Monthly Review of Literature, 



QMARCH, 



with Adams, and throwing his own weight 

 into the other's scale, Adams gained the 

 presidency, and himself, according to the 

 terms of his bargain, received for his effec- 

 tive services the appointment of secretary of 

 state. The favourite candidate was Jack- 

 son th? candidate of the democratic party ; 

 but though he had the greatest number of 

 votes, yet the law requiring the winner to 

 have two- thirds of the whole 261 ; the pe- 

 remptory election devolved on the House of 

 Representatives, where each state has one 

 vote, and where the conjunction of interests 

 gave Adams thirteen the bare majority 

 and of course the presidency. 



Adams is of the Tory party, as his father 

 before him ; the Tory party in America 

 means the governing party the friend of 

 a monarchical, or at least of an hereditary 

 government, in opposition to the federal 

 and democratic parties, who are attached to 

 more popular and independent forms, and 

 are indeed abhorrent of all permanent pos- 

 sessors of office, and of every thing that 

 tends to family succession. Adams and his 

 party make very little secret of their views, 

 and confidently look forward to a change in 

 the constitution. When secretary of state, 

 he was known to have said " The United 

 States will not be ranked among the nations 

 till the presidency becomes hereditary." 

 And even on the eve of his election while 

 his election was still pending he is re- 

 ported ta have said to some person, who 

 expressed disapprobation of the manoeuvres 

 that were pretty publicly being practised to 

 secure his appointment " Sir, the time 

 will come, even with the American States, 

 when the government, and not a prejudiced 

 populace, destitute of character, will deter- 

 mine the public opinion," &c. The will 

 of the nation was manifestly treated with 

 scorn, and with the people generally he is 

 unpopular. But of the higher classes he is 

 considered the proper representative affect- 

 ing to play the aristocrat, not only in prin- 

 ciple, but in manner and every-day prac- 

 tice. He never mingles with his fellow- 

 citizens on equal terms; and the writer 

 seems to think, and apparently not without 

 reason, if he should be re-elected, the way 

 will be paved for a monarchy, or at 

 least for hereditary authority and that in 

 the family of Adams. The writer tells a 

 story of a new steam-boat launched at Pitts- 

 burgh. Thousands of expecting spectators 

 were assembled, and at the last moment, 

 when all was ready, the veil which covered 

 the figure-head of the vessel was withdrawn, 

 and exposed the bust of the president's 

 lady, gorgeously decked, and her head 

 bound with a diadem, and the name, " Lady 

 Adams," glowing in letters of gold, a yard 

 long. The attempt was rather premature, 

 and disappointed the projector. 



Of the existing cabinet, Mr. Clay, the 

 secretary of state, is represented as a man of 

 acknowledged ability, but a mere Kentucky 

 adventurer. M T hen a representative for his 



native state, he on one occasion voted against 

 the interests of his constituents, and on his 

 return met with a very cool reception. His 

 chance of being again elected seemed hope- 

 less when approaching an old friend, a 

 Kentucky fanner, he wished him a good, 

 day " I thank you," was the reply. 

 " How d'ye do ?" " Harry," replied the 

 farmer, drily, " I presume we must part ; 

 thou canst not be any longer our congress- 

 man." " Why so, Sir ?" " Thou knowest 

 better than I do ; thou art a cunning fel- 

 low too cunning for us." After a long 

 pause " Look," said Clay, taking the Ken- 

 tucky man's rifle from his hand, and point- 

 ing to it, " do you remember the time when 

 we hunted many a buck together ?" " Yes." 

 " Then you have not yet given up your old 

 friend!" returning the rifle. "Certainly 

 not." " And did he stick as faithfully to 

 you ?" " What dost thou mean ?" " Has 

 he never disappointed you when the game 

 was before his muzzle ?" " Why, yes, 

 sometimes." " Then you have not broken 

 him to pieces ?" " Why should I ? I 

 have given him another chance." " You 

 have done so, dear Tom ; but your old 

 friend and trusty servant you are going to 

 break because he once disappointed you ? 

 Ah Tom, could you act thus with Harry, 

 your old faithful Harry ?" at the same time 

 grasping his hand and pressing it heartily. 

 "G d me," exclaimed the Kentuckian, 

 " if I do I will try thee again, Harry." 

 In an hour the story was in every one's 

 mouth ; " Clay for ever," resounded on all 

 sides, and he was again unanimously re- 

 elected. He is now a sort of idol with his 

 countrymen " That is amighty great man !" 

 " That is a wonderfully eminent man ! " " That 

 is the very first man in the Union" you 

 may hear from every Kentuckian, and be 

 knocked down if you should not be precisely 

 of the same opinion. With the other states 

 according to the author Clay's political 

 obliquity has shaken his credit materially 

 not one of them would now choose him 

 even for a constable. He is a man of 

 coarse manners a true Kentuckian a 

 duellist, a gambler, and a drinker ruined 

 in purse without principle, and even de- 

 corum. These are strong terms, and pro- 

 bably require a little sobering. 



The secretary of the navy Js Mr. South- 

 ard, a man of inferior abilities the tool of 

 Adams and notorious for killing Decatur 

 in a duel. The secretary of the treasury, 

 Rush, is represented as a very harmless 

 person, and owing his appointment to his 

 popularity with the Tories of Philadelphia, 

 whose good opinion it is an object of im- 

 portance with Adams to secure. The secre- 

 tary of war, Barbour, and the chief justice, 

 Marshall, are both spoken of as men of 

 superior powers, and superior character, be 

 their party feelings what they may. So 

 that of the Jive, " Clay ad Southard are 

 regarded by the author as the instruments 

 of the president, Rush his faithful servant, 





