t
I'
UNION. THE CONSTITUTION. AND THE LAWS THE GUARDIANS OF OUB LIBERTY
Vol. XVIII.
TIU'CSDAV. JITXC 7, 1S38.
IVo. 23.
XXafcIt Ilrrakiu?.
A TALE OF A COUNTRY TOWN.
. t mas. or.
Th ery day after Saville's arrival,
hrever. ia walking down th High
Street with Sir Peregrine, they encoun
trrrd Mica Ogleby, who. when she at
i about yesr ago. In J mei
Siville at lit Riley': aba eagerly eeiz
cJ hi bant! anJ congratulated him on bit
ai-juiiti'n of fortune, an event which,
a!it said.' hI been commuuicaitd lo her
a short nut ago in letter from ber dear
voting friend, Marr Jnt Riley. Saville
c lulJ have eparrd her presence and bcr
congratulations, but lit saw that be bad no
resource but t be extremrly civil to brr. :
and thereby engage brr in hia inicreau;
accordingly he aalcd ber if aba had tten
ti.mrd the circumsfanc to any one in Al
liaghaut, and when alio replied in thene
(Mire, earnestly requeued her lo keep it
secret during hia auy. This Misa Ogle
by instantaneously promised, and vith
the fulleat inteiilion f performing brr
promise: aba never liked to talk about
an one's good fWluns to much at ll.tir
bad. and the good fortune of Sail!e
would bare been particularly du agreeable
! ber, because ahe lilt convinced that,
as toon aa Mia. Stajdrton bora me ac
quainted with it, vbe would invite liiia to
ber houte, throw Rote ia hie war, and
vrrv likely completely console him for
the lost ol Miss Anna Maria Riley. Miaa
Ogleby remembered that Shakespeare,
that wonderful maaternf tlie human Itesrt,
bad made Romeo's ardent passion for Ju
liet immediately succeed to. disappoint-
ment ia Kotalind; and aba apprehended
that the artleae, blooming, and unsoplus
ticated beauty of Allingharo might, by a
similar process, banish -from Saville's
memory, ti.o artificial, over-dressed, se-mi-fine
lady of llloomsbury. Miaa Ogle
by only departed from ber bond of con
cealment an far at to reveal the circum
atancea of the eaae to Miaa Ma! ford, who
eagerly united wi'h her in the cxpedien-
cy of never breathing thcin to any person
in Jlllingnam, especially tlie stapletons. fooa maicn possrsteq oy " sweei loveiy
The next day, Miis Olcby called on Roe" beyond the af.ireiaij poor dear
Mrt. Stapleton, and mentioned, with Anna Maria," that Mrs. Stsplcnn work
teeming care letMie t, that Sir Peregrine j eJ herself up to a pitch of thorough dit
had a verr thr. ttunid vnun? man ttar-' dain and hard beartedneas. Saville call
T i. . I
ing with him, whom the bad met in Lon-1
dmi. and he forthwith did the honors of!
In mall aiuiatinn in the India ll.tute, 'entered the drawing-room, caught a and hand-writing, and fervently wished
S'id his rejection by Anns Maria Riley, glimpse of the retreating while mulin that Miss Maliord would leave both uf
silling that it wat rery silly of him w ! dress of the banished Rose. Mrs. Sta-j them alone.
be breaking his heart about the matter, j pleton received hint with a frown, att-j I have the greatest respect fur your
f.r that dear Anns Miri had neer given swered him in monosyllables, and looked judgment, my dear friend," said Miss
bi n the least encouragement, and wat at it her watch tcven limes during the ten jOglrby, (for when these ladies were
lppy as the day was long with Mr. minutes to which he limited his stay. j mutually concerned in any plot of mis
ll.i'json, who had the spirit of a prince,! Poor Saville wat deeply wounded and 'chief, they were as afioctionaie as doves
and would look ten years younjer than 1 disconcerted. As Sir Peregrine bad com-j to each other.) but I confess I hardly
'"he was. it it were not that he was soj pany that day, he had no opportunity of J tee the policy -of addressing an offer of
auaziogty stout." The ladies were not j speaking to him till the ensuing morning; j marriage in Saville's name to Rote
prepossessed in Saville's favor by this ac-j but si breekfitt he made know n to him j Stapleton -it seems lo me a scheme more
count of him; and although they were in j his intention of quitting Allingham ilia: likely to make a match than to break
hit company ihree times the next week, ; next day, never lo return to it while Rote j one."
