Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1872-05-16
LIFE OF JOHN J. CRITTENDEN
EDIrED BY MS DAUGHTER.


Here are two volumes rolled into one
fcdoien, Of ancient Whiggery, and that Of
the very best kind-old fashioned. Henry
Clay. Whiggery. The work is executed
in the kindcst and most filial spirit. for
Mr.. Cri,sendcn seems to have been every
thing to his children. and they-espccial-
ly his daughters-loved bin dearly. The
literary skill is in every way well marked
with those blcmishc. or peculiari,ies and
occasional minute inaccuracies in which
feminine writers Of history or biography
are SO apt to fall. or the last. we note a
very remarkable one. which Mrs. Cole
man will not end fault with US for point
ing out. At page ll6 Of the first volume,
in a cluster of letters as to the Wing can
vass Of 1910. when Mr.. Clay aud his
friends encountered one OF their early dis
appointments. is letter from Mr.. r. p.
lctcher. which obviously belongs to 1860.
Tor certainly rs far back rs 1870. nobody
thought Of "Seward as the candidate Of
tho Black party. or Douglas rs the choice of
the Democrats. and Mr.. b. uchanan did
no: then protest against the Cov"dc in
vestigation." This is clearly anachrcnistic
There is in all the book. and 10 would be
unreasonable 20 expect anything else.
Kentucky etfusivcnsss. u gushing.out Of
local complacency which sometimes Dor
ders on the grotesquc as where we are
told in one of the carly pages that 1.-The
names that will always live in history arc
those Of Jesse Bledsoc. and John Pope.
aud John Rowan. aud John Boyle. and
William T. Barry. and Joseph H. Davis!''
The adhesive coating which history wears
will. VIC think. hardly retain PARTICLES like
these. but Kentucky has much to be
proud Of. aud of nothing more than Of the
two great men whou. these volumes illus
tra:e-one directly and the other incideu-
tally-Mr. Clay aud Mr.. Crittendeu. We
rather incline to the theory that be who
must be termed the lesser lumiuary sheds
tho sentlcr radiance. Mr.. Cri,tenden new.
err was soured BY disappointment As Mr..
Clay was. The Presidency--possible or
probable-ncver came 30 near the edge Of
his hopes rs to acidulate his temper or
mako him irritable and overbeasing.
FROM 1882, at least. till General SCOTS
nomination in 1852 Dir. Clay was in
state Of morbid irritability Not only did
he manifest il towards his actual rivals,
Harrison, Webster. Scott, one after the
other-and then the trinmvirate together
but il showed itself in his general dis
coptent. and found sort Of compensation
IN an inperious tone to all around him
Mr.. Crittenden was looked upon as one
who. having no such grievances and of
not. we think. such anature. could be re-
lied on to propitiate. and. IL that failed. to
resist the impericus will. There is in this
book. among many others Of the same ma
ture. curious letter from Mr. Jefferson
Davis In lS49-he then. n ever. Dera-
ocrat. but personal friend Of General
Taylor. Just then elected President. aud
extremely anxious for the success Of the
adminisiration-which We are tempted in
part to reproduce. 1t is manly and d.
rect appeal to Mr.. Cri,tsndsn on the very
matter we have been discussing. The
date is January 80, lS49. II exceed
ingly regret" says Mr.. Davis. Ito see
that Mr.. Clay is TO return to the Senate.
Among many reasons 10 Quo in which
kno~ you will sympathise-,he evil in
fucpce he will have on the friends OF Gen.
eral Taylor in both houses Of Congress.
Many who would have done very well in
bis absence will give way in hn presence.
This will also introduce new elemen, in
the selection Of the Generals cabinet. 1.
must be eomposed Of men Of nerve aud Of
no Clay afinitics. Que instance 70 illus.
trate nag meaning Berrien. Of Georgia,
though we'll enough xi,hou, Clsy's shsd.
ew. woAld not do under it. You zee I
disregard Mr.. Gays pledge to supper.
the administrations; he may wish to do 20,
hat can his nature reach 90 much (! The
Enslishman. Baker. who came from the
Rio Grande 70 draw pay. mileage. and .
years stationery ~ member Of Congress,
s here with Recommendation ftca Lsc;s.
lssures ies the post Of Secretary Of War.
What win General Taylor say 10 such ia
pudeut dicasspui Ba,lse King wants to
be Secretary Of The Navy. Andrew Sles-
art 10 b Secretary Of the Trsassry--,he
man whe proved iwocl 10 b vegetable.
a., ] hops. yea viii talk fa.ly sish General
Taylor; he knows very lissle Of oar public
men psrsesally. and WIN have very little
cppcrtasisy 10 eAservs them AFTER his ar.
rival. Ciaytoa d true md nlks right
Hss he the necssssry bsrvef Hos wcald
Mr. Dipney. Of Philadelphis. do for the
Treasury AZ Abbes lawrence . not .
lawyer and i Z msAufaetufcr. bow would
he u, E,r the n7sv3 How could Gals