Weekly Clarksville chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 185?-1857, 1857-02-13
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The Pittsburgh ChroDicle, reEarkiug upon
society In this country says that as people
we are inordinately fond Of a public life,
in which it is foolishly Imagined We can find
honor, ease, wealth and public esteem but II
is rarely only those who have experienced for
a time the toll end anxiety of Office, who are
convinced Of lbe painful fact That they have
surrender ed all private comforts and domestic
happiness in order to par,nke Of the public
troubles and yexations Of sociefy. The Chr oni
Gle has some wise reflections upon this sub.
ject.
Kind reader have You ever engrg ed in public
life-have you ever aspired to a seat in Con.
gress--or been active in municipal aiIairs, or
advanced the interests of candidate for
public favors 10 one Of our rural districts =
Have you ever worked hard on election days,
or addressed your fellow citizens on Senate
affairs, or sought popular applause and the
votes Of sturdy yeomen Ii you have--and
If you hair is now grey and your judgement
matured by time and experience you not
cow inced that folly marked your early man.
hood 9 that your energies and means were
wasted in striving after the unaltsinable, aad
that he who engages in public o fairs loses bis
distinct individual existence, and manly in
dope ndence, and becomes the slave of party
and circumstance ! If you think differently
If you disregard the comforts OF homo and
The charms Of refined and educated private
circles, you are the very man to serve your
follow ers. and elevate yourself at the e1pe nse
Of honor, truth and integrity.
William Pitt, surrounded by faiterers and
pla cemen, and yielding the power of Eng land.
said TO friend 81 would gladly exchange my
station and my sycophsns for an humble cot
,aee and one true friend !" Talley rand once
observed, "the persons whoupprosch me are
gilded serpents, and If would preserve my
life must extract their fsngs."s When Presi
dent Tyler called Daniel Webster to the De.
Psrtment of State. the Sage OF Mprshfeld
complied, but declared that his farm and fish
ing rod had more charms for him than any
public honors that could be conferred upon
him and it 10 we'll known that the great and
good Silas Wright would rather hold the
plough and swing the srythe than WELD the
pen or command the applause of listening
Senates.
/ And thus it has ever been with the truly
wise and great. They know that high official
stOion is attended by many cares and great
labor, and therefore prefer the en1oblug
pursuits which can be found only in private
life. Men of great ambition and little ability
labor hard for high position, and when it 10 at
tanned their incaPacty mortiies their friends
and supplies their enemies with food for wit
and ridicule.
Jenkins is sent TO Congress, and, after be :.
coming notorious for ignorance and stupidity,
10 compelled to betake himself to his bench
his awl and his leather.
Smithers, by some singular turn of the
! political wheel, bscomee a Senator or a Gov
ernor before this, lac could, as fair physi
cian, smputats s limb secundem artem. or, Al
q third rate lawyer, conduct case OF assault
and battery with some credit; but as a states.
man and politician, he beconss a fit suhiec
for the satire Of Punch, aud his portrait j,
secured to embelish the gallery of knAvei
and fools.
Real worth, true wisdom end profound
learning are modest and retiring ignoranc,
aud vanity are braAen faced and aspiring
and
| "Fools rush whore angels fear 10 tread"