Alexandria gazette. [volume], February 24, 1834, Image 2

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THE GAZETTE:
By EDGAR SNOWDEN.
__*__
Daily paper - - - - $8 per annum.
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The ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE for the coun
try is printed on Tuesday, Thursday, and
» Saturday.
All advertisements appear in both papers, and
are inserted at the usual rates. _
*. _ — -
To the People of the United States.
r LETTER II.
Fellow Citizens: .
In iny first letter, I apologised for appearing
before you, showed you that I had been the eai
ly and steadfast friend of General Jackson,
pointed out the motive for the persecution di
rected against me which he now sanctions, and
defied him and his adherents to prove any of
their foul imputations.
Even when oppressed in September last, it
will be seen, on reference to my letters of the
21st of that month, heretofore published, that I
did not attribute the conduct of the President to
any malignant motive. I then considered him the
mere instrument of men around him who were
unworthy of his confidence; and believed that
he had become the executioner of their ven
geance against all who checked their rapacity.
But 1 confess, that, whilst 1 still believe the Pre
sident to be ruled by extraneous influences ope
rating on his passions, it is difficult, charitably
to account for his silence whilst acts are delib
erately executed before his eyes, which are at
variance with truth, justice, and charity.
What can be a more serious charge, than to
say, that, under the mask of friendship, I enter
ed the cabinet to thwart the President, and fa
vor an institution, which I professed to oppose?
Yet serious as this imputation is, it is sanction
ed by the chief magistrate! It is sanctioned in
opposition to ail facts, nay, in contradiction to
his declarations made to me in writing as well
as personally up to the last moments ot our
separation!
To sustain so grave a charge, proof should
have been given; but all that is said to sus
tain it, is, that 1 resisted the removal of the
depositee and that in a letter, published at
New Orleans, I expressed such sentiments, as
showed that I had been “ indoctrinated with all
the hostility of the bank opposition.” My rea
sons for resisting the removal of the deposites
will be given in a future letter, when the public
will be able to judge, how far that resistance
sustains the vile imputation which 1 am now
considering. At present 1 shall refer only to the
second pretext for this calumny.
To a letter from a friend at New Orleans, I
wrote a reply in October last, which I regretted
to see published without my consent. From
that reply the official paper of the 20th of De
cember last made this quotation.
“ It is but too obvious, either that we misun
derstood the qualities of General Jackson’s
head, or else he has been wonderfully altered.—
On all the cardinal questions agitated, he has
failed to be consistent: he promised purity in
selections for office, yet few have been purely
made: he professed to be a friend to domestic
industry, yet he has done more than any body
else to prostrate it: he advocated a national
government bank, and yet effects to dread a
monied aristocracy: be complained of the cor
ruption of one bank, and yet takes forty or fifty
irresponsible paper-circulating banks under the
national wing: he has i^en for, and against, in
ternal improvement: he denounced nullification,
yet he has been of late unsaying all that he had
said in his proclamation. In short, 1 do not be
lieve he ever had fixed principles, or ever ar
rive <1 at any result by the exercise of the mind;
impulses and passions have ruled.”
The sketch here presented was drawn after
mv retirement to private life, and consequently
after 1 had availed myself of an opportunity,
not before enjoyed, of closely examining the
original. When I became one of the President’s
advisers, it was my duty to study his moral and
intellectual qualities, as well as his political
principles and views; and to this end, I exerted
such powers of discrimination as I possessedr—
The result was a conviction, that, in the por
traits which l had drawn, to gain popular up
nnihn t inn in is23 and 132S. 1 had either flatter
ed General Jackson, owing to my having had
* before me outlines only taken his intimate
friends; or else that the features had been of late
greatly altered under the influence of pride and
power. I naturally stated, in a private letter to
a friend, the result of my observation especially
as that friend like myself had been originally a
great admirer of General Jackson; and I am .
sure, it grieved him to hear, as it did me to have j
occasion to communicate, what contradicted so
many of our fond anticipations.
