Southern standard., 1851-07-19
Joseph B. Cobb, the Union party Candidate for
the Convention.

Inc C0UVenlIOUs
Last week we presented fly-leaf from the political
history of Capt. w Barksdale, and will remark just
here that we were prevented from illustrating that leaf
with some comments by sickness in our family. The
copy was handed out Tuesday and we prevent
ed visiting the office in time to arrange it in order and
accompany it with explanatory notes. The Captain
has nmated that he will explain something to that
effect. We have concluded to await the explanation
ofthe Captain before bringing forward other matters
slightly interesting because they date down very
late, and are very rich Well hear the Captain and
then throw forward the full picture.
But here is Col. Cobb, the anthor of the "Creole"
the "Bride of Lick the Skillet and various other lite
rary curiosties that have passed from the memory of
those who have heard of them like unrefreshing-
abortve-sneeze. The Col is candidate as well
an author, but we are called to deal more with
his political than literary writings, and shall therefore
pass over the latter without remark
In the American Wing Reuiew for July, August and
September, 1850, there appears a review of the pot
cal life and principles of THOMAS JEFFERSON. written
as we understand, by Col. Cobb We have read these
papers patiently and we think carefully and feel pre-
pared to do Col Cobb unkindness in attributng to
him motives and feelings other than those sometime
prompting political reviwers to indulge in slight per-
tive tvwd ara tnelr opponents. That the
Colonel has done this think truethat he has over
stepped the legitimate province of the reviewer and
dealt in differences and nsnuations unwarranted by
the truth of history, shall leave reade to Judge
At any he himself the advocate of doc
rnes repugnant to republican simplicity and equality,
and at Thomas Jefferson and that noble band of
patriots who braved the of federalism and turned
back the tide of despotsm formed under those afro
cious laws known in our day by the name of "Alen
and Sedition." But we must pass over much that
want of space orbids notice, and come down to
few points that appropriate for newspaper
comment.
We notice the following in order to show to what
extent Col Cobb has permitted himself to be betrayed
by his preudices into general assertions, and also
affordng example of the general fairness of his
view. We will undertake to say that this same "nar-
minded, distempered little Frenchman,' so sneer-
ingly mentioned below has left behind him a monu-
ment that will glitter like star in the literary rma-
ment, when the of the author of the "Creole'
the mississippi Scenes, and other such sckly sem
tmentates shall have faded from the memory of even
soft-headed, tender hearted Misses class of readers
the Colones cast of mind and style of writing seems
naturally adapted to meet and crafty. That Fren-
eau fluent in the ''language of the fsh-market "
may be true but any who will read Col. Cobb's
review and of his literary productions will meet
with difficulty in coming to the conclusion that
his fuency is very varegated, falling frequently
below than rising above the standard awarded the
row. minded, dstempered little Frenchman.
| Mr. Cobb seems to entertain contempt for those
unfortunate whose most 'sumptuous Diet has
been ''stale crackers and cheese. This feeling man.
fests itself on another matter in this review as we
will show. But here is the Coloners own language
and if lacks any of the flavor of the fshmarket the
reader can Judge.
"A restless, minded, distempered little
Frenchman, named Philip Freneau, was then conduc
ting low and scurrilous print in the city of New
York. His boldness and carelessness of character
together with some fuency in the language of tht
shmarket attracted the attention of those who were
| beginning to form plan of opposition to Washing
toms administration. Jefferson, Secretary o
State, tempted him, by the offer of clerkship in hi
own Department, to remove to Philadelphia Tht
starving Frenchman, whose most sumptuous diet hat
been only stale crackers and cheese of course lump
ed at the offer, and pledged himself pursue with in
discriminate rancor, the wisest well the worst
w ashlngton's measures The National Gazette wa.
established, and repository of more than Augea1
uncleanness became the head quarters of those whc
had raised their parrcdal hands against the Father
his Country During its short-lived existence" saw
modern author, "it was notorious for its scandalou
ton OF Mr. Jefferson, and its gross abuse of leading
! federal men.''
Here are few sentiments, the character, tone ant
temper of which, we shall not attempt to name 1t il
for the reader to form his estimate of Col Cobb
opinion of the character of Mr.. Jefferson. But we arr
unprepared to think that any considerable number
Americans, with hearts in the right place. can be foun
who will endorse this deliberately expressed opinion
Mr.. Cobb. Mr.. Jefferson if we correctly understan
Mr.. Cobb, is here drawn fend in human form
whose 'philosophic eye beheld, fearless, the walking
images of broken hearts and crushed affections which
crossed his daily path, and surveyed, u1amoued tn
mournul emblems which shrouded the entire city witt
funeral drapery' In the of heaven, is this true
Did whole people with their highest civil hon
ors man SO calous to human suffering-trust maj
with position politically the loftiest within their gif
whose heart never moved at the sight Human miser
and the wall of human pain We shall be slow t.
believe it. "All the murders committed by the revo
utionary tribunal-all the blood which flowed from
the scaffold of the death-dealing guotne--the hor
rors of the Reign of Terrorthe sghs and tears whcl
had made Paris the terrestrial counterpart of a he'll
were insufficient to D s G U S the author of tn,
Declaration of American Independence" This is Mr.
Cobb's opinion of Thomas Jefferson, and we ask tn,
reader to note whether such sentiments carries Mr.
Jeferson's reviewer below above the fish-market
"The French associations andpreiudces ofJeffersor
had seduced him into amentable departure from the
safe, moderate and consistent revolutionary prnciple
which marked the period of 1776 He had heard tbf
fierce debates of the Jacobn Clubs and thrilled unde,
the reeklng eoquence of Danton and his ger-emperef
colleague. All the murders committed by the Revo
lutionary Tribunal-a the blood which Ho,uaJ e.