there appeared no chance of a close inti-! remained Mitt Stapleton. Sir Peregrine j Saville's heart beat quickly al the " one
nary between him and Kose. Miss;
t)jleh wa eoncianilv at her aiil. rU v.!
ing Saville whenever he approached in j
no very meatured termt on his ill late in j
lnvig been crossed in love, and making j
dilicatclv nlaiful allusions lo crcen wil-
l-tw. nin'iiiff swains, and Darbarv Al-
len's cruelty." j
Saville, however, was s completely fa-
ciuated with Rose at the iiinlers could ,
luve feared, but he was timid, silent, and er in good time, oivuie nau resoivea
easily kept al a distance. Mrt. Staple- not lo pay any farewell visits in Ailing
ton treated him with all the freezing con-! Iam; but on second thoughts he deter
strained civility which she considered the mined to" c:.ll on Miss Ogleby, whose fi
proper portion of a young man possess-' del ity in keeping his secret demanded
ing so very amsll a life income that it j some lit'le return or attention from him.
wnnl.l 1k t'mn,c;t.i mpii in sniieeze i lit knocked st her door.. Her footboy
settlement out of it in the shape of life-
insurance, and Rose felt no great interest'
in the viaim of the cruelty of a Ouilford I
street Anna Miria. who had refused him,
in fnvor of a fit elderly common-council-
innn. Kose and oavnie, nowever, were
w a 'ii. ...
destined to become better acquainted.
Erery year the town of Allingham was
enlivened by a visit from, the country yeo
manry, and they were certainty very
musing, not from the similarity ol tneir,
...... ,
m ivenenis to those ol the military, uut carus which ana. uiiey nu i-.i-.j nr.
from their utter dissimilitude. j Aided on him, and feared that Mrs. Sta-
At the conclusion of their visit, they j pltton might despatch some lendvtly-apo-,
favored the inhabitants of Allingham with j logetic billet lo London after him, which
sham fight, (a verv sham one Indeed.) ' might put his fortitude to the test. He
which took place in" a large field about aj returned to the door, but did not again
mile from the town, and it was tlie cus- knock at it. The footbny. who was a
torn lor the beautv and fashion of Ailing- marvellously small personengaged on
ham to attend, to'wiiness their harmless! marvellously "small wages,, did most
attacks and powerless defences. The rc-j ihings in a very clumsy manner, and tn
iew was at this time about to take place, ead of shutting the door sfter Saville,
snd Sir Peregrine had promised to con-, bad left it ajar. Contequetilly btf f nier
veif Mr. s.,r,t.ii .ml her daughter to fd unseen by any body, into Miss Ogle-
Ihe scene of action. Accordingly his ba-
rouche and curricle drove up lo the door,
and Mr. Stapleton found that she was
expected to occupy a seat in the former,
with Sir Peregrine and a married couple
in the neighborhood, while Saville was
til h,u ika ntoaaill n(Tii nf llriVllO
Rose in the curricle. It was too late to
make any objection to this plan, and ll e
paries proceeded on their destination
S vilie's spirits were exhilarated by
th fineness of the morning, the novelty
of the scene, and the society of the love
ly girl beside him; he became very agree
able, and raited himself considerably in
the opinion of his fair companion.
Two daya afterwarJs SaviH had an
other opportunity of being is company
with Itose, without being hauuted by the
intervening abadataa of the match-breaker.
