The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-01-30
PROSE VS.. POETRY.

Poetry is decidedly one OF the Injuries OF
iife-an elegant recreation, INDUCED in only by
the rich or the happy. A man who has his
bread 10 earn by the sweat OF his brow-who
has the stern realities and necessities OF lie
constantly before his eyes-rarely has time or
inclination TO indulge in flights OF fancy lie
knows that he cannot pay his lailors or butch
er's bulls metaphoricily, or quiet camorous ere
ditors with sonnels or song, instead OF bank
notes.
We have a striking exemplifcation. just now,
of the distinction betwe cen poetry and prose- IN
the different dispositions OF the mass of the Peo-
pie OF the United States, and of their represen-
taliyes in Congress. Never were the People IN
a more serious, prosaic mood. The disorders
in the currency, the contraction Of the circula-
ton, the decline OF prices, the total uncertainty
as to the future, have affected the condition OF
every man in The community. We see exist
ing around US in their fullest extent the mani
fold evils which History teaches have always
been the consequence Of the reduction OF the
circulating medium OF a country: public and
private enterprise at stand, industrious and
hard working men thrown out of employment,
and those who, few years ago, were able TO
command all the comforts oflife in exchange for
their labor, now struggling for the bare means
of subsistence. There is sad and sober real
ity in the descriptions, which reach US from eve
ry quarter, of the condition of things among The
People yet never was the Congress OF the ma
lion in a more joyial mood, or more disposed TO
fun, frolic, and sports Of fancy. Revealing in
their eight dollars a day, and waxing ia, and
saucy on turkey and plum pudding, Charlotte
Russo and champagne, and thousand deca-
cies which the plain farmers Of the country do
not know even by name their only ambition
seems 10 be to rival each other in displays of
imagination, and to contend which shall make
the happiest quotation, or crack the funniest
joke. If a member ventures to speak seriously
upon subject of the utmost importance 10 the
People, he is humorously said % be out of or
der; aud no speaker seems to think he ha, &C
quilted himself well on any subject, unless he
has been interrupted some doz times or so by
bursts of merriment.
When, at the close of the last session, which
cost the People so much money to so hle pur-
pose, the Speaker Of the House was called upon
TO sing Miss Lucy Long, by way Of finale. |
we though, that if the joke had been carried IN
TO ex, cuton, it would have been no more than
most appropriate conclusion to the farce which
had been played. If Congress had passed the
whole OF that session in singing songs, making
Puns, and spouting poetry, the People would
have been as well off from their labors as they
are now
And what have the People TO expect from
the Penelope abors of this last and concluding
session OF the great Wing Congress, TO which
all eyes were turned so eagerly aud upon which
so many hopes rested The most brilliant pages
OF Its history, so far, tn ,se recording the
beautiful poetic tribute of Mr. Marshall 10 the |
talents and genus Of the Secretary of State
comparing him at one time 10 god, then TO
volcano and finally TO Samson Agonisles 10 |
the hands of the PhIlistines. Yet we could not |
help thinking, while admirng Mr. Marshall, !
poetry, how little relevant it was to the great
questions which now occupy the minds Of the
practical part of the community. We imagined
TO ourself, plain, hard orking, and perhaps
somewhat testy farmer, returning at night from
neighbonng Town, where he had been TO dis |
pose OF his produce, make purchases, and get
his newspapers. We fsncied him in no very
good humor at the prices which he had receiv-
ed for the fruits of his labor, vexed and chaled
al his perpetual endorsements from d. ,order-
ed currency, and doubling whether the Iiule |
that he had brought home with him would not
turn out TO be worthless trash In this mood,
he unfolds his newspaper, and turns to the de-
bates in Congress, in order to see what hope
Of relief he can g1ean from them. One of Mr.
Marshal's speeches meets his eye, and-having
heard much of this genteman's great abilities
he proceeds to read it deliberately from begin
ming to end. Al The close he is no wiser than
when he commenced-indeed, hardly so wise
for he is perplexed and mystiied He cannot
tell whether Mr.. Marshall intends TO praise Mr.
Webster or to blame him: and still less can
he tell what praise or blame Of Mr.. Webster
has to do do with the real merits of the Ex-
chequer. The only result he can arrive at is
that If Mr.. Marshall is one of the ablest men
IN Congress, Heaven help the Peoplel
The People are now camorous for action
they are sickened with oratory and decama-
ton. They want sound sense in prose; not
br'liian, apostIophes in poetry. "Words 6tIy
spoken" says the wisest of men, "sre like
apples OF silver set in pictures of gold :" and
the only species of eloquence which can now
make It's way TO the hearts of the People, is
sober, earnest and unprejudced discussion Of
the speediest means Of removing their embar
easements.
ArIsos's H,sroRr OF EuRorr, No. 4, price 25 cts;
for sale by Franck Taylor, Of this city. We clip tn.
follow ing notice of this work from the Neu yorL