New Hampshire Statesman And Concord Register

[For the Statesman & Register.]

Isaac's Soliloquy on leaving his old "Den."

[Scene.—"Him of New Hampshire" pacing
the floor, punctuating his sentences with a pinch
of Rappee, and ending his paragraphs with a loud
peal from the handle of his countenance, which
echoed through the vacant recesses, and struck
upon the ear of the traveller like the growling of
the lion in his lair.]

"These walls which have sheltered me
for so many years are now to be forsaken.
"Twas here I first, in sincerity, wielded the
quill in the cause of my democracy. This
floor has been the theatre of my action.—
Here I have played many parts—I have
made ignorant men learned—and learned
men fools; men who were mean and con-
temptible, have, at my touch, been made
great and powerful; vice versa—great and
powerful men I have levelled in the eyes of
my followers. Here I have received the
fawnings of office-seekers: here men whom
I had raised into office, received my com-
mands with fear and trembling. From this
place I have sounded my Patriot trump,
and thousands were ready to obey my man-
dates. And must I leave thee, thou pleas-
ing, dreadful remembrancer? "Tis true I
have here experienced many perils—and
many hair-breadth 'scapes. 'Twas here I
first saw that reptile, the thought of which
creates more horror in my imagination, than
all the terrors combined which ever shroud-
ed me within this "den." I saw the crea-
ture, chilled by the blasts of poverty, and
admitted it, by reason of its apparent harm-
lessness, into the sunshine of my prosperity.
By my care it grew strong—waxed fat, and
venomous. It basked awhile—till I discov-
ered in it all the nature of a poisonous vi-
per, which daily threatened me with de-
struction. I dashed it from me for self pres-
ervation. But still it lurks in ambush
around me ready to dart at every opportu-
nity, and infuse the poison of its bite in my
heart's blood. But yet this place is dear to
me—'twas here that I transformed myself
into a hero of the revolution—and had it not
been for my political engine in this "den,"
I'd have shouldered my gun and fought in
the "second glorious struggle for Indepen-
dence." But the thought of leaving these
walls is embittered with the recollection
that multitudes, who once awaited my nod.
have now departed from the faith which I
had instilled into their benighted minds.—
Oh that I could marshal that host once more
& address them in person, as I now address
these vacant recesses;—I would yell to
them with a screech that would harrow up
the guilt of their Adams-loving—amalgama-
ting waywardness, and bring them back to
myself, their abused master; I would say to
them—Hear and obey. How have the
mighty fallen! Must we, who so little
while ago wielded the political sceptre, now
bow down before the ignoble power of the
people? But hear me,—I call upon the
genius of the Opposition to witness that I
am innocent if we fall. I have not given
rest to my goose-quill nor slumber to my
eye-lids, since John Q. took the Presidential
chair; 'tis you that have been napping.—
While the echoing sounds of my trumpet
were ringing in your ears—ye slept on;—
and now are waking from your torpid slum-
bers but to flee into the ranks of my ene-
mies. Hear me,—he that dares follow this
outrageous example shall receive my ven-
geance. We have advanced too far to sur-
render at discretion. Then let the watch-
word run through all our ranks in New.
Hampshire—."Jackson, or political death
to our clan!" Must I see you, that have
sworn eternal obedience to my dictation, fly
from me in the hour of trouble, and look
calmly on? No!—hear me—the day is
coming, and not far distant, when Andrew
Jackson shall guide the political destinies of
this nation! Hear this and tremble, all ye
who have even thought of leaving my ranks.
I shall then be clothed in power; and then
if any dare oppose me I will cause them to
be punished as tories and traitors to their
country; and if Andrew Jackson even
doubts the propriety of my measures, I will
fly with the rapidity of lightning, to Wash-
ington—assassinate him!—drown his cabi-
net in the Potomac!—and proclaim myself
"Isaac the I, King of America!"

"To that amalgamating crew who have en-
ticed my followers from me, I can say—

"Come to my cave, ye human hunters come;
For ye have left your prey no other lair
But the bleak rock or howling wilderness.
Clear up the pack of fanged and fleshed hounds,
Flash all the flames of hell upon its darkness,
Then enter if thou darest."