The married couple who occupi
ed a pari of Sir Peregrine's barouche, on
the occasion of the review, had organiz
ed aa impromptu pic-nie party for the
neit day but one, into which the lady ve
hrmemly proposed Alias Ogleby and
Me Malford ahou'.d pot be admitted, for
ahe had every reason toauapecl tliat they
had spoiled a match for her youngest sis
ler. by git in the irreaoluie admirer lone
and exaggerated details of one of her for
mer flirtation. The div ffroballr ow-
ing la the very abort notice that had been
fiven of the pic-nie pirtj ) was splendid
ly fine, Rote and Saville were in inti
mate association the whole of it; they
walked home arm-in-arm, and before the
cha of the evening the faithless heroine
vi me vfcning uib laiintras itrroine
uioomaoury was lorgtven oy oaviue, T
and lorgotten by JCote. Mra. Staplrton. i
row ever, now oegan to look very awfyl
snd dis4pproving, and took leave of Sa
villa with marked coldness. He com
plained of thia to Sir Peregrine, and the
gond-natured barontt, who by this lime
was quite cured ot bis pitting pasaion for
Rote, earnestly recommended his young
friend to make public at once the state ul
his pecuniary cirrumr tanees, and boldly
stand forward a candidate for the good
graces of both mother snd daughter; but
Seville felt all his horror of manusuvring
mamma and mercenary young ladies rc
turn upon him, and lie did not rest till he
had exaeted a freah promise from Sir Pe
regrine to preserve his secret inviolate.
The day after the pic-nie the town of
Allingham was full of the flirtation be
tween Mr. Saville and Mita Stapleton,
and the spinsters trembled with fear and
envy at lle tiding. Mist Ogleby imme
diately called oa Mrs. Stapleton. and so
forcibly dwelt on the demerits of Saville's
small income, aa earnestly recapitulated
Mr. Riley a horror leat " poor dear Anna
Maria should be induced to think of him,"
and so courteously dilated on the immea
surably superior pretentions to make a
I '
cl on her about an hour after the depar-
lure of the match breaker, and just as he I
in tain aitempieu to comoai me romantic
hiah-flown notions of his youne friend; I
and after a time suffered him to pursue
his own course, and to make preparations
lor his departure,
All now went on most prosperously
for the match breakers; they had done .
enough; all lhU remained for them was j
to keep quit. Whether they did keep j
qm:toj notshidl be disclosed lo the read-1
replied that she was not at home, but (
(knowing the preelection of his mistrets
for handsome young men") begged Saville
to walk iti and wait Jier return, which lie
assured him would lake place i few
minutes. Cunlle declined, ami wa.keu
a. a lit
to the end of the street; but presently he
reflected that he' should like to caution
Miss Ogleby not even, after his departure
to reveal his secret, for he had a vivid re-
:....:..,:.
collection oi ine wnom pacnoi
by's parlor, there lo ewail the return of
its mistress.
He had been asleep about half an hour,
when he was awakened by the shrill,
loud voice of Miss Ogleby in tho next
room, and soon ascertair.eu uiai ucr com'
panion was Miss Malford; he wason the
point of opening the folding doors and an-
nouncing nimseti, wuen no ucaiu uis
own name mentioned, and to. his great
horror Miss Malford coolly and unhesi
tatingly expressed her great satisfaction
at having lound herself able exactly to
imitate his hand-writing. Saville remain
ed, as the author of Adeliza would have
ss I I. TL I 1.:.
aid, rooted H the froon-!;" the idea of
forgery instantly occurred Ui hia mind
he had a large rum lying at hia banker's,
and be treacled at the prospect before
him; it is very distressing to a man of
gallantry to coiutemplate the Rfeaaity of
traiir porting a lady, however delightful it
may he u be transported by ber.
" I will read yon what I have written
ia SaviMe'e name," aaid Miaa MallWd;
' 1 di not think it ia a bad lovedetier."
iaii'.Ie'a fears took a contrary diiee
lion; it vat evident that thia deformed
apintter, whne mind teenud U him aa
dilirud aa ber perton, had written an
i(ler of mrr" ;e t) herself in his name.
Vet.ui tcr Halt, counsellors, lawyer,
ttainmering witneae, and tittering spec
tators, all swsin before his eyes, and he
va'oroufly retolved that, like Mr. Pick
wick of immortal memory, he would ra-
ttier g to jail man pay a fartumg of
swarded damages. I'retenily, however.
he had reason to exonerate Miaa Ma!
1-
ford from any personal deeigns on him;
for when she read aloud die letter, which
wss indeed a propo al of marriage, it ap
peared that be apoauophized the lady ad
dreeted as "young and beautiful; terms
which the utmost excess of human vanity
could never have enabled Miss Malford
to spply to herself. Al the conclusion,
he (or rather bis double) canJidly con
fessed that his annual' income only a
mounted to four hundred pounds, ris
ing ten pounds yearly in the India
House, and it was signed Your faith-
j ful and devoted John Aaville."
