The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-02-11


inspiration, and the powerful and fac,iou,
were suhdued by a sublime constancy very
different from the insane obstuacy of the
Adamses, or the dosscd courage Of Gen.
la: lor. He however, surrounded himself
with able men, but he moved them about
like figures on chess board, transferring
them TO other spheres Of duty, or kickin.
them, unceremouiously, overheard, TO rise
no more. Van Buren,, Forsyth, Cass, I.iv.
inssloa, Berrien, McLane, Taney, Barry,
Duane, Eaton, Dickerson, lngham, Buarch,
aud Butler, were his Cabine, at different pc.
RODS.
Mr.. Van B,ren had played mastery role
in the political drama. Regarding politics as
a game, his grea, forte was 10 s,ocking ,hs
cards. His peculiar trait was caution, prop.
erly termed non-comm, m,talisn. II was some.
thing more comprehensive-forecas,e and
sagacity. Under the mask of srca, modera-
'ion, and with something Of petit maitrs,
there lutked a vaullins ambition. His fac.
ulty for governing men, his untirng eneray
achieve great results, wilhoul apparent ef
fort. Thus this accomplished lacliclun, while
Adonising before his looking glass;, ~ and
toying with the squSe-rigged bellies of Al
bany, or the volup;uous beauties Of WASH
ing,on, was de,hroning Dewitt Clinton,
check,nating Clay, Webster and Calhoun, aud
scattering roses in his pathway to The Pres.
ideucy. When news oi the advance OF Ma.
polsoh upon Waterloo reached the Duke OF
Wellington, he was in the ballroom of the
Duchess Of Richmond, at Brussels, aud with
undisiurbed composure escorted her grace
20 supper. Thus, while the great tribune OF
tho Senate was hurline his lhunderbolis al
Vice President Van Buren,, threaieuirg his
political fortunes with every blow, that gen.
tlemsn sat with quiet smile upon his face,
and with inim table sang froid sent his snuff
box TO Mr. Clay The moment he resumed hi.
seat! THE good humor Of the Senate was
restored, aud the great orator himself per
cieved that his mighty elTorl had been fruit.
less, The line masiciap was cup 10 snuff"
The late John Forsyth was oue o! the most
accom- plIshed n.en OF his times. As an i'm.
promplu debaler, to bring on an action or to
cover u retreat, he never had his superior
lie was acute, witty, iall Of resources and
ever crompt--impelnous as Mnrat in a
charge, adruit as Soult when ou:. hauked and
oatuumeered. lie was haugh,y III tue pres
ence oi enenies, atlabls aud winning among
friends. HIS mauGe;s were couuIv aud d-
plumalr. IN tho tunes OF Louis XIV, he
would have rivaed the most celebrated cuur.
tiers unisi the dynasty of Napoleon he
woud have won The baton of France. He
never failed TO command the confidence o
his parry he never feared any odds arrayed
against II, aud al one c'.is was almost its
sole support in the Senate against The most
brilliant and formidable opposition ever or
sanzed against all administration. With
The ladies he vas irresistible. During his
diplomatic residence in Spain the demand
for duenna'S could scarcely be supplied,
and even Roy atty smiled more induIgenily
than he wished. This gallant and high-s7;r.
tied gentleman died suddenly in tue eljoy.
lnent oi great popularity.
Gen. Cass | have, on former occasion,
elaboralely skelched. His massive intellecr,
his highly cultivated tastes; his consistent
political career; the landmarks he has lell
on our foreign and domestic policy-are all
matters of history. He was prominen, fea-
ture of the Jackson administration, and by
single but mastery article in the North
American Review, brought 10 a satisfactory
conclusion the Indian Question, the erea:
party and moral excitement of ,ha, period
an excitement which, up 10 the appearance
of tina, article, had marshaled the press and
pulpit of The North, and much OF The con.
science OF the South, asains, the Admins
tfalion. Subsequently he went 10 France,
and the influence he exerted there upon mo.
men'ous Issues, has never been exceeded in
The history Of diplomacy. His career thence.
forth is household word to The nation.
Mr. Berrien and MIR. Livingston were both
very eminent al The bar. The one was an
able lawyer merely; the latter great jurst
The one had the sharpness, the plausibilily,
aud The acute, but. CONTACTED grasp of The
technical attorney; The other was compre-
hensive, eloquent, and learned. Mr. Berien
could split hairs like Mr.. Tazewell; Living
ston gta2pled with seneraliles like Lord
Brongham. The mind Of one resembles
dictionary; the other code. Beuien was
conscientious man, who always meant 10 do
right, but by al unfortunate process of ra'io
cination usually go, wrong. Livingston was
uuscrupnlous, hui from policy generally did
what his discriminating judgment decided
would be right. Hs was couriiy and in.in-
cere, prone 20 in,riy,e, with no fixed princi-
pies, political and moral; and the stain Of
official defalcalon will ever shadow the lus-
ire Of his fame.
Bolh M McLane and Mr.. Taney had be
lopSed TO Il q ancient Federal party, bn,
since lis extinction had acted with the De-
mocracy. In one respect their fortunes were
no, The same. The former Al every period
Of his career, has been snsulaily exempt