of dissolute Franks about him, with half the in. The exercise then of this power should Sovereign contempt, with which he looks be restricted and guarded in every possible upon all bipeds, not fed like himself from manner. This thing may have gone too far the public crib. Those only who have trav- already. Even now the tide of corruption elled in Europe, or upon Canadian waters, may be too strong to be easily stemmed. and have themselves experienced this spe- The secret history of most Government apcies of impertinence, can appreciate it. We pointments and expenditures would if known can imagine nothing more outrageously vex- not only be startling to our national confiing, than the insolence of a conceited, and dence, but humiliating to our national pride. often low bred sub-official, dressed in a It is to be feared, that we have already wanlittle brief authority." dered far from the paths of rectitude trodden Another very material objection is, that it by the patriarchs of our confederacy. In would vastly increase the executive patron- this peculiarly progressive age, nothing seems age. The appointing power is already so to have progressed more surely and swiftly extended as to be excessively onerous and than official vice. Practices are not only embarrassing to any honest administration, tolerated, but looked upon with complacenand a dangerous tool in the hands of a cor- cy, that in their days would have called forth rupt and disigning one. Even now, a large a torrent of indignant denunciation from portion of the time of every new administra- every quarter of the land. Where is this to tion is abstracted from its legitimate duties, end? and employed in dividing the various offices. All remember how easily an obscure denamong the clamorous applicants. It is in-tist robbed the Government of half a mildeed a mortifying spectacle, to behold the lion. It is true he had to commit perjury President and cabinet turning from the high to obtain it, but with the bright examples of behests of their official stations; to parcel progression before us, how long will this be out the crumbs of office among the greedy a barrier? I venture the prediction that the claimants; to become literal feeders of the successful issue of two or three more such ravenous pack that surrounds the Govern- magnificent frauds, would make such perjury ment sop bowl, and clamors vociferously for fashionable! its contents. Shall we, then, instead of making efforts to relieve ourselves from this millstone of official vice that is weighing us down to the slough of corruption, attach it still more firmly to our necks? Must we go on adding fuel to the malignant fire, that may be already eating out the very heart of our national life? And in this connection should we not do well to consider the pernicious effects of the expenditure by Government of the immense sums necessary to build the roads upon our political virtue? Upon the political virtue of our people rest the pillars of our national greatness. Destroy that and they inevitably We may observe the baneful effect of this fall, and not only our glorious constitution, species of corruption in the State of Newbut the very hope of constitutional liberty York. Besides the vast works owned by the throughout the world, and for coming centuries, will be buried beneath their ruins. State, under the superintendence of a small army of officers, her commercial position There is no greater danger to our civil makes her the recipient of a large share of fedliberties than the exercise of executive pat- eral patronage. All this has of late been ronage by unworthy hands, and the disburse-thrown to the Democratic party and has been ment of great sums through Government the cause of its overthrow. The great Demagents. In a defensive war, this Union is ocratic party of that state lies sundered in able to beat back the armies of the civilized twain, and the rival factions are berating world; and late experiences have proved her each other with a malignant ferocity far equally safe from malcontents within. But transcending all previous specimens of partihere is a danger greater, because insidious, san abuse and denunciation. And this which, while we may be watching on the quarrel, in spite of the very extraordinary outer battlements, may be slowly but surely free soil platform in 1847 and 8 or the sapping the foundations of the citadel with- various phases the rival factions have as sumed since has not had an atom of prin-countered such continued, earnest, and even ciple involved in it, but it has been solely (and bitter hostility from the Democratic Party. bodily) an attack on the treasury of the Could it therefore change its position upon it, country. A mere contention over the flesh without exhibiting the most glaring and pots of federal and State patronage. lamentable inconsistency? ་་ But it is urged the proposition is now fence. Is this at all novel? Could not the But," exclaims some immaculate, "these were New-York politicians-we should be brought forward as an arm of military desuperior to such things." Beware the trial. Many of unblemished integrity be- same pretext be used in favor of the Cumfore the tempter came, have bowed before berland road-and was it not used? Could his presence. When the Prophet Elisha not the same pretext be made to justify the told Hazael of Syria the enormities which expenditure of some millions on Porter's "AEROPORT" on the plea that when suche foresaw the latter would commit, Hazael cessful, it could hover over a hostile fleet, and stood aghast with horror. His heart then uncorrupted could not believe it possible that his mind could conceive, or hands commit, drop hot shot, shells, &c., directly upon their decks? What mad scheme indeed could not be such enormities; and he exclaimed in indig-bear but a slight relation to the ulterior ohjustified on the same pretext? Pretexts often nant astonishment, "what-is thy servant a dog, that he should do this thing?" ject. Many years since a company in NewYork wanted a charter for a Bank-perpetYet the result shows how little he knew ual if possible. Knowing the probable hostil of the latent depravity of his heart-that he ity of the