" So far, so good," thought Saville;
this letter cannot be intended to form
the ground-work of a breach of promise
of marriage trial, or I should have been
made frankly id plead guilty to my large
independent fortune; but what purpose
can it be intended for!" ,
You have imitated Saville's hand
writing very successfully," said. Miss
Yes," replied Miss Malford; "but I
found it by no means difficult. Lsvater
truly enough says, that the disposition
is indicated by the hand-writing;" now
Saville is of an exceedingly weak, bend
ing, timid nature, nothing masculine or
decided shout him, and his neat formal
hand-writing is one that any female could
easily imitate.
Poor Saville! he quailed nnder this
double-barrelled attack on his character
loveu name, ana tie icu greauy renevcu
that his malicious neighbors had not
thought proper to make him oner his
hand and heart to sorao pastry-cook's
bifih-priestet. or milliner's show-girl.
Why, my love," answered Misj
Malford. "yon have repeatedly agreed
w iih me that Rose Stapleton is evidently
attached lo Sail!e. and that her mother
personally hkes linn extremely, snd
merely objects to him as a son-in-law
on account of the smalluess of his fortune;
this is an objection that you and I know
could be obviated in a moment; and every
day j am on thorns fearing either that
Saville w ill take leave , of his romantic
scruple, anil proclaim his 'riches, or that
Sir Peregrine, who, with las usual atupni
meanness of spirit, wouldhe delighted to
ace the girl who bad rejected him well
marrie.it, wmoiao o" ruu u oiojiic
lon hy.way ol smoothing all objections
to thi match.'! - " : ' .
. To be sure that might happen any
day,' said MitTOgleby. - .s
Kow,'! continued the animated Miss
Malford, v"as matters stand-.at present,
there i not a doubl that Mrs.- Stanleton
will compel Rose l write refusal, and
Saville will be so irritated that he will
immediately set out for London; of course
he will write to' them to deny having sent
the letter, but ss they believed It to come
Irom htm, the refusal will be just as cut
ting to his leelings and his vanity as if he
nail actually aent it..' v ,
Rut, ate you quite sure that the offer
will be refused! said. Misa : Ogleby.
" Mrs.- Stapleton ia ridiculously attach
ed to her daughter, nd.: allow her to
havn her own way to a aiiamelul degree
witness the rejection of Sir Peregrine;
suppose Rose should coax her mother
into a permission to accept the offer."
I have my counter-plot ready for
that," answered Miss Malford. " Saville
will know that he did not write the letter,
and it must be our business to persuade
him that Mrs. Stapleton did; you, in
particular, may be. of the most essential
use you must tell Saville, with apparent
contrition, that you sectetly disclosed to
Mrs, Stapleton the circumstances or his
large property, in order to calm her
SDDrehensiont that Rose was flirting with
a detrimental; and the result will be, that
he will bs so enraged and angry al the
idea of having bees duped and i at posed
epos, that he will quit Allingham without
delay, ia tlie full enjoyment of single
blessedness.
Sat ill could not repress a derp hollow
f roan at this avowed determination of Mwa
Malford to cast a wanton slander oa the
fame of ili onsospeciing and good natu
red woman, for whom she professed
fiieadahip; the sound startled lb con
spirators in the front parlor.
Dear me, what is thai? said Miss
Malford; it seemed to coin from the
next room."
Nothing to alrm you. my dear,"
answered Miss Ogleby; " I dare say it is
a strinf of Mr. Scr'tpeali's itdineello.
which he has sent to my house, to be in
readiness for my little musical luncheon
parly to morrow." ,
All that now remains, said Miss
Malford, with renewed placidity, is to
envelope the letter, and seal it. I shall
send it lo-nigbt to the Stsplctons, by a
man on whom I can depend. 1 have
done him some favors, and he knows
himself lo be in my power. I shall direct
him to flap his hat over his eyes, and
merely ring at the door, and leave it."
I can give you rose-colored wsx."
said Miss Ogleby, and a seal that will
be just ib thing for a love-letter the
motto is, - Each moment makes you
dearer.' Come up to my dressing-room.
and you will there find my writing-ease."
