Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-03-20
A Political Picture.
John w. Forncy's Account Of the Adminis-
tration at w nshington.

IRON The Philadelphia Press, March -.
WAsniNGroS. March ~, 1855
left Philadelphia on Wednesday on a hur-
ried visit TO some friends here, and will return
God willing. by this evenings train, carrying
with me this hurried letter, which must take the
place of my usual word in the FceSS Of to-mor
row. What a difference between March. 1857,
and March, 1851 ! dwell upon it with sur
prise and grief. One year ago the country was
full of content, and at peace with itself. The
hearts of all our people beat reSponslvcly to a
noble inaugural and the hands of men of all
parties were uplittcd to support and to strength
en- our venerable President. The Democrats
were united and joyous and gazcd hopefully in
TO tranquil and victorious future. The Re
publicans were dismaycd, and new political conf
binations were abandoned before the prospect
of Il wise and patriotic policy. Mr.. Seward, in
the Senate Mr.. Stanton, in the House; Mr..
Greeley. in the Trbune, instead of preparing
new weapons Of attack upon the Administration,
were turning their thoughts to those substantial
questions upon which all men agree in this hap
~ country Even the Americans, few in num-
Der. could see no profit in faction. and were
quietly considering their plans. The extreme
South, 50 apt to chafe into passion, was as
calm a Summers morning ConserN atism,
in It's very best sense, had taken possession of
the Government. An experienced President,
sure and sagaciouS Cabinet ready Senate in
session, and still more willing House prcpar-
ing for its new tcrm--these constituted the Stcrl-
ing suporStructurc of an enduring condition Of
national prosperity.
And what a change has one year produced
| can hardly believe my senses that ! am writ
ing from tie Capital of my country. and that
my old irind--hc to whom have borne almost
filial relations from my boyhood-ho to whom
have cOndcd my few hopes and fcars---hc for
whom dared the fowns of foes, End for whom.
during toW long years in the lower House Of
Congress. he patronage in my gift was fearless
Is bestowed. and he knows how gladly and how
spontaneously tool can hardly believe my
senses. tina this is the city of Washington, ard
that James buchanan is President.
What is the aspect now one ,cide Reign Of
7c,ror. test is erected here, Ike same hoirH
instrument ct to,tUrr, upon rhich Democrdts are
''tcd Gnd crsc0tcd for their opinions. The work
of dccapi'ation has ceased against lifetime foes,
and is NOW Wascd upon old and cherished friends.
Men are owed and illuminated not for be-
ing opposed TO Democratic principles. but for
being too much in favor Of them. The hum
bcst clerk. with his little family, who struggles
along ON hi, thousand dollars year. must hide
his sentiments or leave his place Far the bold
anil upright DcmocTm ,ckp dorcS 10 THINK aioud
Mere Is Sami ytriH. If he has an Office he must
be ready for the ominouS caitd Of dismissal on
the instant. Ii he is an independent citizen. he
is excluded from the Departments and from the
White House like common lcper. An army
of spies are IN the alert, hunting for victims
Wo to the ungarded gentleman who, in the
presence of one of these eager eaves-droppcrs
may let fall free opinion. 1t is at once caught
up and carried. with no lack of eXaggeration, to
the ear of power. If there is on this round globe
ii race more despised in civilized society than
any other, it is the race of Uto,meS. The no.
blest inyecti,e of the noblest of Irish orators
has made them Immortality infamous. These
mercenares now hold high service in Washing
ton could s.rae several of them from
own State. but forbear for the honor of Penn
sylNania. They glory in their shameless trade.
Broken IN fortune, reckless of their own fame.
laughing at conscience in others and rejecting il
for themselves, they swarm here anxious to earn
their guilty wages. The most of these creatures.
happily, are the men who hay e pursued and per-
secuted the President with the same venom
which they now display towards those who diff
fer from his Kansas policy.
II is their vocation to make public opinion
here against the intrepid sentiment of the peo-
pie : to bully in the hotels, to iniest the rooms
of members to pump" the new arrivals, to
coax the doubtful, to intmidatc the weak. to
supply false motives for honest differences, to
fill the town with rumors of detection among the
friends of the right. to flatter power. and 10 an
plaud to the echo everything that falls from the
lips Of greatness Sir" said a wise and good
man to me on one occasion. several Years ago.
the President rarely hears the truth. He is sur
rounded with sycophantS, who say only what
pleases him How often this profound truth
is Illustrated 1t is said that Frederick the
Great think Lord Brougham's short sketch
of him contains the statement-would some
times demand of his ministers to talk to him
boldly and when they did he would lose his
temper, and beat them for their candor. There
are many good brave men in Washington to-
day. who would give their worst of thoughts
the worst of words, ii they had the chance. But
the eye of greatness has no welcomo-thc ear
Of greatness no harrington such men. If they
attempt to speak out, they are turned away, or
left standing alone in their glory" Let me
give you the last instance of the way things are
done here. One al the best men er sent from
Western Pennsylvania to our State Legislature
was Maxwell M'Caslin. His very name was a
household word in Washington, Fayette and
Greene. Everybody liked him during his long
residence in the latter county. Honest faith