The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-06-18


Persons abroad must be careful not 10
place loo much reliance on the thousand and
one rumors and reports that fly on the wings
Of Lightning over the wires, or are transmitted
through the medium Of the letter-writers
rom this Metropolis.
To many of those letters, the title affixed
BY Goethe to his own memoirs, " Fact and
Fancy" might be fitly applied for both are
blended with rare skill in many Of these COM
positions, and fertility Of invention display
ed, that would make the fortune Of protested
writers of fiction.
The art or mystery Of letter-writing, has
attained degree Of finish and perfection in
these days, unparalleled in any previous age,
and the old Complete Writer
been entirely superseded by "Modern In
Stances" fresh in the memories Of all who
read the papers.
"Heaven sure sent letters to some wretch's aid.
Some banished lover, or some captive maid,
said or sung Alexander Pope; but It was re-
served for this century Of inventions to
convert them into potent political engines,
petty instruments Of mighty mischief.
The love-letter, doubtless, still exists
but it has sunk into very subordinate posi-
ton, compared with the political letter-pub-
lie interests, more than private--being now
chiefly affected through their pot hooks and
hangers, pushed into print, often, in advance
Of the receipt Of the original by the party to
whom it is nominally addressed. In fact
very wide difference in the destination Of the
two species exists; SO that letters now may
properly be divided into letters per Sc, letters
pro bono pubico, and, last not least, the
correspondence Of newspapers.
With the first sort, being private property,
we do not care to NEEDLES nor are they Of
any interest save to the recipcnts:--the
other two species, however, may claim 2
passing notice at our hands.
The letter pro bono pubhco is rather Al
recent invention, and is much in vogue at
present. It obviates the awkwardness OF
appearing before the public in the first person
singular, to give expression to individual
opinions, by assuming the shape Of cores
pondence--being addressed to Dear-in
kind Of stage "aside;;" with the full know
ledge that the theatrical whisper is audible
to the audience-the public. All classes Of
politicians, now-from Presidential aspir-
ants in regular graduation downwards, re-
sort to this short and easy method of taking
the public into their confidence, and much
Of what is called PUBLIC OPINION is manu-
featured thereby. The hint Gas has been
suggested) was evidently taken from the
success attendant on the same plan as pur-
sued by the vendors Of pills, and potions,
and patent medicines. The opinions Of gen
tlemen distinguished for public services, and
knowledge Of public affairs, must, Of course,
produce potent inAuen ce; and it is desira-
BILE that the views Of such should be asked
and obtained-this mode being probably
better than any other. But the abuse Of
this habit, and the excess to which it has
been carried, "has increased, is increasing,
and ought to be diminished"
The third class Of letters-from cores
pondents Of papersis distinct in kind, and
Of yery different orders Of merit and useful
ness There is very large corps Of letter.
writers for the different papers throughout
the country, always in attendance on the
sessions Of Congress-; and they number
among them almost every conceivable
variety Of character, talents, and acquire
ments. Most Of them write with wonderful
fuency and point--and their grey goose
quilts are as great objects Of apprehension
to many Of the honorable members, as the
rods of the victors were in ancient Rome.
Some use their potent weapons with dis
cretion-others take great license both with
persons and with facts; and the truth cannot
be disguised, that the estimation in which
our public men are held throughout the
country, depends greatly on the good or evil
report given Of their doings and savings by
the scribes aforesaid. Almost all Of these
are drawn from the North--or are in the
employment of Northern Editors--and the
Southern Representatives have, on that ac-
count, often had occasion to feel, with the
lion in "the well-known fable Of Esop,"
that their pictures have not been drawn by
friendly hands. There are, of course, some
few exceptions to this general remark, but
they are only sufficient to constitute the
general rule.
With regard to the reports circulated