Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-01-18

tN''NPShSS OihSSS uNu GOnOrS, regardless
merit and talents. When revoIrc in NV mind
the causes Which have rendered the French
armies invtncible, the most prominent appears
to be their officers for in no other country
since the days of Greece and Rene, is SO much
respect paid to merit and genius. There. no
man is preferred. but for his superior talent, or
services, In this respect only, could wish Ia
see my country initiate Napoleon Bonaparte.-
lie had uncommon penetration in finding out
such men rs possessed endowments which
qnauued mem TO become useful and great
ms example Is worthy of imitation. In times
OF pubic prosperity, men of little capacity by
their in,rigues and our carelessness. Green ;n,n
lpo"er bui events ave now about to deyelone
themselves, which, to bring The fairs of his
ration TO = successful issue, must cali into The
the public service those heroes and riots
destined like Washington, Green and their
| comrades, 10 perform great actions in times nj
| public danger, and render eminent services ~
| to their country
Heroes will breathe their own sn;ri, into
those whom they command. and tins mste
heroes OF them all whilst zfce 1,er,n the con
quot OF men of a different charact er would he
| the reverse. 1t is AL irnpcrtant that The chief
commander of YOUR forces should he 4, p.r,o,
1 qutaihed TO discover,.nd disposed to epcour,oe
! merit, instead ut prosecuting it, as those who
/ are unworthy to command never fail TO do
y $500 Will ear, and be ,enlnuc
| OF those under his comm and who posscss fol .
ents superior to his own. He will me.nlv and
mehclousy seekto degrade the honor h,c anJ
| brave whose virtues and abilities can s,or,,y
| fai' tQ give Offences and that he may have M
| superior about him,who he feels must be con.
| scious OF ms :ncapacity and unlitness. he wi,
! endeavour TO eXait men Of has GUN stan,b THE
| ooSe'' u ION VIII noid.good, from Commander
| IN ch'e', down To the 7owest subaItern. Win
such officers, the more man proves ,b,, ho
mas merit. The more I've will be disliked .
whilst on 'he contrary, I'M proportion as he a.,
Vihces ms want OF principle and talent he vii,
be 10 'pected and promoted have seen ,h;s
TO be the case and know it to be So. know
| ny experience the truth os an observation which
!, ou.e 'eI.o rom revolutionary officer of
| 'igh standing " that none but gentIo,,a, :,
principl: and accomplishment ouc,bt n I've >, ~
ated officers; and that whilst the real ren,Ie,
man would require nothing but duty and che.
dienc", and would do justice, ignorant. INV
| "rto Vo!Sa' fellows would, when improperIv
elevated, become insolent, tyranical and minis,
and wouii abuse their brief authority IN
Cypress 'sucil as they suspected to be most
conscious Of their unworthiness:"
no '''"tter what mans sta ding in society
| may ne, lie is iishic, according to the ext t;no
state OF things, to be commanded bv such
oFites. No officer who is unworthy of his
commission, viii apply any of nv observations
| 10 himself. Those only. will take them. who
, feel their force, and the justice Of their appli
cation. Officers Of the i,l,rr description. think
tkat thy have become Lords, and tn at YOUR
| n6ni :. 20 'ectabie citizens have, by cheyin,,
| he c. Ca the government, forfeited all rirht
/ 10 lie treated with justice and resDect.-
! hey are ig9crart that those who undertook
ihe deienoe q Greece and Rene, wer. not
| deemed 10 have thereby, fore tied The rirL,s of
citizens and 10 have degraded themselves to
the level of slaves
! Legislators-rhe defer &c bill is scarcely boJs
50''' into i"", when, IS might have been ey.
Pcccte"' Candidates are appearing for the office
Oh nurse. Now, We are told what had depre
Gated. We are tod of giezt families of the
descendants ofthis, that aud the other hero :. z.
the PoSfcJyy OF commanders who are now in
| the silent tomb. hope ut will not come In
rms. !! such considerations as those are to be
| made the criterion Of your appointments. vo,,r
affairs will gov worse aud worse until na,ion
al Calamity s!s!l teact us to lay aside f:yor-
itism, party spirit and sounding names: and
teach lis 90 call upon those WHO, thouss., thew
may not hear the names, possess what is more
TO he UGIEed, the principles, HE tGIeniS and tLe
heroisni Of oW departed worthless. No IeIps
look to men who, it they were not born tn n
Great Lame, WIRE born with endDwments tu ac-
quire one. withou; nheriting it. Our Washing
ton, oar Ne's3n, our Mason and .ur Mercer en-
nob,ed thei: nGrntS and made them great hy
their virtues AMI der abilities So did DIR
Scott and Gaines, and their comrades Brown &
Ripley thus, likewise ,ii our naval HEROES
We never heard that Gen. Washington's father
was so great man as himself, or that Patrick
!ienry's father was great orator. or that Pa
trick Henry lett race ct orators Ard / am
very much disposed TO doubt that Gen. Wash
ington, Il he had been blessed with issue would
have LIFT race Of men possessing; his own rare
endowments - There is nothing in families -
We are not to suppose that cur Creator is, like
ourselvc9, parti0I 10 men, daa to GaaniEes.-
In his great lottery of nature be scatters his
iavors with an irdiscrim.naie hand; and the
child OF a poor Frsneh Peasant is as likely as
the King OF Rome, TO draw the prize Of genius.
Virginia hes rather distinguished herself bv
her part ali;y to families If You think to save
the State by eayessing the Posfcrify, and looking
to the asscenIeHtS OF. great ,Jnen, my fears for
the public safety will not cease IF that be yopr
resource, and the principle be correct, let us
have all ofOur modern heroes married, and
take good care of their children at the public
expenee Il am convinced that hero. as well
as sp0et, is born such but neither nj them
is heredI tary. Let us look not only among great
names, but among great men and where the
name and the fnah both happen to be treat, so
much the better, II we find great men among
either great or little names, do Justice to their
merits. We seldom do justice to the merits OF
men till they be dead and gone when il comes
too late. We find that in most ages, the cor
tenpor2ries OF great and good men, have ire.