Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-04-10
miscellaneous.
Social Matters in Washington.

From the Washington Correspondent Of tho
Httsburg Gazette.
II Is about two years since the "good So
ciety" Of Washington, which in its political
afinities knows no north, no east no west
nothing IN fact but slavery-set on foot n
rigid social prescription of all that sayored
Of free-soilsm and iiberality Of sentiment
upon any subject. Man is gregarious ami
NAL and hates seclusou and exclusion. ELL
wood Fisher and the philosophers Of that
school, had defined "good society" TO consist
in owning herds of wo-egged chattes call
ed men by Psychologists, but designated by
the former only as property. Tho owning,
and the breeding, and selling Of this properly
have been made the tests of gentility, polish
and refinement at the seat of government for
about two generations Of men. Many north
ern men, taught to abhor the feelings and
principles which were a second nature TO
the good society of the Federal city, had
looked over the wall that formed the pale of
the charmed circle, aud said-"It is not good
TO be alone in the land which our fathers
purchased with price, let us enter" But
they could not pronounce the shibboleth.-
And they made themselves faces Of dough,
and put dirt in their months-eyen "south-
ern dirtn-talking in strange tongue, and
came ngain and said awe nre northern men
with southern faces, and though born free.
are of servile speech; and what our fathers
hated we love, and we leave to the stranger
the heritage Of liberty and truth we have in
herited." And straightwuy they were taken
in, and this shibboleth Of slavery became the
universal language Of the American metrop-
oils. But in process of time there came
others who would not bow the soul to Bnal,
who could not learn the new dialect, nor a
bandon the faith of their ancestors. These
were forthwith put into conventry. by this
time patronage, wealth, and position had
brought within the narrow limits of WASH
ington "good society,"" much if not most
that was brilliant, and agreeable, beautiful,
and renowned for genius, talent, eloJucnce,
aud wit to be found at the Capital.
As have snd, man is grcgnrous animal,
and will beat his brains out to break into or
out of an enclosure. The prescribed had to
choose between fidelity to principle and the
reductions of artificial life, combining fash
ion and intellect. They nobly preferred the |
former, and proceeded at once to make n So
ciety for themselves. The tabooed, organ
lied themselves around two centres, TO wit,
the residence and family of the distinguished
Senator from Missouri, Mr.. Benton, and
those of DIR. Bailey, the Editor of the Anti |
brilliantly successful. So long as Mr.. Ben /
ton remained his house was lavorite resort |
of persons the most distinguished in politics !
literature aud art, who scorned the petty tyr
anny over social intercourse which hive
described.
The weekly soirees of DIR. nnd Mrs. Bal
ley, which were commenced with the avow-
ed purpose of lending TO certain political
ideas and principles the amenities of private
life, and the attractions of social accomplish
ment, have become the most admired nfflirs
of their kinds now or ever before held in the
city. The aspect OF sectionalsm which
they derived from the fact that they
were for a time chiefly attended only by
those who most keenly resented the attempt
10 exclude them from other cultivated socie-
~, has worn off; and now not few liberal
and sensible supporters of the great south
ern peculinrity, arc TO he found among their
most regular and animated visiiers.