Accordingly the spinsters quilted the
front parlor, and ascended the stairs, and
Saville, haviug first carefully replaced
" Adeliza, or the Amiable Artifice," on
the shelf, seized the opportunity lo dart
out into the street, and ruminated on the
artifice, certainly any thing but amiable,
which had just come to hia knowledge.
Several times in thr eours of the colloquy,
Saville had felt inclined to bnrst out on
the spinsters in all the majesty of an
insulted and injured man, but be thought
better on lh subject, and remained quiet.
Some years ago. Saville had been driv
ing ia a gig with a friend, and the horse
took fright. Saville, anxious, as he
afterward expressed himself, to know
the worst at once," threw himself from
be gig, and received the information he
was desirous, in the vhnpeof numberless
severe contusions and bruises, which con
fined him to the hnue for several week,
while his friend, who was one of the
" take-things-easv" class of men, sat per
fecily quiet, and when in the course of a
few minutes the horse was stopped, was
assisted from his seat without having had
a fold of his cravat rumpled, or a curl of
hi h ir disarranged. Ever since, Saville.
under circumstances of difficulty, had betn
disposed to wail patiently, and let things
lake their course, rather than to accellerate
their progress by any strong procedure
o i his own part, uesiues, to tell the
truth, Saville was not particularly desirous
to impede the flight of the love-letter in
question; if Rose refused him, he should
know his fate more decidedly than he
could otherwise have done, and his pride
would suffer no wound Irom her disdain.
since he should then immediately disclaim
the letter. Saville returned to the Hall,
and told Sir Peregrine that on reconsider
ing the matter he should be happy to
avail himself of his hospitality for a day
or twolonser. I he baronet clapped linn
on the shoulder, told him he was glad he
had thought better of it, and predicted that
he should vet see him and the pretty Rose
Stapleton man and wife. Saville was
nervous and dispirited all the evening, and
lost hit after hit at back-gammon lo Sir
Peregrine, wondering all the time, in the
inmost recesses of his mind, w hat would
be the precise lime al which MisMalfords
messenger with the flapped .hat would
deliver tlie letter, and what conversation
Rose and her mother would hold touching
the. contents. - The next morning Sit
Peregrine went out shooting, and Saville
remained in solitude, nervously aUrting
every time a servant entered the room,
expecting that he would be the bearer of
Rose oupleton s refusal on a stiver salver.
Miss Oirleby was almost ss anxious;
sha expected that Mrs. Stapleton or Rose
ould call on her to mlorin her oi oa-
ville's letter, or perhaps that Saville him
self would come lo disclose to her the
trick thai had been played on lum, and
she strictly enjoined he little foot-page
to summon her-immediately Irom ner
musical luncheon party if either of ths
above mentioned three persons called to
see her." -
' ;
Saville had jnst finished his solitary
luncheon, when the wished-foryyet dread
ed letter was delivered to htm: it was
from Mrs, Stapleton. He opened It in
fear and trepidation; could he believeh is
eyes? it was a letter of acceptance! Mrs.
Stapleton candidly owned that she could
have wished her daughter to contract a
more advantageous alliance; but that vn
the Ion? and interesting conversation
which followed the receipt of Mr. Sa
ville a letter on the preceding night, ahe
felt thoroughly convinced that the happi
ness of Rose depended on a union with
him; and as their united incomes would
be sufficient for the necessaries of life,
she would not withhold, her consent.
She concluded bv exnretsinc the wish of
herself and Rose to see Mr. Saville as
soon as possible. Saville, almost beside
1 himself with joy. made a hasty toilette,
. directed the servant to beg Sit Peregrine
j not lo wait dinner for hint, snd ran all the
t way to Mr. A'Upleton'a house.