The prominent characteristics of General
Jackson, according to my representations in
]S23 and 1823, were purity of purpose, and
steadiness in execution. But, in 1833, 1 became
satisfied, that his principles, even on cardinal
points, were not fixed; that purposes were cre
ated for him, the true nature of which was con
cealed by artful management; and that, in car
rying them into execution, impulse and passion
impressed a character of obstinacy on his con
duct, which under the exercise of the mind,
would have been steadiness in execution.
It is true, that, before my entrance into office,
1 was aware that the President had been impo
sed upon in relation to appointments. I also
knew that he had been unsteady in his course as
to domestic industry, internal improvement, and
a national bank. But, what was my duty, when
the President invited me as his friend, to become
one of his advisers? If 1 could reconcile the
acceptance of office with the doubt which I felt
as to mv ability, and with private obligations, 1
considered it my duty to do so, in the hope that
I might render some service, by striving to re
concile his practice with former profession; by
trying to persuade him to abandon a vacillating
course as to manufactures, since nothing could
be more pernicious to this inteiest than uncer
tainty in legislation; and by urging him to ad
here to a strict interpretation of the constitution,
instead of wandering in the mazes of construc
tion, in relation to the United States Bank, or
other disputed subjects.
Such are the remarks which I consider my
self called upon to make, in relation to one of
the pretexts for the aspertion, that I entered
the President’s cabinet to thwart him. But, lest
any doubt should exist on your minds as to my
disinte rented ness or to the manner in which the
appointment of secretary of the treasury was
conferred on me, 1 think it proper to make you
acquainted with the following details, bearing
on these points.
Although 1 never directly or indirectly asked
any personal favor of the President, l do him
the justice to say, that he manifested a desire on
several occasions to promote, what he, doubt -
less-considered my advancement. With the ad
vice and consent of the Senate, he appointed
me a director of the Bank of the United States,
but I declined the trust. He afterwards tender
ed me the office of attorney for the eastern dis
trict of Pennsylvania, which I also refused.—
Without my knowledge, he appointed me, with
the concurrence of the senate, a commissioner
under the convention with Denmarkjand, when
1 hesitated to accept, he pressed the trust upon
me, on the ground that to accept would be a du
ty to the public and a relief to himself from em
barrassment.
Before I had executed the duty under the con
vention with Denmark, 1 was, on the 4th De
cember, 1832, unexpectedly invited to accept
the office of secretary of the treasury. And
lest any representation of the circumstances,
attending the offer, should be open to cavil on
that account, I shall not trust to my memoiy,
but present the following statement extracted
from a confidential letter, which I wrote on the
5th of December last. . _ '
Extracts. “ The President has in a formal,
kind and pressing manner asked me to accept a
seat in his cabinet. 1 confess, I was surprised,
and not only surprised but distressed; but it is
best, whilst the incidents are all fresh in my
memory, that I should give you a sketch. A
member of the cabinet said—i Mr. Duane, I have
been particularly desired by the President to seek
this interview with you, on matters of much con
sequence, not only to himself, but to the coun
try. The President has for some time past med
itated a change in his cabinet: it has been de
ferred until after the termination of the elections
in the. states and as they are now over, the pro
posed change is urged anew. The present se
cretary of state is to go to France; the present
secretary of the treasury is to take his place in
the department of state; and the question is, who
is to go into the treasury ? It is settled, that a citi
zen of Pennsylvania is to be appointed; the
President and his friends have sought in that
state for a person in all respects competent as
an officer, and faithful as a triend. A list of
names has been looked at, and, after due inqui
ry, the President is decidedly convinced, that
you, Sir, present the fairest claims to official and
personal consideration. You are of the old
democratic party of Pennsylvania, and have
grown with its growth; you are known as a mild
but unvarying friend of the political principles,
which Pennsylvania cherishes; your personal
reputation, too. gives you a moral influence, of
the extent of which you are not perhaps your
self aware; you were the early, and have been
the steadfast friend of General Jackson, and
should continue in every proper way to sustain
him who you contributed to elevate. So sat
isfied, indeed, is the President, of your peculiar
fintess for the department, and of your being
just such a person as he can politically as well
as personally rely upon, that 1 cannot use too
strong terms, in describing his solicitude that
you should not refuse the station.’
