The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-03-18
THE VIRGINIAN.
LYNCHBURG MARCH Ia, 1895.
"Composmre" vs.. " Carnage & Bloodshed.'
ffide Gen. Jackson's Letter 10 Mr..
Monroe, Jan. q, 1871

AS may he his acquaintance with books
: his knowledge of men isrntirely too limit
!, ed. Even If we admit this objection 10 b,
true ia itself, which we do nor, snil wf
should rather encounter the THEORIES oI
that individual whose acquaintance ONLY
with the writings Of eminent saees may
lead him into harmless errors, than the
rashness Of him whose intercourse with
men atone may have taught him the gene
raj fallacy OF these theories when reduced
To practice, aud snpcrinhuccd him Ia place
more reliance on physical force than on
-1oral'reason. But If this objection be va
Ind against Mr.. Adams, did it not apply
with equal force To Mr. Jefferson and Mr..
NadlsonP Both Of those men are closet
philosophers, particularly the latter. Their
intercourse with men has been rs much, if
not more limited than that Of Mr.. A.-they
have been as much devoted To study and
retirement. Thry, like Mr. A. have been
raised, by common consent Ia tribute paid
to their superior talents, above the atn1os
! phere and contact of common minds. All
that they know of men is from their nc
tons, as they are recorded on the faithful
| page Of history, and from dnntogV, by an
Application OF the same general principles
/" the same circumstances for, nctuattd
by slnrilar Impulses, and influenced by the
same motives, man viii IN all ages be the
same. And yet, singular TO say. some of
the warmest admirers Of the Virginian sa
gcs object to Mr. Adams, because he has
travelled in the same path which guided
them to renown, and saved their country
from contempt and vassalage. This very
stand was taken by Gen. Jackson against
Mr.. Madison, on his first election las the
General hi~self tells us. MIR. Madison
was not statesman, according to Gen. Us
ideas OF such parsonage, for however he
might be a philosopher in theory, he was
not endowed with thai practical philoso
ply 10y some called nsrue) which can onk
with composure upon scenes of blnodshel
and carnage Yet Mr.. Madison, when To.
cup Of our national grievances wat full he
STATED not To make an appeal to the ulti
ma ratio of nations. He hesitated not
moment in rpsorting 10 the sword, when
remonstrance had proved eifectual True,
he did not lightly throw away the hles
sings ofpeace for the turmoilG dangers of
war. He was not nsensible to the adyan
tag"s of the one, g. the CURSE Of the other
He preferred that the husbandman
should SOW his grain and reap his har-
vest IN safety that the Merchant should
continue to pursue his avocatons unoh
strncted, and the seaman spread freely
his canvas To the winds, rather than
hat the ploughshare and the fresidc
should he exchanged for the sword and the
tented field, the goods of our tradesmen
mouldrr on the shelves, aud our vessels rot
1T the ~harves. He was 10th, TOO, 10 rush
on the ocean Of experiment, and, for the
first time, TO test the stability and the ca
pacity for war of government yet unit ed
N that even,ful game, when, TOO, ne aud
his measures were assaled and denounced
by "A vlndlctlve faction, that stopped scarce
r ly short ot treason IN its uahaiowed urpo-
stlon. In this, he followed the dictates oil
wisdom, Predicated on the history of all
time, as well as the advice and example OF
Washington and jefferson. He did plead
for peace--hr did temporze--he did seek
every means to avoid war, short of the
humiliation which would have reduced us
10 condition worse than that of colonial
bondage. But when this course was found
10 be unavaIlng-when submission only
invited encroachment and negotiation was
only followed by insult, he drew the sword
aud threw away the scabbard. But, did
I Mr.. Madison derive mole honor from the
l., war than from his conduct antecedently
and subsequently tn that event ? No: his
fame needed not this +" Corinthian polish
4 to give ii value and permanence. 1t wa.
, long before established in the hearts and
, affections of his coun,1ynen; and the
; foundation or which it rested was more
Il Ia thar hn lora s
n because il was based on his svlid yirta,
o and patsiotism--an adamaniine foundation,
h against which the storms Of party rage hr,,
= beat IN vain, aud which viii forever "abid
the test If human scrutiny, Of talents aA(
of time" Mr.. Albums viii pursue the SAM
pacific policy which has marked the carse
Of all our Presidents, and which is 80 we
e suited To the genius OF our government
E. Untlnctured with the military mania
which, upon an adolebcent glory baiids a
IT imbecile manhood and a contemplate oil
age, he will guide us in the soberer and ST
, ref path Of gradual advancement ant
~ without stripping the nation OF its youth,
~ vlgor, he will 80 prltps, its excuses and re-
N strain IL .impeiuosity, that in its ati,
r years, az well as now. the American natio
~ and it, democratic pohty of governmer
Of may b. feared by their foes and reverence
ID by Their friends. Yes: when, in the cours
a OF events, aud the revolution of years, 9th,
:; systems of government, contemporary wit
70 our own, sha'l have passed through the
ly inevitable gradations Of youth, age an
81 decline, and shalt have been swept fror
IN the remembrance Of the world, the demo
81, cratic principle, originating aud ending
nd the welfare Of the whole Community, an
:. based upon the indestructihie rights of il
~ d'siduals, will stand undefaced blythe har
h., Of Time, like the everlasting Pyramids
of Egypt-endurng monuments amidst su
,us rounding desolatan. The success or II
10 defeat Of this or Of that individual, white