happiness of the toiling millions, will be professional and political position. It ever ready to lend a favorable ear to the advancement of the selfish few. " That we may be saved from any such calamitous results by the patriotic labors is at once so just and so well expressed an estimate of the editorial character and services of Mr. Blair, and proof your safe and worthy successors, and ceeds from so distinguished a source, that we take pleasure in transferring it to our pages: the well-directed efforts of the present executive and his associates in the federal government, is, and shall continue to be, the fervent wish of "Your friend and ob't serv't, "M. VAN BUREN." "JOHN C. RIVES, Esq." “ Though it had been generally known, for some weeks, that the transfer of the official gazette at Washington, to new hands, would probably take place, yet the formal announcement of that occurrence in the Globe of Monday evening was not received among the democrats of this city, and especially those who have been actively engaged in the political struggles of the last fifteen years, without giving rise to many interesting reflections, and vividly recalling, not merely the recollection of stirring events, but a strong sense of the obligations which the American Democracy recognize as due to the faithful and fearless press, which has sustained their principles and true measures through the administrations of Jackson, Van Buren and Tyler, equally, while they were in the ascendant, as when they ceased to be for a time the guiding motives of the executive govern During the course of political strugeles so long and so severe-marked with sundry fluctuations in the relative positions of men and parties - any editor in Mr. Blair's situation must have made enemies neither few nor feeble. If General Jackson was a good lover, he was, also, it must be confessed, not a bad hater. Sympathizing in this, as in other respects (probably without effort), with the habit of mind and tone of language of his friend and political chief, Mr. Blair, in the Globe, was not remarkable for very tender delicacies of phrase towards political opponents, or those among professed ment. Of Francis P. Blair, it may be friends in whose suspicious conduct he truly said, that, as the editor of a leading already snuffed afar the approaching treachery. The Globe was, therefore, frequently accused-nor wholly with out justice of a degree of rough violence in denunciation, carrying boldness into imprudence, justice into vindictiveness. It is certain, however, that it rarely erred in its early judgment of character and tendencies; and if it ever occasionally misconstrued and wounded friends, it far oftener simply detected and drove over into a little earlier desertion those who already were, or were soon about to be, the worst of enemies to the integrity of the Demo in the midst excitements and its as party paper, at the seat of government (and if as such he had faults, they were certainly not numerous), he has achieved, difficulties, a high and permanent reputation. He brought to his labors an acute, discriminating and practical mind; great exactness and extent of political information; a rapidity and promptness in the discussion of public questions, questions, they arose, which more than compensated for occasional and unavoidable roughness of composition, a wide knowledge of men; sound conceptions of democratic truth; and the warinest sentiments of patriotism, and of constant and honorable friendship. That he attacked fiercely, evident; that he defended firmly, was always confessed; he vindicated at all hazards, ardently but conscientiously, the cause of truth and honesty; he tore the mask from political profligacy, heedless of the person by whom it was worn; the equanimity of his adversaries could not be maintained when touched by the pungency of his pen; but his associates felt safe the instant his shield was thrown before them. His courage knew no limits, his fidelity no shadow of turning, his integrity no taint of suspicion, his perseverance no pause. It is not our purpose to elaborate a picture; but these hints of his editorial character, drawn from observations made through a cotemporary cratic party and principles. Weighing perhaps sometimes too fiercely, was often the evil with the good, this fault, if fault it was, which latter years had greatly tempered down from that excess which alone constitutes the fault, will detract but little from the worth of those qualities and those eminent services which have secured to Mr. Blair the enviable reputation on which he has now retired from the political arena. The following notice of the discontinuance of the "Globe" which ap peared in the Philadelphia "Pennsylvanian," we know to have proceeded from the perr of a gentleman of high literary accomplishments, as well as career, may not be regarded by our read- sent residence is about five miles from ers as inappropriate to the occasion. Washington, in Maryland, at a farm "Mr. Blair has retired from the emi- known as the "Silver Spring," which nent position he held, in a manner at it is his insatiable delight to adorn and once dignified and frank. He admits his obligations to the democracy, the desire improve. Here, realizing the often obwhich actuates him to aid in preserving served truth that the field and the its union by the course he has taken, and garden afford the only retreat for the his sense of the fitness of his successor politician withdrawn from the toils and for the post he has assumed. There is a struggles of his arduous life, Mr. Blair manliness in his conduct that must secure to him the respect and good will of all, all, the consciousness of which we sincerely hope he may long live, in health and prosperity, to enjoy." It is needless to say that in his retirement (which was deemed necessary is reported to have "become a boy again," and nothing short of an urgent necessity has power to induce him to leave it for even a day's return to the hot and dusty scenes of the political capital, where he has so long been a power in the state. No cause is likely ever again to bring him forward before to the union and harmony of the party, the country as an active political to some portions the recollections of old animosities made Mr. Blair still an object of unforgotten dislike, if not of dread) he carried with him the highest degree of respect and regard of the President and the administration. Of this, the fact that the post of Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Spain is known to have been tendered to him, and declined from un willingness to abandon the long-coveted enjoyments of his present country life, is sufficient evidence. Mr. Blair's pre writer; but General Jackson has bequeathed to him, as his most trusted friend, all his confidential papers, with the duty of watching over his famestanding sentinel, as it were, beside his tomb. That he will remain there with faithful vigilance till his own last hour, the past affords an ample guaranty; and, within that period, wo betide the hapless libeller who may dare to approach with sacrilegious step that glorious grave! FAO-SIMILE OF THE CONCLUDING PARA This moz be the last letter I may be ableto write you I But everdie Jom your pung Cand never deserted one for frolicy and have my popers 2 repitolion in your keepengr as for os justice is due to my some throd will shield it-Joshino-more-testation there life is RiR. Bloir zagr – THE INNOCENT CONVICT. "AND were you really a prisoner?" I " I had nearly finished my college said, " or was it only in your character course, when one of my class-mates of Visitor that you learned all these lost a considerable sum of money; it things?" "I was really a prisoner," replied Goodwin, "I served five years in the State Prison, and yet, I trust, I need not say to you that I was never guilty in my life of transgressing the law in the smallest degree." "No, you need not say so," said I; "I think I know you well enough to feel certain that you could never have committed an offence which would entail such a disgrace upon you. We all know that there are plenty of rogues who go unpunished, but I was not prepared to hear that innocent men are sent to prison. Pray how did it happen?" "If you have patience to hear, I will tell you, if you will promise never to allude to the subject again. You may well believe that it is extremely painful to me; but beyond that I have no desire for the notoriety which the knowledge of my singular misfortune would give me in the world." I promise! was stolen from his room, which adjoin- "You have always known me by the name of Goodwin, but my true name is Godspeed; this was the name of both of my parents. They were cousins, and I was an only child. The house in which I was born, my grand father was also born in. It was built on the Merrimack river, by one of my ancestors, a few years after the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth. My father died when I was a child, and left my mother with but slender means for her support. But she was a prudent woman, though very ambitious; and I fear that she deprived herself of many comforts that I might enjoy the advantages of a collegiate education. It was her chief might remove it; for, in truth, the desire to see me a preacher of the gospel, and tenderly as she must have loved me, I believed that she hoped to see me a missionary in India. Poor fond old woman! My worthless Latin cost you many a pang, and I fear your life!" Goodwin hesitated for a few moments, wiped his eyes, and went on with his story. VOL XVII.-NO. LXXXV. 44 " I submit, I replied; but said nothing more. But when he took hold of |