“Thisis more brief than the reality, but per
fectly correct. I replied—41 have listened, Sir, to
what you have stated, with surprise, and dis
tress; so that it cannot be supposed that I can
give a positive reply. I cannotexpress how gra
tified and proud 1 am at this mark of confidence;
if, however, I am now to give utterance to what
I feel, it is to ask the President to blot this mat
ter from his mind. It is true that l have been
and am sincerely friendly to the President; that
I possess the personal and political confidence
ofmany worthy men in Pennsylvania; and that
I have a strong inclination to do all in my pow
er to evince my principles and promote the wel
fare of the people. But it is also true, that my
abilities are over-rated; that my influence in
Pennsylvania is more limited than is supposed;
and that no weight can be given, by my acces
sion, to the administration. Such an occasion
as the present cannot be heedlessly regarded by
me, but all considerations united forbid me to
assent. 1 have through life sought the shade,
and whenenever 1 have been outofit, it has not
been from choice; l have always desired to tread
on the earth, lest in ascending even a single step
of the political ladder, I should be obliged to re
sume my former place. Perhaps this is morbid
pride, but be it what it may, it has a powerful
influence over me.’
To this it was rejoined,—4 all you have said.
Mr. Duane, shows you have the merit you deny
yourself the possession of. You have, by de
clining office on several occasions, omitted to
advance yourseif. I am the President’s friend
and yours, and am not the man to advocate any
thing of a doubtful nature, by which the public
may be affected. Others are more competent.
perhaps, to judge or your quauncauous man
yourself: heretofore, there have been difficulties;
there may be some at this time, owing to excite
ment in the South, but that will soon cease, and
in a few months you will be perfectly au fait as
to all general dutits. As to your standing in
Pennsylvania, we have information to be relied
on: we believe your appointment would be
pleasing there, and the President desires to do
what will gratify that State. Apart from other
considerations, "the President’s own spontaneous
preference of you is a compliment not to be over
looked: you will derive credit from it. where you
are not known, amongst all who respect the pa
triotism and pure intentions, as well as the na
tural sagacity of the President. 1 am persuaded
that the appointment would be acceptable to ma
ny of the President’s most distinguished friends:
indeed, the fact, that he goes to the people, and
not to congress, to select, will give weight to the
choice. You will earn a high reputation in the
office proposed, and the labors will be less bur
densome than those to which you have been
accustomed, &c.’
“ I then said, ‘ that to tear up, as it were, by
the roots, my business in Philadelphia, on the
uncertainty, or even certainty, of continuing in
office here for four years, would be very impru
dent; that changes of residence, associations
and expenditure, were sound objections; that
friends to me, ought not to urge a proceeding
of so doubtful a character,’ &c.
“ To this it was replied, ‘that every man ow
ed something to his country; that even on the
question of mere interest, the change would be
advantageous; that I might be certain of em
ployment for four years; that the mode of living
was that of a private gentleman in Philadelphia;
that by identifying myself with General Jackson
and his friends, and making a sacrifice, if it
was one, I established a claim for continuance
in this, or appointment to some other station.’
‘‘ 1 closed by saying, ‘ that, out of thankful
ness and a desire to make a return for such con
fidence, my heart urged me to say ‘yes,’ but my
head by no means assented; that it would be
rude as well as unkind to the President to de
cide at once, and upon so sudden an appeal, on
so serious a subject; and that, therefore, I would
reflect.’ ”
Such, fellow-citizens, is a brief but faithful re
presentation of the manner in which I was in
j vited to enter the cabinet. My disinclination to
i take office as above expressed, remained unal
tered. Valued friends, whom 1 consulted, ex
erted themselves to induce me to serve; and,
when 1 was called upon for a decision, on the
30th of January 1833, I reluctantly consented.
