Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-08-18

The spirit OF the age!
The most striking feature in the intercourse between the
present Administrauo lion and all its friends, is the more than
oriental reverence with which it and all its members are re-
garded. Every art and device which human ingenuity could
contrive has been employed to persuade the acting Presi-
den {, that all modern worthless are as droSs compared with
him-and that all Greeian and all Roman fame pales before
his illuS;rious name. This system was commenced soon
after his il-s,arcd elevation TO the Presidency, and tha, too
BY the pure Democracy-who never tired in eNtoNing the
virues-the integrity, the ~boldncss, the Jefiersonianism, and
cxpAiatng on the bright and glorious prospects, Of this IA
voured child of Fortune. He proved 50 accessible TO the
pleasing and insinuating arts OF adulauOn, that II was very
reasonably supposed. that he had impaired his soft virtues
10 his offspring, and that his official associates also partook
OF the same nature. Forthwith, all who wanted an office,
either got up , meeting and adopted resolutions lauding his
ENcellency-it matiered not how small the meeting was-s
single person was suficient;-or bestowed some extra
VACANT commentator upon some Of the 50 staries, or
praised the "Boys'-as all that the bestof Fathers could
desire. and worthy of the highest State em~ploymentS An
appreciation of Bob's poeuy-or a highly.wrought compli-
ment TO the "~imperidf" or mustdehe OF the Private and
Csnfdenual,"-
Be The young Astyanal. the hope of Troy"
never failed to be followed BY the riches, rewards at the
beSiowal of the Executive. As an instance: it is told, that
a young kentuckian, ofrather damaged reputation at home,
came on to Washington, in quest OF fortune and an Of
fec. Being a pretty keen youth, he pretty soon saw how
the land lay, and set to work accordingly. He determined
in first the place 10 ingrauate himself with the "boys." To this
end, he published a Gard in the Madisonian stating that he
mad called at all the Bookstores for ihdsuerus, and was I'M
able 10 obtain i copy and Cs he was very anxious. in com.
mon with thousands OF mis- fellow ciiizenS-to be the own.
er OF that most dazzling effort of genius, he invoked the
author to put forth a new edition. The bait took. Bob
called at the Madisonano Office to know thename Of the young
man, who had so Just 4 conception OF true genius and
having obtained his address, called upon him at his Hotel,
10 make the acquaintance Of So exquisite a critic, and to
tender thanks for his very discriminating and delicate com.
pliment. Such congenial spirits were not together fifteen
minutes, before they were sworn brothers. The younger
hope Of Troy" was next to be won over. The means by
which this was accomplished, do not admit OF public recital;
but they were entirely successful. The young Kentuckian
was borne in triumph to the White House-introduced-
and the credentials for the post he sought, made out, altho'
there were fifty applicants for the same place, backed by
strong recommendations.
This is a sample OF the spirit OF adulation, which is EN-.
ployed, and successfully, in procuring public stations under
the yiruous men, whoruNe overus. lii confined not merely
to the 'od Man and the Boys"-or, TO speak, in court phrase,
to The President and the Princes but is extended toall
the Cabinet. Each Honorable Secretary has his toadies.
and these last, very nationally concluding, that as the Secre.
taries hold their places by aduletion, they are constantly in
need Of Il very large amount Of the article,-iake care TO
supply them with as much as they can possibly consume.
1t would be tedious and disgusting TO specify cases. But
one has Just fallen under our observation, which, for high
wrought anu exquisite sgCCplalCN, suTpdSSes all OF 1llcnt
or modern times-and Is too good 70 be lost. 1t 5 n most
finished aud touching tribute to the paternal sensiblities Of
Mr.. Secretary Spencer, and is told with such an air of truth
and sincerity, as must establish the reputation of our age
and country, through all time, as unapproachable for genius
in adulatOn. But the wretch who thus peryerts talents, and
makes a mocAery Of the most tender feelings of our nature,
would, IN the days OF Juyenal, have been reputed vile,
even at Canopus.r
We fnd the paragraph in a Treasury-fed paper in New
York
AFFECTING lNcIDENT-During the visit of President ".
Ter and the Heads OF Departments TO the city of Boston, an
incident occurred, OF SO affecting q character, and in con.
neXlon with personages so distinguished, indicating so much
OF character, portraying so much suffering, az TO make a
deep and lasting impression upon every one who witnessed
II: but 1t has never yet been published. 1t must have been
ere this related TO hundreds, and it must have produced up.
on hundreds by the recital such effects as IT did upon those
who witnessed the scene. We do not see that any harm
can come from the recital, none TO the public certainly
none, we believe, TO the parties more nearly connected
with the subject. The Sabbath following the Celebration
OF the Monument was a beautiful day., and the President and
most Of his Suite attended Church in the morning, at several
places Of worship in which seats were rendered by hospita.
bic citizens. In the evening IL was proposed to visit Mount
Auburn, the cemetery upon whose decoration so much taste
and wealth has been layIshed, and where repOse the ashes
Of 50 many that were beloved by their friends and hluored
by mankind. The President, indisposed from the eyt,,or
binary taugues Of his journey, reception aud celebration.
was not Of the party, but the Secretaries Of the Treasury,
Navy, and War Departments, the Post Master General.
Chiefs OF Bureaus, and nearly all the ladies' and gentlemen,
attended by the Commissioner to China, his Secretary Of
Legation, &C., went in carriages 10 the burial place, where
they were admitted by Mr. Buckingham. and conduct
ed through winding paths TO every beautiful, romantic or
celebrated spot which the cemetery contains. II was natural
that WI. buckingham should, among other places, wish 10
snow his own family burial place, a site of great beauty
Advancing at the head Of the party with Mr.. Secretary
Spencer, he came 10 the enclosure. In the centre was a
tasteful monument Of marble, erected To the memory of MS
talented and beloved son, Edwin. Mr.. Spencer remember.
cd linn, and the circumstances Of his early and lanented death;
how IN his youth, full Of genius, giving the brightest promise
Of future renowu, ne had gone on a voyage to West Indies died
and wasbuncd atsea, and whcnh he read the inscription, '"The
sea his body holds; his spirit, heaven he fell, quick as if
tho lightning hod gone through his heart, ghasty and sense.
To the earth, and wos borne from tie ground by Mr.
Wicklihe. Thocauso-the coincidencc-the contrast, was
too apparent to every one. a deeper gloom fell over the
party than that caused by the solemn place in which they
stood, aud tears Of pity fell from those who could sympathisc
with parental dislressos, which even the lapse Of tine could
not soften. Surely, It men knew the agonies which even a
like this renewed, though they liked not the
politician, they would spare the father.
WEST TENNESSEE.
by way of New Orleans, we havea few returns
from, f, ,,u,t..-.r..s III. -t.r