Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-06-19
VARIETY.


The impression ofthc simple ceremonial
Of American political life upon the eye of
an intelligent Europeans conveyed in the
following passage descriptive of the recent
visit Of the President and Cabinet to New
York, to attend the Erie railroad celcbra-
ron. The article is translated from a
French paper. C9urier des Etats Uais,
published ia New York, for the ". Y. Cou-
rier & Eaqurer.
"The scene would assuredly not have
satisfied the men who cherish the memo
ry Of great monarchical or imperial cere-
monies. The platform had nothing to or
nament il but one table, on which were
some tumblcrs and pitcher ofwater; and
another where several reporters took notes;
and withal some very ordinary chairs,an
benches OF Spartan simplicity. There
was on fau,cuil for the President, no partic
ular seat for the ministers. The group
which pressed around the President pre-
scented no brilliant uniforms. There was
no distinction among the different persons
who composed il, and the humblest citizen
fund his place there as well as the first
magistrate Of the city. A complete iaisser
aHer, liberty without restraint. without
rules, without formalities, without a shad
ow of etiquette. prevailed about the Chief
Magistrate Of the nation; and the mixing up
Of persons, was so complctc-without the
least disorder, however. without the least
unscemiy crowding-than at the left of The
President, for example, there was man
who swung his hat before Inn, and at cv-
cry swing cried 'Hurrah!'-and on the
right, reporter, standing upright. engag-
ed in taking down. with much apparent
activity, every word which came from the
months Of the speakers.
In short, il was ceremony without the
slightast ceremonial, and yet, for all this,
everything passed off none the less admira
bly,. The three men who figured in the
first rank have elsewhere made their pccu-
liar mark, for Mr.. Fillmore, Mr.. Webster,
and Mr. Ciittcndcn form the three most
striking types to be signalzcd in the Amer
lean population. The first appears to be
ono ofthose honest and loyal natures whose
simplicity is relieved by some attcntivcncss
to personal appearance, or rather by certain
habits residence In large towns gives
Though his hair is perfectly grey, the air
of youth and health which his countcnance
retains seems toindicate thathe bears with
out fatigue the burden Of power hich has
proved 50 fatal to more than one of his pre-
deccssors. Mr.. Fillmore personifcs the
intelligent and progressive bourgeoisc, if
the term bourgeoise has any meaning in a
democratic country.
AT the side Of the smiling figure of the
President advanced the dark and Negligent
Daniel Webster, that powerful head whose
front SO broadly expands itself; that eye so
deeply seated, and bctraying so much en-
crgy, that visage bearing in each of its fel.
lures the mark of labor, of care, and per-
haps ofpassion, arrests the attention at the
first glance. One feels that here is one of
those extraordinary individualilics that do
inmate by the superiority of Intellect
These Municipalities may exist every
where; buff you observe thestriking points
of Mr.. Webster, you say that such a nun
belongs to a country where civilization is
,ingnlarly advanced, and which has the
experience of the oldest societies With
little rigor you find sort of parH pyis in
the negligence Of his apparel, but you do
not think of concerning yourself with such
rrlHing details. You only say that Mr.
Webster lives in country where the form
and color of the coat in no way affect the
real dignity of the man.
This point stands out more boldly We,
IN MIR. Crittcndcn. His frock coat. with |
collar not irreproachahly adjusted, and
pockets gaping open to receive papers, the |
handkerchief wi,hwhich he wipes his brow
the tie OF his cravat-in word, the whole
OF his accoutremcnt denotes hun man of
the West; and neither his physiognomy nor
his language contradicts this Indication
An eye quick, piercing, inquisiive, show
ing at once rare discernmcnt and an ele.
waited spirit, and mouth firmly set, which
readily opens for irony, relieve a visage
which, without these merits, would have
been ordinary enough. In looking, at Mr..
Cnttcnden one is tempted to cxclaim Here
is keen blade, and the cpithet so often
employed IN America, and SO expressive.
smart seems to have been intended TO poiipt
hln. The presence of these men, so differ
ent, and yet animated with the same politi.
cal faith, their high position compared with
The observation-disclosures oftheir attire, and
the familiarity with which they were an
proached-thcir perfect ease in the pres
ence OF their fellow citizens-thcir BEARING
and simple manners-all powerfully re-
minded us of the excellence of the demo.
cratic system, and we were struck with
the spectacle as if it were entirely new to
us. Again, hearing their addresses, or
rather their unpretending talk with the
crowd and considering at the same time
the great work whose completion they
were gong to celebrate, we said that the
future belongs of right TO those who so
known how to unite the action to the word
man Of 1879.
In the war of the Revolution, Henry
Peyton, OF Virginia, lost three sons. When
The intelligence was brought to him that
tlnd 81 Il. I I