When my consent was given, the President, on
the 1st of February, caused his satisfaction to
be expressed at my determination, and his
“ wishes that it might confer a luting benefit
upon the country and myself When i saw
him in March, he reiterated what had been be
fore communicated to me, assuring me: that Ihe
liad himself selected my name from the list be
fnrp him This declaration he also made to
several™? our mutual friends whom might
name if needful, and who, I doubt not, when
thev see this letter, will be mortified to find, that
there* should have arisen the least necessity to
sustain what never should have been brought in
question. But if any thing 4s necessary to
prove that the President spontaneously selected
me, I refer to his own letter to me of the 17tn
July last, in which he avows the fact, and gives,
amongst other reasons, for the selection, his de
siie to elevate a name, which, although in an
humble sphere, had earned reputation in the
eyes of the people.
Yet in utter disregard of all these facts, he has
the hardihood to assert, in his official paper of
the 20th December last, that I “ palmed myself,
or was palmed upon him.”
Feb. 20. 1834. WM. J. DUANE.
MAJOR DOWNING’S CORRESPONDENCE.
To my old friend, Mr. Dwight, of the New-York
Daily Advertiser.
Washington, 14 February, 1834.
Ever since I have been in the Government, I
never have had so much on my hands as I have
since I wrote you my last letter. Folks are
pourin in here from all quarters, and bringin
petitions and memorials—some on em jest as
much as a man can lift, and when they come to
stretch them out, they kiver all Congress. Most
all the Committees that come on here call to see
me and the Gineral, and the work of presentin
them to the Gineral has kept me busy enuff I tell
you. The first and bigest Committee that came
here was from the New York Merchants and
Traders. 1 teli’d the Gineral, says I, Now, Gi
neral, is our time to brush up all we know about
trade and mony business; for, says I, them New
Yorkers every one of ’em has got his eye teeth
cut, and they haint come down here at this sea
son threw the mud for nothin, says I; and as they
are cornin’ to see us to-morrow, we better spring
to it now, says I. Gineral, and get every thing
cut and dried for ’em; and so 1 and the Gineral
went to work makin a kinder sham fight on’t. I
see pretty quick it wouldn’t do, for the Gineral
would fly right olf the handle, and talk about
Glory, and New Orleans, and Reform, and about
his rights, and his Government, and the cheat
experiment, a^id wind up by blowin’ Squire Did
dle all to splinters. Now, says I. Gineral, that
won’t do at all, says I; them aint the kind offolks
to talk to so; they haintcome here to talk about
Glory;” they have got enuf of that, says I, in
New York already; and Reform too, says I.
Why, says I, Gineral, my friend Zekel Bigelow
tells me there is so much of that in New York,
that folks are brakin all to bits there, and it lias
crowded every dollar out of trade. Now, says
l, l guess the best way for us is to hear what
these New Yorkers have got to say, and then
bow ’em o;F as quick as possible; and don’t ask
’em any questions, and they won't ask us any;
for if they git us on that tack, says 1. we’ll go
bump ashore now, 1 tell you; and so the Gineral
began to think that was the besi, way, and if he
was to say any thing in reply, it would be the
old story; and the Gineral has tell’d that over so
often, I think he could say every word on't in
his sleep.
