The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-03-11

to the closing scene, to the defense OF
State Rights.
The Cabinet of John Quinsy Adams
was only remarkable because Mr.. Clay
conducted the Department Of State. Mr..
Adams, avowing from the first his inten-
ton to stand for a second term, Of course
shaped the policy of the administration
sometimes no doubt, against the advice
of his illustrious premier; and shaped it
to his own defeat and the exclusion CT
Mr. Clay. Had their position been re-
versed; had Mr.. Clay been the Chief Mag
istrate, and Mr.. Adams the Minister -
General jackson, in all probability, would
not have been elected. Cur country at
this moment might occupy q very different
attitude What was called the American
Systematic rapid Development CT home
manufactures, by schedule Of exoTbitant
and, in some instances, prohibiting duties,
concentrating vast capital in few hands;
National banking, in close connection with
the Federal treasury; the federal Govern
ment penetrating the States, and control
ling their legislatures and popular suf-
rage, by internal improvements, involving
large outlays of public money; and close
listed policy in relation to the public lands,
holding them at fixed prices, refusing the
right of preemption, as much as possible.
aud the fow of immigration from the man
ufacturing to the agricultural States. -
This vast machinery would doubtless have.
been engrafted upon the asianal policy,
had the chief magistrate been really
great man, of popular attributes, like
Mr.. Clay, instead of q political enthusiast
who, obstinate, SIS his distinguished sire,
never knew when to retreat. and regard
ed Fabias as historical coward. UG-
der this policy we should have grown COM
pact, formidable, very aristocratic, very
English. The four great events most
memorable III our annals since the Revo-
slution--the separation of bank aud State
'--.-the mets,lie currency the annexation
of Texas aud the conquest Of CALIFORNIA;
would yet have been in the womb of time.
A scholar andsHota 8 statesman---a creature
OF passion not of purpose man of in-
nevertheless lived in an atmosphere of ice
consumed by his own FIRE, bat chilling
and repeliing sympathy and confidence
was Chief, aad the government, by popu-
iar,fosais bs't r'5y what was, nioca!ly rev.
olution, passed into The hands of the De-
mocracy a Democracy, not contingent
upon the mere triumph Of lis leader, or the
duration of his official term, but TO all in
tents anu purposes, Democracy under
every Administration, and by whatever
name the prevailing party happens to be
called
Andrew Jackson though he knew little
of books, still less of national law, and
nothing Of diplomacy, had less need fol
a Cabinet than any of his predecessors
| Chiefs of Bureau or a few competent clerk,
would have been enough for him. Na,
turc stamped him great, and the most sa
| gseious i'll bis councils, to pass current
hadto be recoincd from the Same die. A
TRANSMISSION of ideas flowed from him tC
them. He sstounded experienced pohti
leisns and jnrists 10y his intuitive percep
ton, and masculine grasp OF the mos
complicated subjects. He converted mel
to his view as much by this great facult,
as by an adominate will. The timid fel
his inspiration, and the powerful and fac
tious were subducd by sublime coustan
cy very different from the insane obsti
macy of the Adams, or the dogged conr
Esge of Gen Taylor. He however snr
lroanded himself with able men, but h
moved them about like figures on ches
board, transferring them to other sphere
of duty, or kicking them, uncercmonious
lily, overheard, to rise no more. Va
Buren, Forsyth, Cass, Livingston, Berrien
j McLanc, Taney, Barry, Duane, Wood
bury, Eaton, Dickerson, Ingham, BrancI
and Butler, were his Cabinet at ditferen
4 periods.
/ Mr. Van Barren had played masterl
role in the political drama. Regardin,
politics as game, his great forte was il
stocking the cards His peculiar trai
was caution, properly termed non-com
fmittalism. It was something more com
prehensive and sagacity. I'm
der the mask of great moderation, ant
with something of the air of petit n,o'tr,
; there lurked q vaulting ambition. Hi
faculty for governing men, his untirin
energy and imperturbabe GOODNESS enable
, him TO achieye great results, without ap
:. parent effort Thus this accomplishe
tacticisn, while Adonising before his look
, ing-glass, (') and toying With the square
rugged bellies of Albsny, or the more volur
tuous beauties of Washington, was dc
throning Dewitt Clinton, checkmatin
Clay, Webster and Calhoun, and scatter
ing roses in his pathway to the Presiden
/ cy When news of the advance Of Ma
5 poeon upon Waterloo reached the Duk
of Wellington, he was in the ballroom {
the Duchess of Richmond, at Brussels
and with undisturbed composure escorte
5 her grace to supper. Thus, while tn
: great tribune of the Senate was hurlin
his thunderbolts at Vice President Va
Buren,, threatening his political fortune