1 1 will not dilate on the conversation
that ensued: suffice it to say. thai &tdle
half, but not w tolly, enlightened the ig
norance of his fair friends; he confessed
tlie fact, that he possessed a large, inde
pendent fortune; but be did not own that
hia love-letter was the composition of an
other person; he feared that the delicacy
of hia darling Rose, and tli dignity of
her mother, would be wounded st tie
idea that he had been in a manner en
trapped into an engagement; and aa the
letter, to do justice to Miss Malford's
( powers of eloquence, was a very tolera-
uie one, tie ucierioincu ra su utfs quiet
ly under all the honors of it. He, how
ever, ventured to beg that Mrs. A'upleton
and Rose woohl be very cuarded and dis
tant ia their manners to Miss Ogleby and
Miss Malford, observing ihst h bad good
reason to know that those ladies were by
no means so sincere snd friendly a they
appeared to be; and they readily promis
ed him that the spinster should hear of
the engagement through some other chsn
nel. .Saville relumed to Sit Peregrins
at night, full of spirits and happiness, and
informed him that he was engaged to Rost
.Vupleton. but oot of the means by which
the engsgement bad been brought about,
fir Peregrine was unaffectedly delighted,
told Aaville that be most stay with him
till the wedding-day, offered to give the
bride away, and to' be trustee to the set
tlement, and sprcsd about lh new in
every part of Allingham through the
whole of the next day.
The match-breaker heard of it with
horror: and Miss Ogleby had a violent
quarrel with her dear friend Misa Mal
ford, telling her that ah bad foreseen
every thing that had happened, and that
Miss Malford's officious letter had been
tlie cause of the explanation taking place.
The ensuing morning. Miss Ogleby wss
walking alone, and met .Saville. She fix
ed her eye on him with that determined,
tearless atare, which is the constant
brsnding mark, designating women of un
daunted disposition snd bold manners,
and said:
Well, yon took na by sorprise by
your engaeement to Rosa ispletn."
" Did II" returned 5avilh, drdy.
'Yes," she proceeded, sffecting an
sir of great playfulness; pray may I
ask whether you made your offer by let
ter or word of mouthl
Proposals of marriage," answered
Saville, " are, 1 believe, generally made
by letter."
That is an equivocation, and not a
direct answer." replied Miss Ogleby.
Well, then." said -Saville, I did
not make my offer by word of mouth
With this answer Miss Ouleby wat
forced to seem contented.
" One more question and I have done,"
aaid ahe. "I have a tlranee fancy In
know what messenger you sent with
your letter,"
Saville, for the first time in his life,
met Miss Ogleby's stare with an equally
fixed gaze, and rejoined: I cannot tell
the name of the person; but your friend,
Ms Malford. has done him some favors,
snd he knows himself lo be in her pow-
er, on the occasion alluded to, he could
not easily be recognised by anybody, for
he was directed to (lap his bal careiuuy
oer his eves."
Miss Ogleby, for the first time in her
life, looked on the ground, and appeared
discomposed and embarrassed. She im
mediately went lo Mis Malford, and tax
ed her with having betrayed the secret.
Miss Malford replied that she had never
mentioned it to a creature, and that the
disclosure of it was doubtless owing to
Miss Ogleby's gossiping loquacity. Se
vere recriminations ensued; each believed
the other to be guilty, although in the
particular instance in q-iettion.each hap
pened to be guiltless; and they teparated,
mutually declaring that they never wish
ed to see each other again. .Their quar
rels, however, were something like those
of lovers; habit and congeniality soon
reconciled ihem, and before the expira
tion of a week, they were again the "in
imitableinscparableV'thatthey were wont
10 be.
Saville purchased a beautiful place in
the immediate neighborhood of Alling
ham, and the old maids were continually
tormented by the sight of the happiness
thev had unwittingly promoted; they bad
some thoughts of quitting Allingham in
consenuence. hut tbev could obtain the
earns knowledge of the private affairs ol
the families in a new place.and they might
yel uo enough to none lot inai wmcn ir j
i . a a sws .-HAIaliAns
had tailed to uo. ineir ejicv..-,
however, were disappointed; all their
power to injure was completely gone;
when they depreciated any young girl,
however justly, their auditors delicately
. ...a . t al..
hinted to tnein that "ine tongue oi me
evil spesker is no slander;" young men
delighed to teaze them by making love to
others before their faces, and compliments
and fine speeches flew about like sugar
plums at a Yenitian Carnival, among all
the female population of Allingham, with
the exception of themaelves. Such was
the effect of this playful warfare, that ma
ny actual matchea were produced by it.