Well, the next mornin’ sure enuf I sec ’em
comin, and I call’d the Gineral, and he took his
stand right in the middle of the room, and I stood
a leetle ahead on him, ’twixt him and the door;
and in they come, jest for all the world as folks
come to meeting; and I turn’d to and introduc
ed ’em to the Gineral, and we shook hands all
round. The Gineral is plagy cunuin in such
times; he was mad enuf to snap his Hickory
right in two pieces, but he put on a plagy good
natur’d look, and as soon as we got threw sha
kin hands, one on ’em—a rale spunky lookin
critter, just about sieh another lookin chap as
’Squire Biddle, and talk’d about as glib about
atony matters—be step’d out, and spoke for the
rest on ’em, and he went on now jest as cool as
;hough he hadn’t lost a dollar since we begun the
war. He was as civil, too, as you ever see; he
tell’d the Gineral pretty much how things was
workih, and how they was goin to work; and
when he came to speak of the Ginerul s grand
experiment, he teil’d him pritty plain it wouldn’t
work right. The Gineral wa -> jest a goin to let
mm nave ms huiiuh-*, uui i |»un mm
by the coat, and he slop’d; but as soon as he got
threw and bow’d, the Gineral began and tell’d
him the first go off he was mistaken—that there
warn’t a man in ttie 1m l State of I'ennessee
know’d half so much about banks and banking,
;i rid trade, as he did; and so long as he was Pre
sident, he’d let folks know what was the rale
meanin of “.Government.” “ Biddle was a mon
ster, and so was the Bank. Calhoun was a ras
cal, and so was Clay, and Webster, and Mc
Duffie, and the hull raft of the opposition; and
what puzzled him most, was to find out which
was the biggest rascal, the Bank or ary one of
them other fellows; and he’d put ’em all down
afore he was done with ’em. Haint I saved the
country,” says the Gineral, “more than fifty
times; if it had’nt been for me,” says he, “ the
Ingins would now be in W all street, skalpin all
on°you, and the British would be all over Ken
tucky, and Tennessee, and Virginny.” And so
the Gineral went on, and I couldn’t stop him till
he got right into “Glory,” and so I thought ’twas
best to begin to bow the folks off; and by the
time the Gineral got threw, he and I had it all to
ourselves, and we sat down. The Gineral he
was a good deal struck up and beat out. but he
is as tuff as all natur, and can go threw jest such
a tug every day, ony give him a little time to
take wind; and so he took off his specks, and
went to rubbin ’em. and we begun to talk about
it. Says he, Major, 1 reckon I give ’em a ‘ ski
rey factious’ that time, did’nt I. You see. says
the Gineral, 1 asked ’em no questions, and that
kept things snug. Do you know. Major, says
the Gineral, 1 did’nt like the looks of that fellow
a bit who did all the talkin’ for his companions;
did you understand, Major, all that he tolled
about? says the Gineral. Pretty considerable,
says I. And so I tolled it all ovtnfto the Gineral
in my own way. Well, says the Gineral, 1 am
j glad I didn’t understand him, for now as you
tell it, it stumps me considerable. The Gineral
he sat still a moment, and begun to counton his
fingers; and to rights says he, Major, who was
that? Why, says 1, Gineral, he is the son of a
man I’ve heard you tell on a thousand times.—
And as soon as I spoke the name, the Gineral
he started up, and, says he, Major, ’tis impossi
; ble—what, the son of ***** ****!!
Why says he Major he was always one of my
best friends, and was jest the kind of man I lik
ed, he was as firm as granit, and knowed more
about banks & public matters than any man I
ever met—he was a rale patriot and an honest
man. Wei) says I Gineral, that you said; and I
have a notion too he was in favor of a National
Bank, and jestsich a one as we got now. That is
true enuff, says the Gineral, but that was when
• I thought jest so too; folks should change their
opinions Major, always when 11 The
changes theirn. Well says I, I did nt think
of thft I Wish says the Gineral I’d a known
who that chap was, I’d a made him shake m his
shoes for darin to jine them rascally Merchants
and Traders agin my experiment. I guess
savs I Gineral that would’nt a been an easy job,
fori kept my eye on that critur the hull time,
and kept thinkin all the while of what I ve hearn
you say about his father, and thinks I that s a
rale chip of the old block.” But says I, Gineral,
we’ve got more work to-morrow agin; there s
another mile of names, all Mechanics says I,
rale hard fisted fellows. What, says the Gine
ral, Mechanics Major!! And he sprang up and
danced round like a boy. Them are the fellows
Major, says he, strait from Tammany Hall, says
the Gineral,now you’ll have another story Major,
None of your Traders and Marchants for me;
there aint a spark of Patriotism in the hull on
em; but the Mechanics—give me the Mechanics;
and now Major turn to and get TT table well
spread and dinner on it at 12 o’clock, that’s the
rale working man’s dinner hour; and let us put
on our old coats, and dont shave to-morrow
(the Gineral is plagy cunnin in sich matters.)—
So next day sure enuf in they come, and we
turned to shakin hands. “Aha, my friends, says
the Gineral, these are the hands I like to shake;
no glove work here; and, you are the men to tell
Congress what to do; and, says the Gineral, any
man in office from the President downward
ought to mind what you tell him ” And the
Gin’l he walk’d round among em and shook
hands agin, and slap’d em on the shoulders; and
took a quid of tobacco from one on em, and gin
another a chaw out of his own box; and was as
happy as you ever see, and spry as a cricket
too.
