Lynchburg Virginian

NORTH CAROLINA SENATOR.

We really had hoped and believed that 'Rip Van Winkle,' (as our modest neighbor, North Carolina, was rather discourteously styled by one who seems to hold 'State Sovereignty' in as much veneration as a faithful Catholic does the big toe of the 'Sovereign Pontiff,'), had been awakened from her long slumber by the political 'earthquakes' of the last twelve months. But we have been sadly disappointed. She still sleeps in profound security, while the foundations of our system are rocking under repeated Executive assaults, and its battlements vibrating at each successive shock.

Contrary to all expectation, her Legislature, now in session, has re-elected Bedford Brown to the U. S. Senate, by a majority of 53 over Judge Settle, his competitor, and of 32 over all opponents! It is said, too, that Judge Settle is a Jackson-man as well as Mr. Brown—the only difference between them consisting in this, that Mr. Brown is in favor of Mr. Van Buren for the succession, and Judge Settle opposed to him! So that old 'Rip' is even 'sold to the Dutch,' unless the peals of thunder hereafter to be rung in her ears shall be more successful than the efforts heretofore made, to rouse her from her torpid condition.

To the Senator elect, personally, there can be no objection: But it is a marvel that North Carolina should not select her strong men to figure in the wars of the giants—or if she will not depute some of her master-minds to represent her sovereignty in the federative branch of the government, she should at least select gentlemen of discretion—that Falstaffian virtue which wonderfully underrates the worldly deity, Impudence, and its worshippers by far the most prosperous of the sons of men. If Brown would be a silent member of the Senate, or if he would only unsheath his rapier when no lights of that body emit their glow-worm heat, he might escape the animadversions which have already given him such unenviable notoriety.

But, unfortunately for him, he has formed a very erroneous estimate of the magnitude, or rather the diminutiveness of his mental calibre; and hence reserving his efforts for great occasions the community are ever and anon amused by the explosion of his, at intervals of time, bursts of eloquence which are poured forth by such men as Clay, Webster, Preston, Leigh. These remarks are made in no unfriendly feeling to the Senator elect but rather with the hope that his friends will give him a salutary lecture in the premises. We dislike to see gentlemen, who might cut a respectable figure, if they would move in the humble orbit allotted them by nature, make themselves food for mirth, by aiming at the sublime and falling into the ridiculous.