tomorrow, he pleads for French in
huence in Turkey, for French influence at Constanunople:
and talks Of the advantages Of the Turkish alliance and the
revival ofolden times; and Is angry with Sir STatford Can.
ming because he does not consent 10 be outwitted by the
French ambassador; aud the corpse of yesterday has been
suddenly transformed into available, living, acting, formida-
bic ally.
Louis Philippe said, some few months ago, when De La
MARITIME still remained faithful 10 the moderate Conservative
party of the new dynasty, and when threatened by the chiefs
of the Anglo-phobia factions with a union against his gov
ernmeni, 81 suppose then, | shall be compelled 10 apply TO
VI. De Lamartine To become my minister; and | may reck.
ON myself very fortunate To have so honest and able a man
to apply to-" But Louis Philippe can say this no longer
After the late harangue OF the poet in the Chamber OF De
puues, hc can no longer be regarded as 4 Conservative, but
as one OF the chiefs Of n systematic opposition. Louis Phi
lippe cannot confde in such n man. He might do well
enough 10 run IN the same political vehicle, neck by neck,
along side OF VI. Theirs, and they might together hurl the
national car with themselves over Some fearful prccipice; but
De Bamartine has demonstrated that he Is no statesman, and
that he is without a clear, distinct, aud accomplishablo po-
htical system. He eilherknows not, or does not feel, that po-
ltics cannot he made amatterof imagination and feeling, but
that the great nation must be treated without passion, pre-
iudice, or poetry. Louis Philippe has very naturally some
sentiments Of affection for DE LamaItinc. Mademoiselle
DIES Roys was the mother Of the poet, and she was as
good as she was charming. Her mother was govern
es To the royal princes, and brought up her daughter with
the now King OF the French, and with Madame Adelaide,
his sister. The King OF the French never forgets the asso-
ciates OF his earlier years, and the family OF DE Lamarune,
atleast on the maternal side, is regarded by him with respect
and interest. Yet De Lamauine can never now become
his minister.
Whoever desires 10 see this extraordinary man TO ad.
vantage, should make a journey to Macon with a letter of in
reduction. There, in the neighbounng Chateau de ST.
Point, the author of the UGrRionies, the lMeditations,
and the SOurenIS, will he seen as the man who has never
made n personal enemy and never lost 4 friend. Gentle,
noble, pure, serene, generous, kind, he will welcome the
stangcT TO his interesting and antique dwelling, and amuse.
delight, and improve him. His visitor will find him a glori-
Gus host, and an inimitable companion. His large heart
admits within it all who are entitled To esteem and admirn.
ton, and he is ever ready 10 sympaihise with human suffer.
ing, and to seek to provide a remedy for every woe. As a
man and a friend he cannot be surpassed; as a poet he is
unnvalled IN France; as a statesman and politician he is
most defective. Some would style him a "gi0utte."
And thus it is with the best Of men! They mistake so often
their own qualifications, and are in favor OF their weaker
points. For myself ! can only admire and love De Lam
artine, and wish him years of happiness and a life of delight,
for his happiness is virtue, and his delight is to do good,
and render others joyful.