Now my friends, says the Gineral, lets talk
over public matters; and with that one on cm
step’d out and spoke for the rest, and I never in
my born days heard a critur of his looks and
trade talk so about Banks and money matters;
and he began back more than 30 years, when he
was printes, and come up all along, and he did
shave down and saw up party measures and
partyfolks, & dove-tail’d matters so, the Gineral
was stump’d; the Gineral walk’d up to him and
made plagy ugly faces at him; but the critur
went on and talk’d right up to the Gineral; and
there want a lump of sugar or a drop of ile in
the hull ont. As soon as he stop’d the Gineral
give him a hard look and says he “Stranger,
whats your trade?” “ A master Carpenter, Sir,
said he. I was your friend. Gineral, and every
man I employ’d was also, and we stuck to you
till the measures of your administration have
driven us out of employ, and here is a black
smith and here is a rope-maker.” And so he
went on pretty much threw all trades. “It gives
us pain, Gineral, to tell you that our families—
and here he stop’d—he tried to speak, but he
could’nt; he turn’d and walk’d to the window,
and come back and tried it agin; and as soon
a* he’d come to speak about unemployed work
men and their families, he’d choke right
up, and his lip would quiver so, I wasjist agoin
to step right up and tell the Gineral what this
man wanted to say; but he got on to rights him
self, and wound up by bringin his fist down on
the table. I had a notion it would go rite through,
and the Gineral’s hat on the table bounced up, 1
tell you; and says he, “ there must be a change,
Gineral.” The Gineral didn’t like the looks and
talk of this critur nigh as well as the Merchants
and Traders man the day afore. lie tried ern
a spell with “glory and reform:” but that did’nt
do no good, and that got the Gineral’s dander
up too, and so says he, “ Strangers, the next
time you come to talk with ‘the Government,’
you must get your representatives to come with
you;” but they tell’d the Gineral they had mine,
and had’nt had any for a long while; but they
would aider next election.
The Gineral took the hint in a minit; and
says he, (for he was plaguy struck up by it) if
you dare change any of your representatives at
the next election (except one)—I’ll put your ci
ty, the hull scrape on’t, over on my friend Swart
wout’s meadows in Jarsy. I’ll let you know that
1 am tryin an experiment and will try it; come
what will I’ve said 1 would, and right or rong
I’ll do it, if I die ten thousand Spanish Inquisi
tions. And now strangers clear out and go
home; and as soon as the Gineral put on his hat,
they put on theirn, and walk’d out; but it did
make me feel plagy sad and heavy to see folks
come so fur threw the middle of winter, and go
home empty handed. The Gineral was in a
. i i i __ . 11 J__1 ~..T l-i Af..
prsfty UilU leilipt'l UII uay, anu » an i, um x»j.i .