Legislature-especially to the latter needed but temptation and opportunity to proposition, they seemed the aid of the celbecome the bloody remorseless tyrant fore-ebrated and crafty Aaron Burr. He comtold by Elisha. "He murdered the King, menced by drawing up a plausible memorial and," continues the sacred narrator "usurping to the Legislature, setting forth the great his authority, smote the children of Israel benefits that would enure to the city of Newthroughout all their coasts. He devastated York from a supply of pure water,-that their land as with fire; filled their rivers a company of individuals from motives of with blood; levelled their strong places; pure philanthropy, proposed to supply this slew their young men ; dashed out the brains great desideratum; but that they could not of children; defiled the virgins; and with hope to carry out their benevolent designs, bloody hands tore the quickening child from the mother's womb" ! without a charter sufficiently liberal to leave their benevolence as unshackeled as possiUpon that vital objection, the want of con- ble; and which should allow them the use stitutional power, we propose to be brief. of such collateral means as they might need Without hinting at our own private opinions in carrying out their humane intentions: upon this matter, we would remark that upon and considering, too, the excellent motives of this very question, the party of the present the company, that their charter might be administration has long since taken a most perpetual. The memorial was of course unequivocal position. Political history shows, signed by every citizen, and forwarded to that during General Jackson's administra- Albany accompanied by a form of charter, tion, this was one of the most severely con- incorporating certain men their successors tested issues between the two parties. The &c., for the purposes, and with the privileges messages of that executive are especially set forth in the memorial, "as long as wood emphatic against, not only the power-but grew and water ran." The charter conthe policy of using the public money for templating so good an object of course purposes of internal improvement. There passed. The company took prompt meais no doubt that upon this issue he was as sures for supplying pure spring water tostrongly supported by the Democratic party, some half a dozen families; while one of press and statesmen, as upon any other of the collateral" means of effecting this ob his extremely popular administration. In ject was the establishment of the "MANfact, there are few propositions that have en- MOTH MANHATTAN BANK," with a capital of one million, and the only perpetual charter] washwoman by wearing his linen double in that State. And let us observe that the time. Here we find in the feature of intermilitary feature of the Pacific Railroad est so necessary to the economical construcbears about the same relation to the other tion of public works a ready solution of objects and uses, as the supplying of water their successful management. If there is does to other purposes of the Manhattan any open, or covert robbery there, it is the Banking Company. And let the friends of monarch's money that is taken; the interest this scheme reflect in their mad enthusiasm to prosecute, and the power to chastise is for its prosecution by Government that this united in the same person, and detection is would be the precursor of a thousand schemes followed by immediate, and vindictive punwhich by dishonest and log rolling com-ishment. But would it be so here? Bebinations, would be forced through Congress, tween 1830 and 40 between two and three and which would soon degrade our present millions were "defaulted" from the United high financial position to utter impoverish- States. Where are the perpretrators of ment, bankruptcy and ruin! these robberies? Are they in prison? Or We will in conclusion notice a mistake in exile? Are their descendants, even of the that people very naturally make in consid- first generation, "visited with the sins of ering the expediency of Government con- their fathers?" Have they not on the connection with this road. Seeing the despotic trary openly dared conviction, and defied the Governments of Europe engage in works of Government? Are not they, and their dethis kind which are efficiently built, and scendants, holding their heads high among properly managed, they imagine our Gov- the undefiled, the honorable, and the honest. ernment could be equally successful, with- ones of the land? Has not Government out considering the difference in the consti- been exerting its mortal energies for the last. tuents of the two forms of Government. two years in attempting to convict the obThere the country is under the control of a scure dentist before alluded to, without avail, single family or dynasty, which considers the and that too when his criminality is appawhole country, its rescources &c., in the light rent to every man woman and child in the of a family inheritance. The present occu- whole Union? Judging from antecedents, pant, therefore, feels the natural desire of might not every contractor on this proposed passing it unimpaired to his successors. Government Railroad, cheat the public out Many again, as Peter the Great, and the of his fifty thousand, -every engineer his present Czar of Russia, and Napoleon the hundred thousand,—and every grand disburGreat, have the same inordinate thirst for sor his half a million, without any other reimproving their Empires, that the present sult than the eclat of additional wealth, and Occupant of family estates frequently exhib-the high distinction for ability that their finanit, with the same strict reference to the cial operations would be sure to give them? cost of the improvement and its ultimate Government might, indeed, prove its impoefficiency. The lust of Monarchs is power, tency by the expenditure of an additional the maintainance of large Armies and Na- half-dozen millions, in the vain attempt to vjes. Money is the chief means of gratify- convict them, but would it be judicious to ing this lust. When therefore their funds expend so large an amount, in proving a fact, are diverted for purposes of