Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1856-05-24
Daguerrectype of Granney Greeley.


Senator Douglas to good account. The picture is
complete:
Public justice somewhat requires that a man
should be held up to the honest appreciation OF the
community. There is limit at which torbearance
can no longer be tolerated, and when the usual
terms of speaking of an opponent lose their sig
nifcance, we must be excused for using vocabu
larry not highly esteemad in good society. man
of whom the devil might obtain improving hints III
his own line, we cannot be dainty in speaking Of
if we would do justice to the subject. Greeley has
brains. So has his sooty majesty. So had Judas
So had that other Yankee who tried to sell our
American liberty before him. But in the case Of
Greeley they are coarse and unwashed. They are
also in the wrong place. A chronological system
founded on his brains would be only applicable to
Yahoos. He is jackass mentally, a combination
of the swineherd and Calban. One may say he is
capable. So he is. He can do certain things very
well. He can frame foundation and build thereon
as good superstructure of lies as any other man
witness the Weekly Tribune each week. He can
blackguard his betters like fish-selling harridan
witness his letters from Washington. He can run
through the whole dapason of political falsehood
with unrivalled skill, from the delicate note of sug-
gested prevarication down to the double base Of
unmitgated lying.
He is an artist in that dominion of human effort.
If the devil should ever open Crystal Palace and
give premiums, Greeley would command them all
in this branch of manufacture. Yet let us do him
justice. He does not lie where the truth will serve
him better. To this extent he is virtuous In this
he is connoiseur who knows where to place his
picture. If he cannot give it a good light he will
not put it up. In fact, Greeley has jolly affection
for lie. He evidently thinks the lie an -treated
member of society. Thus he harbors it, aims to
elevate it, makes it boon companion, and takes it
into his service on all occasions. He sets little
lie on its legs and tendery and lovingly nurses it
till it grows rotund and swelling He puts it on its
travels, and as it wanders over the country he
chuckles and exults at its powers of locomoton.
Seeing his skill, and loving the little darlings of his
brain, he creates more Thus it comes in this line,
that in political circles he enjoys almost monopoly
of the business.
Other peoples efforts are so meagre in it, COM
pared with his that by common consent he is &c.
corded the position ofliar-in chief He has reached
the rank of Lieutenant General by real service.
Long ago he commenced writing lies in the Log
Cabin" He there acquired great reputation.
Indeed, he was everywhere admired. 1t was in
everybodv's mouth: I" How splendidly old white
coat les' Having fourished so we'll in his chosen
profession, Greeley now seems ambitious to add to
it that of bully But there is incompatibility in
the professions. He will fail here as nobody will
believe in his threats. He could not make any
body believe he had pluck. A man like Col. Rust
tames him in minute; witness the thrashing he
got the other day. Yet he does not entirely mis-
take his inspiration He is below bully, but he is
up to the position of a blusterer But he cannot
be permitted to enjoy even this new luxury. He
is more likely to be frightened himself than to
frghten Others Indeed, in Of his late letters
there has been an ominous tremor. Let him then
stick to his proper trade. His success here great
and his accomplishments undoubted. His long
practice, and his love for his art, give him high
and unrvaled skill. Surpassed only by the great
father of lies, he enjoys distinction which he
reach in no other department of human industry
He is in lying what Dryden said Shadwell was in
stupidity. He never deviates into truth.
CONCLUSION OF BENToN's THIRTY YEARS Re-
vIEw.-The following is the two hundreth and
last chapter of Col. Benton's history of his Sen
atorial life. The second volume cantains 1888
pages The work is now printing by the Messrs
Appleton, N. Y, and will soon be before the
public:
l have finished the view which proposed to
take of the Thirty Years working of the Fed
eral Government during the time that was part
of ia task undertaken for useful purpose,
and faithfully executed, whether the object of
the undertaking has been attained or not. The
preservation of what good and wise men gave
us has been the object; and for that purpose it
has been a duty of necessity to show the evil,
as well as the good, that have seen, both of
men and measures The good have exultingly
exhibited happy to show it, for the admira-
ton and imitation of posterity; the evil have
stintedly exposed, only for correction and for
the warning example.
l have seen the capacity of the people for
self government tried at many points, and al.
ways found equal to the demands of the occa
sion. The other trials, now going on, remain
pacity. l. The election of President; and
whether that election is to be governed by the
virtue and intelligence of the people, or to be-
come the spoil of intrigue and corruption? 2.
The sentiment of political nationality; and
whether it is to remain co-extensive with the
Union, leading to harmony and fraternity, or d.
vide into sectionalism, ending in hate, aliena-
ton, separation and civil war.
An irresponsible body Chiefly self-constitut-
ed and mainly dominated by professional Office
seekers and ofice-holders, have usurped the ell
ection of President; for the nomination is the
election, so far as the party is concerned; and
always making it with view to their own prof
it in the monopoly of Office and plumber.
A sectional question now divides the Union,
arraying one-half against the other, becoming
more exasperated daily, which has already des-
troyed the benefits of the Union, and which un-
less checked, will also destroy its form.
Confederate republic are short-ived-the
shortest in the whole family of Governments,
Two diseases beset thsm-corrupt election Of
The chief magistrate, when elective; sectional
when interest or ambition are at is
sue. Our confederacy is now laboring under
both Diseases and the body of the people, now,
IS always, honest in sentiment and patriotic in
lesign, remain unconscious of danger-and ev-
IN become instruments in the hands of their
1estroyers.
If what is written in these chapters shall
to open their eyes to these dangers,
and rouse them to the resumation Of their cleo
;oral privileges, and the suppression of section
Il contention, then this view will not have been
written in vain. If not, the writer will still |
nave one consolation-the knowledge of the |
act that he has labored in his days and gene
alton to preserve and perpetuate the blessings |
If that union and self-government which wise
md good men gave us.
There is ''more truth than poetry in the fore
,oing remarks of COL Benton. They contain |
natter for profound cogitation-for deep and |
fruitful reflection. Confederate republics are
hort-lived," and so will ours be, unless the
vretched system of leveling up instead of lev