Van Buren and some of the Congressmen from
York State come in and made clear weather
agin, by tellin us they expected evry minit ano
ther Committee from New York, of the rale
stuff and no mistake about’em, and rite strait
from Tammany Hall too; and they read over
the names. “There, that one, says Mr. Van
Buren, is an old friend of mine; he was Mayor
once, and is now a Banker; he knows every
thing, and can tell in a minit the difference be
tween a crooked account and a f'vir business
transaction. And here is another; he sent us a
big ball’d headed Eagle once, Gineral, don’t
you remember?—and, by the by, “ Major,” says
lie. he is one of your countrymen; and the rest,
says Mr. Van Buren, are all to be depended on;
the first people of the city, in fact the party,
couldn’t hang together without ’em. Well, says
the Gineral, this is somethin like; and now, says
he, the best way would be, when they come, to
let Congress out, and let all our folks have a hol
low-day. Well sure enuf they have come, and
we’ve have had some on ’em here; but I haint
got time to tell you about it in this letter, but will
in my next. And I’ve got something to tell you
too about a new man, just come here all the
way from Ireland: his name is Dennis M’Loo
ny: he is a good natured critter, and the Gine
ral likes him nigh about as much as he does me.
1 don’t know what he is arter, and the Gineral
don’t nother; but he says he can do pritty much
any thing, and he tells some plagy funny stories
for us. We haint got no office fur him yit; but
there will be some holes soon to fill up here, and
by his tell he can fit plagy nigh any place.
Yours, &c. J. DOWNING, Major,
Downingville Militia 2d Brigade.
MECHANICS’ BANK.
AN Election will be held at the Banking House
on the second Monday of March next, the
10th inst., for fifteen Directors, agreeably to
charter. THOS. VOWELL, Cashier,
feb 8—6t(8.15,24Feb&6,8,10Mar)
National Intelligencer 3t; once in Febru
ary, and 1st and 2d Monday in March.
TO RENT,
And possession (riven on the 22d instant,
MThat well known STAND formerly oc
cupied by Dominie Barcroft, deceased, as a
Refectory and Oyster House, and more recently
by Mr. John West as a Tavern; for either of
which purposes it is well suited, being in the im
mediate vicinity of the Market House. For
terms apply to EDW’D. BURCHELL,
jan 13—eo2wGuardian.
CLOVER SEED,
IN lots to suit purchasers, by
feb 17 S. MESSERSMITH,
THE LATE MR. WIRT.
Ill the House of Representatives on Friday
when the Speaker called the House to ordeV
Mr. Adams (of Mass.) addressed him, before J,.
reading of the Journal, as follows:
Mr. Speaker: A rule of this House direct*
that the Speaker shall examine and correct'fj,'
Journal before it is read. 1 therefore now j jsk
not to make a motion, nor to offer a resolution
but to ask the unanimous consent of this Ho,,';
to address to you a few words, with a view
an addition which I wish to be made to the Jon
nal, of the adjournment of the House yesterriaV
The Speaker, I presume, would not fee)
self authorized to make the addition in the j(M1‘
nal which 1 propose, without the unaninion
consent of the House; and I therefore now ,
pose it before the reading of the Journal.
I ask that, after the statement of the adjourn
ment of the House, there be added to the i0ur
nal words, importing that it was to "ive n„
Speaker and Members of the House the oprKj,
tunity of attending the funeral obsequies of vi/r,
liam Wirt.
At the adjournment of the House on Wednn
day, 1 did not know what the arrangerne-,
were, or would be, for that mournful ceremcm
Had I known them, l should have moved a pm
ponedadjournment, which would have eim
us to join in the duty of paying the last
of respect to the remains of a man w ho uas\
ornament of his country and of human nati . ..
The customs of this and of the other ih
of Congress, warrant the suspension of •
daily labors in the public service, for attend,::,
upon funeral rites, only in cases of the dec,
of their own members. To extend the m. r*
farther might he attended with inconvenk*i
as a precedent, nor should I have felt m v-,
warranted in asking it upon any common oeu
sion.
Mr. Wirt had never been a member of ?iL -
House of Congress. But if his form in mar: •
or his portrait upon canvass, were placed u.:
in these walls, a suitable inscription for it w,
be that of the statue of Moliere in the Hali r
t lir. ti’ionrh Amrlpinv—u Ynthintr was v .
to /</.s* glory. He was wanting to um>.‘5
Mr. Wikt had never been a member of C :
gress; but for a period of twelve years, dui...
two successive Administrations ofthe Natic.j
Government, he liad been the official and <■
fidential adviser, upon all questions of law.
the Presidents of the United States; and he i
discharged the duties of that station entire:; ;
the satisfaction of those officers and of the (
try. No member of this House needs to be
minded how important are the duties of the
torney General ofthe United States, noi j
contradiction in affirming that they were in
more ably or more faithfully discharge ! >
by Mr. Wirt.