improvement, THAT IS ALREADY SO CLEARLY ESTABLISHED? the disbursement is either grudingly watched, Can any disinterested person, therefore, to limit the amount, or its expenditure is in view of the many conclusive objections closely watched, that it may go as far as to Government interference in this enterpossible. Emperors with millions in their prise, be willing to consent to any associacoffers, are often the most penurious of men. tion with it, except on the ground of absolute Frederic the Great, with ample means, and necessity? an unlimited control over the resources of his subjects, for the purpose of setting an example of economy to his Army, lived on! less than a shilling a day; and cheated his MRS. EMILY JUDSON. which she felt to be vain. It is a moving fact that when she thus wrote, the object of her tenderest love had passed from earth, I know not how they may affect others, though she knew it not. The poem was but it seems to me that the English language originally intended for the eye of a tender fails to offer anything more touching than mother alone, and it is only "since death has these two simple little poems, when read removed the seal of secresy," that they have in immediate connection-written as they been given to the world. were without reference to each other-the first when the heart of Fanny Forrester bounded with girlish delight; the last in after life, when in failing health the missionary's wife sank beneath trials greater than she could bear. NOT A POET. I am a little maiden, Who fain would touch the lyre; I'm told that joyous spirits, I hope they'll not awaken I'd never be a poet, And while the spring time lingers I fain would learn the music The following lines were the unrestrained out-pouring of her soul, when, left alone at Maulmain, she had seen her husband depart to his native country in a search for health, SWEET MOTHER. The wild south-west monsoon has risen, Upon the low thatched roof, the rain My choicest treasures bear its stains; Sweet mother, I am here alone. In sorrow and in pain; The sunshine from my heart has flown; Four laggard months have wheeled their round, And everything of earth has frowned On thy poor stricken child, sweet friend, I'd watched my loved one night and day, And when they bore him to the ship, I kissed his speechless, quivering lip, When from my gentle sister's tomb, Then, mother, little Charley caine, Our beautiful, fair boy, With my own father's cherished name : His little grave I cannot see, Though weary months have sped And whispered, "He is dead!"-Mother' I do not mean for one like me- But for a bright-winged bird like him, To hush his joyous song, And prisoned in a coffin dim, Join Death's pale phantom throng-my boy To join that grizzly throng! O, mother, I can scarcely bear To think of this to-day! It was so exquisitely fair, That little form of clay-my heart And when for one loved far, far more, I sink beneath my fears, sweet friend, O, but to feel thy foud arms twine It almost seems those lips of thine But, gentle mother, through life's storms, With weary foot and broken wing, Sweet mother, for thy wanderer pray, GENERAL DANIEL MORGAN. HIS PERSONAL TRAITS AND DWELLING-PLACE. (From the New-York Daily Times.) In the valley of the Shenandoah, not far from the little village of Millwood, and within an hour's ride of that Greenway Court lately discoursed of, stands an old Revolutionary edifice, which attracts the attention of all who pass by it. A road winding pleasantly over little hillocks, and crossing a lucid stream which meanders through a grassy meadow, leads you to the old building. The house is of stone; the weather-embrowned portico, half covered with clambering vines; the tall chimneys, wholly unlike those of the present day, as are all the appurtenances of the mansion. Entering the portal, with its old fashioned folding door and stone threshold, you come upon a species of hall very often found in Virginia houses-almost universally in those which date far back into the past, and this hall is the centre, into which debouch, so to speak, the various apartments of the mansion. Turning to the left you enter a small octagon-shaped room, convertible at pleasure into a student's library, a soldier's armory, or a lady's boudoir, and suitable alike for all from its pleasant situation and comfortable arrangement. Opening the door on the right hand you find yourself in an apartment which evidently was intended to serve the purpose of a dining room, especially on all occasions when a larger number of persons than usual were to sit at the broad board. This apartment is very large, and has all the peculiarities observable in houses of the Revolutionary era. The ceiling is lofty, the floor of dark polished oak, the windows tall and few in number, the wainscoting of walnut, and extending unTHE BEGGAR'S OPERA.-Gay got four hundred pounds broken around the whole apartment to the by the first Beggar's Opera, and eleven or twelve hun-height of what is called the chair-board. The dred pounds by the second; this opera caused considerable bustle. In the year 1773, Sir John Fielding told the fire-place, very broad and high, is surmounted bench of justices, that he had written to Mr Garrick, by a tall, narrow mantelpiece, with all manconcerning the impropriety of performing the Beggar's ner of curious carving, and above the manOpera, which never was represented on the stage without That she inay lean on heaven-her heart Once, when young Hope's fresh morning dew To work at heaven's behest-my pains All fearfully, all tearfully Alone and sorrowing, My dim eye lifted to the sky, Fast to the cross I cling-O, Christ' Maulmain, August 7th, 1850. R. N. R. creating an additional number of thieves; and they par- tel-piece the ornamental wood-work reaches ticularly requested that he would desist from performing to the ceiling, where wood and stone striking that opera on a Saturday evening. Such, also, were the against each other, break, as Mr. RUSKIN fears of the church, as to the effect of this musical drama, that Dr. Herring, then Archbishop of Canterbury, would say, into a long line of spray and foam, the vagary of the skilful artist's chisel. preached a sermon against it. |