Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-04-10
/" What a Government What a
People"

People."
This was he exclamation Of distinguished
foreigner, at the winding up of the great politi-
cal drama when, for the first time in the history
Of the government there election Of Pres
ident effected by the votes Of the people. The
Presidential struggle had been a severe one. All
the battles Of the campaign had been fought by
the three great contending parties with drawn
swords, and scabbaris thrown away. TWAS war
70 the knife and the knife to the hilt The mo-
inentous question was now to be decided in Con-
gress. All eyes we're anxiously turned to Wash
ington. The servants of the people we're there,
and thousands Of the people themselves. Zeal
Gus and high-mettled partizans were prominent
among the crowd. The midnight caucus-the
anxious look--,hc careful calculation-gaye evi-
dence TINT the contest was a close one. The
fate of the nation seemed, in the estimation Of
some. suspended upon a single vote. The ex-
citement among Members Of Congress, and a
mong the people looking on was without par
allel in our previous history. The hearts Of
stout men, and lovers of freedom, quaked with
fear. Amid such augures the time of trial, the
day Of final decision, came. The gallant Nc
Didie lately deceased was then member of
Congress, and plodging himself for the orderly
department of the people, defeated proposition
u close the galleries. Now came the tug of
war The galleries were filed with an anxious
and excited multitude, waiting the result. ST.
lence reigned throughout, while each ofthe TWEEN
ty-.our delegations, having voted separately and
by plumliIes, one after another, in orderly sue
oession. announced their report Amid the ST.
lence, down came the mallet Of the Speaker
out burst the declaration, "JoHN QUINcY ADAMS
IS ELECTED pREstDENr"-and up went shout
from the galleries that seemed to If, the very
dome of the capitol" Mr.. McDufiies candidate
deieatedi and forgetting, for the moment
his noble pledge for the people, AlcDulle himself
moved their expulsion from the galleries. His
motion prevailed. Yes" said foreign minis
ter TO one by ms SIDE ." but hou are you going to
do 1t No guards--no gensderms" Wait
little, was the reply, and we shall see. Tho ser
geantat-arms, placing himscfn position to be
seen by the people, and gracefully waving his
hand in token Of retirement said distinctly and
pleasantly, Gentlemen, the Speaker orders the
galleries TO be cleared--you will please retire q"
mi hy did retire, pithost a mUmUr. it was
then that the astonishod foreigner lifted up both
hands and exclaimed, "NyHAT A GOVERN |
MENT! WHAT A PEOPLEm
We gather up these incidents from reading |
long article in Arthui's Home Gazette, narratng
anecdotes Of the Presidents We give them to
cur readers, for what they are WORTH among thou
sands Of others, Of a similar nature IN the past
political history of the country all tending TO
show that in the hands of an enlightened and
conservative people, the Constitution and the
Country, the Government and the Uunon, NAV
be safely entrusted. Patriots and statesmen, a.
mong the living and the dead, have nobly " done /
their duty" Others will be raised up to I'll their
places. God gave us Washington. lie has
given US other good men and true and wall give
US more The people and those 10 whom the |
people have delegated power, have only 10 look
upward press onward-persevering in the right |
--unfuring in the face of all the country and OIL
the world, the broad banner of Liberty the Con-
situton, and the Union
What if there is a little tossing Of the head,
in derison or affected disdain by some one or
more elderly sisters in the same family Of states
Such freaks are not unusual with the fair, even
in the best Of families. No serious oiIence viii
be taken by any Of the younger sisters. Even
little Miss Vermont " the best abused Of the fam
ilyn should the dove She sent on an errand Of
peace to the South, finding rest for the sole of
its feet, be sent back with the olive leaf still in
it, mouth. Will not refuse it readmittance into the
ark there to remain, until the notes cf strife
shall have subsidized, and Carolina is herself again
Nor will Vermont feel herself sighted beyond
me asure, should she be passed by in the distrbu-
ton Of cards OF invitation doubling not in the
least that the +" mother of Presidents will ulh-
matelv set an example of true dignity and conr-
iesy, worthy the imitation of ALL And even if
otherwise, the younger sisters have too much re.
spcct for themselves and too strong family at
tachments, to initiate any unworthy examples or
TO cherish other than feelings of the utmost kind
ness, however they may differ in matters of duty
or of taste. There may, too, be sparring and
fault-fnding among excitable and excited pnri-
sans in the North and in the South Interests
and opinions may clash the best ofpntriots may
err and the wisest of statesmen commit sad
mistakes and even good men, of the same po-
litioal faith fall out by the way. There may ap-
pear in the political horizon thunderngs and light
nings, with clouds Of darkness and signs Of
tempest, and there may be even something of
a shower the people are at the helm. The
noble ship of State will ouride the storm In the
language Of Mr. Webster, in his last speech, in
Pennsylvania, moi in .uarylGnd, and in its spirit,
as breathed in the following quotation, we most
cordially and heartily concur, and with it, close
our remarks For myself believe that ages
aud ages hence, these United States viii be free
and republican, still making constant progress in
general confidence, respect and prosperity" X
"Stop my Paper"
Two men have stopped the Waterman, both,
we suppose, because the editor ofthe Watchman