If a mind stored with all the learning a;..
priate to the profession of the law. am' <_ ■. •
ed wit.i all the elegance of classical iiter.:*,
if a spirit imbued with the sensibilities of a
ty patriotism, and chastened by the nicdita;,,
of a profound philosophy—if a brilliant imag
nation, a discerning intellect, a sound judgim
an indefatigable capacity, and vigorous cm:
of application, vivified v ith an ease and rap.
ty of elocution, copious without redundance
and select without affectation—if all these tim
ed with a sportive vein of humor, an inoffeiiw
temper, and an angelic purity of heart
all these in their combination are the quahte
suitable for an Attorney General of the Unit
States—in him. they were all eminent!} con.
ed.
But it is not my purpose to pronounce
eulogy. That pleasing task has been as>:::
to abler hands, and to a more suitable occa*:
He will there be presented in other, thong .
less interesting, lights. As the penetrating
lineatorof manners and character in the /
tish Spy—as the biographer of Patrick Her.r
dedicated to the young men of your native Co.
monwealth—as the friend and delight ofthe*
cial circle—as the husband and father in t:.e1
som of a happy, but now most afflicted family-;
in all these characters I have known, admit't
and loved him—and now, witnessing, from
very windows of this Hall, the last act of }>■
and affection over his remains. 1 have felt.*
this House could scarcely fulfil its high and 1
ruble duties to the country which lie had j-rve
without some slight, be it a transient, not e
his decease. The addition which I prop"**
the Journal of yesterday *s adjournment, wot
such a notice. It would give his name an!
rable place on the recorded annals of his (
try, in a manner equally simple an<! exj ( '
I will only add that, while I feel it peculiar}'1
cumbent upon me to make this proposal. I
sensible that it is not a fit subject for »!e Al
and if objected to. I desire you to consider
withdrawn.
The CHAIR stated that the rule in refer
to the Journal which had been read, reh'ie
the duties of the Speaker when out of the C
not in it. The Speaker had not felt I''
warranted to insert my further record n
Journal of yesterday, than the simple 'ac!
adjournment; but if it was the pleasim1^
House that the clause proposed shouu*
ded. the Chair would most cheerfully as'0
Mr. J. Iv. MANN. of'Pa.. objecting- I
Mr. BLAIR, of S. C. enquired whetlie*.
pleasure of the House could be obstrut tu
the objection of a single member?
The CHAIR said, that if a motion
made, a majority of the House could, j'1-1 ";r
have their Journal modified to suit t*i*
pleasure. , , 1 ;
Mr. ADAMS then observed, that lie
ed no objection would have been made,
seemed not to be sustained by the gene1 • • .
of the House, he would renew his ni1' Ir;;
the clause he had read be added to
of yesterday’s proceedings. -
The question being put, it was a- It,
with a division (by nearly an unannno —.
TURKS ISLAND SALT.
4 000 Bushels Turks Island Sa^.
In Store, . ff >u::
A lot of OARS, from 18 to 26
able for Fishermen._l—
FURNITURE. ds
Q Sideboards; 8 Bureaus; 6 V\ ash*
O Dinner and Breakfast Tables
1 Centre do pj-er
Plain, painted, and curled nM|»*
post Bedsteads
Maple high-post do rhairs
Common rush and cane-seat • -
Also, on
One second-hand Gig, with Harn •
signment, and for sale, low, for ca>'..rmfi
feb 18_ GEO-jj, '
WAS PICKED DP, .
IN the River, some time since, a ropert}'^’
the owner can have by prov 1 n^J.t.riber,r‘" [
aying expenses. Apply to the
ocharbour, Mrs. Lloyd’s P^c tt\t plSH*’
feb 21—3t JUil*
1 Li