Life and Letters of Joseph Story by Joseph Story William Wetmore Story

Author:Joseph Story , William Wetmore Story
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: C.C. Little and J. Brown
Published: 1851-06-16T16:00:00+00:00

I I

810 LIFE AND LETTEKS. [1816-20.

glimpse into the politics of the time, and indicates the feelings with which my father looked upon its turmoil, and the strong judicial bias which his mind had acquired. The glowing enthusiasm, which filled with bright visions the future history of his country, had become sobered Behind the curtain he saw the reverse of the tapestry of patriotism. Removed from all active participation in party contests, he could look impartially on the struggle, and saw that but too often it was for power and place, not for the wellbeing of the country. The sorrow of his domestic life, and severe judicial training, had calmed his judgment. Sitting in the " gladsome Hght of Juris-prudence," the political world seemed to]be lighted by equibs and fire-rockets. From this time his correspondence assumes a less sanguine character, and many doubts as to the impregnability of the Union begin to gather in his mind. Significantly enough, it is at this time that he begins to omit the flourish which he had hitherto been accustomed to draw under his signature, and to write his name simply.

TO HON. EZEKIBL BACON.

Washington, March 12th, 1818. Mt deab Sir:

I bad the pleasure of receiving, a short time since, your

letter, addressed to me in this city. I regret exceedingly,

that I had not the good fortune to meet you at Philadelphiai

as I should have seen you face to face, and conversed more

in one hour upon all the topics interesting to us, than we

could write in a month.

The business of the Court has been, and continues to be^

so pressing that I scarcely go to any places of pleasure or

&shion; however, there is a great deal oif gayety, splendor.

and as I think, extravagance in the manners and habits of the city. The old notions of republican simplicity are fast clearing away, and the public taste becomes more and more gratified with public amusements and parade. Mr. Monroe, however, still retains his plain and gentlemanly manners, and is in every respect a very estimable man. But the Executive has no longer a commanding influence. The House of Representatives has absorbed all the popular feeling and all the effective power of the country. Even the Senate cowers imder its lofty pretensions to be the guardians of the people and its rights.

Congress has become a scene of dry, metaphysical reasoning or declamatory eloquence; the real business of the nation is left undone, or is badly done. There is no rallying point for any party. Indeed, every thing is scattered Republicans and Federalists are as much divided among themselves, as the parties foraieriy were from each other. I do not regret the change. ^ have long been satisfied that the nation was in danger of being ruined by its intestine divisions; and, fortunately, among men of real talent, and real virtue, and real patriotism, there are now few, if any, differences of opiniojf^ But a new race of men is springing up to govern the nation; they are the hunters after popularity,

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