Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1859-04-23
SPIRIT or ] Eff EBS0N.
Gtarlestumlr, Npg' ma.
sATURpAY MORNING, Apn1n as, 1852.
TRUE rs THE 1ErTER.

TRUE re THE LETTER
It is seldom our fortune to meet with an
article, more truthfully appropriate than the
following. which we copy from the Weehly
National, published in San Francisco, aud
edited BY GEORGE WAsH1seror, Esq, fol,
fnerly of this county. Thoughwtitten on the
P-cifc, it has an application which reaches
politics everyw here, and is not confined tp
California alone. We commend it to The
croakers of this District, who seem to think
political ambition damnahleScrim :: s. !,
Politicians as,Honest as other People.
How frequently do we hear, those vino from lszi-.
ness indifference inability are incapaciated from
taking part in public matters, fippantly; denouu-
cling all those who do interest themselves earnestly
in political affairs, as dishonest and corrupt TO
be successful politician say those selfstyed cen
sors of political morals, 'one must necessarily be
dishonest man. Indeed
If the proposition thus laid down by these self
righteous vrtuosos be true let us see what the log
ical aud legitimate inference from such premises is
1t FIRST argues that every man who has heretofore
been successful in political maters as well those
political heavens, were, and are, nnmtigated ras.
Gals. Not only have all those who now occupy high
positions at the hands of the people attained 10 such
honorable distinction by dishonorable means, but
likewise those gr at tluminaries whose patriotism
and wisdom shone forth amid the darkness of the
revolution and directed the pres ding genius of lib.
erty to its throne, according these cynical
judges, the grandest kind of scOundrels because
pre-eminently successful in all they undertook
Washington, Adams, Madison, Jefferson, franklin,
were indeed exalted Williams Williams of the 6rst
water! They pledged their 'ives fortunes and sa-
cred honors to another in the cause of liberty,
not in order to free mankind from the shackles of
king>crait, superstition and tyranny, but simply
for the purpose of advancing their own private n>
terests and gratifying the promp,ngs of selfish am
b'tion. Ifsuch be t. case verify they have impo-
sed magnificent swindle upon the world Truly
may it be said that the providence who holds the
nations in the palm of his hand, and who builds
them up or pulls them down Mt his pleasure, uses
exceedingly vile instruments in the accomplishment
OF his sublimest purposes.
In the second place-i, 'in order to be success
full politician, must necessarily be dishonest
man'-in a popular government like ours, where the
people have the sole awarding of honors, it proves
corrupt or woefuy blind to their deartst interests
fthey bestow those marks of their favor upon un-
worthy objects
In either case it shows that they totally unfit
for sell government, and that, as consequence our
whole system of r9publicanism is a vast piece of
humbuggery. Butt contend these wiseacres, the
system is good enough and the people are capable
enough but, say they, the most virtuous the most
honest. nd the of1 1bo
uunity seek other and more useful empoyments to
occupy their attention and talents and consequent>
ly have not the time inclination to 'dabble in
the filthy pool of politics.! The consequences, that
the demagogues have it all their own way, and Of
fee. Now, we ask, in the first place, what makes
the pool of politics filthy pool Z?
Is it indeed considered disreputable and immor-
al thing for take deep and abiding interest
the welfare of his country, and spend his life in
its service? fittings are out of joint and going
wrong, as these selEstyled vrtuosos assert why do
not they-as they profess to be in the majority
come out in their might and put them to rights
again :? We very much question the soundness OF
the morality the sincerity of the professions Of
those who lay claim TO higher order of virtue than
their fellow-men. and yet show SO gross neglect
Of their duty rs citizens.
the man who ON any falsely conceived scruplea
of del cacy about da1bling in the filthy pool or
from any other cause neglects to lend his best ex
ertons to the advancement of the public welfare
is unfit to be member of tree popular govern
merit He is unworthy of the name of an Amer
icau citizen. He wants master, and should at
once leave his country for his counry's good and
take up his habitation in some remote region where
the sun of liberty shed its beams The
unadulterated, disinterested houesty-is very
scarce commodity with humanity anyhow. Poi
iciaus have much of the article the ma ioritv
of the rest of mankind, aud il they seem more
dishonest than the balance of people, it is be-
from the nature of their profession they are
always directly in the eye of the pu lic who are
ever on the ert TO detect their shortcomings
The tongue OF de,raction too gets at work, and
many man whose character for uprightness and
ineg ity had never been questioned in the private
walks OF life, soon as he enters upou the political
arena it by parizan malice and enmity as black
as Erebus. Among the merchants, the lawyers the
DOCTORS and the artizaus of the land one will find
as much of that base coin called assurance which
often gives william the bearing of an honest man,
and which like charity covers multitude of sins,'
as will be found among those who spend theft
lives in deScanting upon matters of public policy
An honest man is still an honest man, NO matter
what his profession be.
Debauchery in Paris:
po.;. 80, A. ~, TTf. S,,,,.. a. q . -, :