The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-08-30

and entertaining beyond measure 1t was that in
which the stalwart old woodsman proclaimed him
self among the eldest born of emocracy-brought
into this log-rollng world long before caucuses
and conventions were heard of. 81 myselfn he
exclaimed, fam older than platforms. avas a
statesman before the birth of Conventions !" It
is not the amazing antiquity, however, which the
General thus claims for himself that startles us.
The brave men, who were before Agamemnon-
the centuries which looked down from the pvra-
mids upon the first NAPoLEoN-the London Tines
which was an Institution before the NAPOLEON dy-
nasty began-have decidedly the advantage of our
venerable countryman, in the mere dignity Of
chronology. MACAULAY's picture of the Papacy,
reaching beyond the era of the tigers and camel
opards in the Flavian Amphitheatre is, perhaps,
even grander to think of than all of them 1t is
not, therefore, that General Houston instances
himself ancient of days-for, on that
subject, he doubtless speaks from knowl-
edge 1t is that he calls himself "a
''statesman''-a matter, concerning which he
clearly has none. This it is, that has brought DR..
TRENCH to our minds, suggesting the enormous
once had, and that which is, nowadays, attached
to them. statesman What large ideas and
grand memories cluster round the word How,
as we gaze, the historic canvass glows with noble
features-and, on proud monuments, built by the
gratitude of nations, the marble brows of genius
seem to throb again with life and power What
plots-serene and steadfast, in tempest as in
calm Men of great thoughts, deep plans and
noble forecast-creating the fortunes, nursing the
happiness, sanctifying the honor, lifting up the
soul Of people Are not the annals of the world
full of such lives? Do they not brighten our own
history as with glory? Do we not all love and
honor them-these elder brothers of our blood or
klnd-selfish only in the absolving impulse of
great ambition to serve and elevate their country
and live in her story and her prayers? What
household words their names are, and how their
memories dwell in our hearts Do any of them
wear the HoUsToNIAN physiognomy, think you,
reader? Is there any thing that the imagination
can distort into family likeness? Alas it must
be confessed that there is nothing The stout old
lndan-kller is no doubt an admirable specimen of
thews and sinews, remarkably well preserved,
even yet, for pre-caucusite. Doubtless he has a
good deal Of the man in him. and fought at San
Jacinto with much valor-as well as some luck
lie rejoiced, in the Capitol, at one time in wolf
SKIN cap, or, perhaps, vest of deer-skin and a
hunting shirt, and occasionally went to the
Senate, as we have heard, looking as much like a
hat-boatman as possbe-whch, we fear, was to
let people know that he was no fine gentleman, but
the hero who beat SANTA ANNA Nay, he some
times made speeches at Washington, which per-
haps, were read in Texas, where the people are
accustomed to hardships and have great fortitude
and perseverance. But for the matter ofstatesman
ship, if he had it, he used it like HUD1BRAs his
learning,
"And bore it not about
As being 10th to wear it OUT
The only approach that he ever made to it. if
we remember, was in bidding farewell to public
''life, and even that, it seems, he has now been
persuaded to undo! Beyond a question he is
looking to be PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES,
and since Governor WIsE's letter, we suppose his
chance as good that ofanybody else seeing that
few can possibly be more unftfor it. That is the
most eligible candidate now, who can carry the
most States, and surely man who has carried his
own is not to be sneered at Such is the wood
out of which we make our MRRCURIEs A clap
trap platform or an anti-platform c!ap-trap-a
cunning bid for sectional prejudice or a base
bartering of national integrity and timc-honored
tradition, for votes-a surrender of personal dig
NIFTY and common selt-respect to the caprice and
passion of the hour, and the public and ostenta-
tlous fiatterlng of what is lowest and most mean
such are the materials out of which much that
we call craftsmanship" at present is altogether
formed To have only killed an Indian or captured
or murdered Mexican is so much less bad than
this that perhaps, General HoUsroN, on the
whole, is as much of statesman as some that
stand on more pretentious .fuadum.