Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1843-10-28
SHERIDAN.

and OF his powers. Ills countenancel
struck me at glance as the most charac-
terrific that had ever seen. Fancy may
do much, but thought then cou'd dis
cover in his physiognomy every quality
iHr which he was distinguished. The
pleasantryof The man of the wodd, the
seen observation OF the great dramatls,
and thew idness and daring OF The nfst
rate orator. His features were fine, but
,eir combigalion was 50 powerfully ni'eI
ectualsthai, al the moment when he tufn
ed.his face to you, you felt lhat.yon were
looking on a-inaiI, ON the highest ofle'
,f facuties. None d the leading men OIL
his day had physiognoniy SO palpably
mental. Bufke's spectacle eyes told but
little. Fox, with The grand outlines OF a
Greek sage hid nc nobility OF feature.
Pit was evidently no tayorte of whatever
goddess presi.ies over beauty al orr birth.
But SherIdan's counteDance was The actual
mirror oil one of the most glowing, versa
Tile and vivid minds in the world. HIS
eyes alune would have given expression 10
a face of clay. | never saw IN human
heads orbs 81 large, ofso intense black
and Of such sparkling ustre. His man
ners, ,oo, were then admirable, easy with
out negligence, and respectful as the
guest Of a royal table, with nut shadow OF
servilIty. He also was wholly Tree rom
that affecta,ion OF epigram. which tempts
"a man who cannot help knowing that his
good things are recorded lie laughed and
listened, and rambled through the common
topics of The day, with all The evidence OF
one enjoying the moment and glad 10 con,
tribute 10 its enjoyment; and yet, IN all
his ense, could see that remoer thoughts
from time to time, passed through his mind.
In the midst of our gaiety, the contraction
of his deep and noble brows, showed thai
he was wandering far away from the slight
topics of the table; and | could imaglne
what he might be when struggling against
the gigantic SlrengIhoi Pitt; or Numbering
against Indian ty tyranny before the peerag9
in Westminster Hall. / saw him long al
forwards when the promise of his day was
overcast. when the flashes of his genius
were like guns Of distress, and his charac-
Ter. talents, and frame were alike sinking.
But, ruined as he was, and hum iated by
folly as much as by misfortune, have new
err been able to regard Sheridan but as
fallen star, a star, 100, of The first IN gni-
mde, without a superior in the who'e gal
axy from which he fell, and with an orIgl'
nal briliancy, perhaps mpre lNstrous thah
Them all.-Memmoi RS g Salesman
| BLdckrood.
THE BEST JOKE OF THE SEASON.
Mr.. BRowNsoN in the last Democratic
Reriep concluded series Ct profoundly
studied articles on the Origin OF Govern
ment, which we place among the
ablest and most valuable political essays
that have ever appeared in this country,
But in the midst of general clearness and
strength, Mr.. Brownson sometimes under
takes 10 define what is indefinable and to
grasp in logical formula what is by tar too
subtle TO be caught by the coarse meshes
of human language. He defines HUMANr'
TY thus:
"We are 10 bear in mind that the genus
Humaniry--what we call human nature
is no logica! abstraction, but real exls'
4 tence. and in some sort, an existence IN
dependent of individuals. This is only
sa ing that humanity is humanity. Inns
settled, we may proceed step turiher.--
IIumsnity, in this generic sense Is cau>a
4 five. active, creative. This is affirmed III
affirming that humanity Is realty. Oul
/ notian oil reality is our notion OF being OF
substance, of something that is. But oul
4 notion something that is--'hat IS to say
of heing or substance, is precisely our no
4 uon OF cause or causatlve force"
4 The editor ofihe W,lksbarre PA } Far
mer ouizzes the philosopher In The follow
4 ing rich s,rain--which if Mr. Brownspr
| hmselic can read without the healihiul en-
| ioyment OF a hearty laugh, he is grayei
than, we are.
\ "We are to bear in mind that the genus
Of hombug, whatwe cali natural humoug
is no logical abstraction, but has a real ex
listence as much asa shad and IN some sor
lmdependent of fodder and fri nis Just atle
i icing elecied 10 some fat office, ihopgl
liver actually separabIe from individual
4 6elore election. This is only saying tina
humb1g is still humbug any way yo'
choose + fix it. This part ofthe weathe
} being settled, we will venture a'teP or wv
further. Hunbug, in this pepper and gln
ger sense, is causative of much Cannon
active as he creased end of perpetual mo
ton, creative ofprouises and pancakes
This is both sworn to and affirmed IN al
!. frming that humbug is member Of tn
5 regular army. Our notion OF being
! member OF the regular army is our iaIln
faclions--and faith is the substance
things hoped for, he evidence ofthings nc
: seen. Bal our notion Of something thu
$ is, is our notiou;of jackass-f'ra Jackas
!, sand not only is, that is TO say is; out