Allingham bad never been considered a
marririn- r.!r: but BOW chanf Cam
o'er the spirit" sf th town; it ws ia
deed ruled by a most potent spirit ia in
affair of love, a spirit of eonuradiction;
fr.m it. iim uf Itos Suolctos mar
riage, th young peopl paired off" lk
so saany member at a division, snd AJ-
linghaoi, at this time, presents ths strange
anomaly of a country town flourishing
ia a eoostaal excitement of blonde-veils,
bride-cake, orange-blossoms, and bell
ringing, although tbs habitation of two no
ted aud experienced match-breakers.
Debate ta the'
MOUSE OF BKPKEE?tTATiTE8.
Speech of 3Ir. Bond,
(or mo,)
Oa Mr. ffopkuCi Hetotution to dlvortt
the Covtrnmentfrom the Frt.
Mr. Bond said be rejoiced that the at
tention of the House and of the country
was again invited to th subject of re
trenchment and reform. II was awar
that the term bad beeome somewhat
hackneyed, 'snd he almost fesred that
iheir frequent repetition here had render
ed them trite and unmeaning. They had
been used, a was well known, with
great effeet, to pal down on Administra
tion sad elevate another. That end be
ing attained, they seemed to have per.
formed their office, o faf al iat aa the
party now in power are concerned. All
must admit that we have no practical re
trenchment or reform.
Mr. 1). said he wished gentlemen now
in power lo admit that tbey bad amused
if not deceived, th peopl of this couu
try wiihmereiaoeyaketch.M If they
would not make this concession, then h
called upon them to specify any retrench
ment or reform which- tbey had accom
plished. But, sir, if they fail ia this, a
I think they must, then I demand their
reason for not carrying out their great
snd salutary system of reform, for which
they stand solemnly pledged before the
country. ; - ' -" ?
1 am unwilling lo believe that the term
retrenchment and reform have loci their
just and virtuous sense. Th people of
this country will determine whether the
necessity for subh measures had passed
away with the simple cUvaUtm of eruia
men to power. ; . ,. .
You, Mr. Speaker, must be well aware
that something more than this was pro
mised. Yod professed, sir, I mean the
party with which you act, professed to be
moved by the purest and moat sacred re-
gard for the welfare of the people. We
find recorded here, and in the Senate, a
solemn pledge to carry into effect a sys
tematic reform, if you should be placed
in power. This was done, sir, in March
1829, and you have held undisturbed pos
session ever since. loring ihat time,
now going on ten years, what part of your
pledge has been redeemed? ' .' -
I desire lo conduct the discussion fair
ly, and with entire accuracy as lo fact.
1 wish so to state them, too, that all may
form a just opinion in relation lo the sin
cerity and good faith of those whose con
duct may be brought under review."
Was it really true, sir, that the expen
ditures of the government were unneces
sarily Itrge? Had the President too
much power, and was there a necessity
for restraining it? Wss the patronage of
the government so enormous a to require
checks to be placed on it? Was this pat
ronage used for political ends, especially
the patronage of the press? Wss it true
that the freedom of the press and the se
curity of our liberty demanded that the
printing patronage should bs withdrawn
from the several Departments, and the
Statu Department in particular?
All these inquiries are suggested by
ths declarations and avowals of th pre
sent dominant party when they sought
a w- .
tor elevation, uui lesi gentlemen may
have forgotten the precise ehargea made
against Mr. Adams's Administration, I
beg leave to read from certain documents
of this House and of the Senate, in which
these griefs and complaints, with the pro
mised reforms, sre duly recorded.
The first, in point of time, is a report
made to the Senate in 1828, by a select
committee (of which Mr. Benton was
chairman,) "to which was referred'
proposition to inquire into the expedien
cy of reducing the patronage of the Exe
cutive Government of the United States."
In this document Mr. Benton reports:
That, after mature deliberation, the
committee are of opinion that it is expe
dient to diminish or to regulate by law
the Executive patronage of the Federal
Government, whenever the same can be
done consistently with the provisions of
the constitution, and without impairing
the proper efficiency of th government.
Acting; under this conviction, they hav
reviewed as carefully as time and other
engagements would permit them to do.
the degree ana amount of patronage now
csercised by th. President, and have ar
rived at the conclusion that the same may
and ought to be diminished by law."
For this purpose' that committee then
reported sit bills; on of them proposed
to regulate the publication of the lawa
and of public advertisement; another had
this imposing till." bill to iscvrs fe