The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-09-20
From NE Noiionai Intelligence,

flillo-lioN Niliso--ND. II.
TIE STATESMAN AND TIE SOLDIER
II has been seen, in the prccediur number
that Mr. McDuliie has advanced the claim ofsu
perior distinction to Whtmg actions. over Civil
actions, on the ground of their exhibiting "Me
brightest order Of human iaifiiect - aud that
rom this claim, the principle Il inferred, anpl
cable TO all future caSeS-hai, in selecting suit
abie person 10 TN The higdes' Erecutirc O6ce. Me
successful wtiier should be preferred 10 Tie distn.
giusie3 statesman.
1t will not be pretended that injustice has been
done 10 Mr. MDune, by giving TO his general
term, action dctcrninate signi6eato q
wit military action. TIE has himself admitted
the correctness OF the mcaning assigned 10 i,
when he saws, that the actlon. to which he had
alluded, was one 5y which General Jackson is
pre-tmlacpNg dri,aeuiMcd:e and if General
Jackson has not been pre-eminently distinguish
cd IN military action alone, have yet to Team,
that hc has heen distinguished in ANY
Is IT true, then, that the brightest order of "
man intellect is that which exhibits itself IN mil
tary action I. II true. rs a general priuciul,
that me soldier 5 the post ,fhonor in preference
| 10 the Hd'ClGH
The discussion Il this question presents "A vast
tie,d for I'M rcStng dsqulsition. | shall attemp,
duly 10 enter II, confines. TRUST that there are
many statesmen III our land. and especially IN
VIRGINIA -cmpbatcally the land Of Statesmen
who will be ready to vniicate the honor o.
| those illusulous men whose civil actions still
| live IN grateful recollection, and furnish the
| brightest page of American history aud whose
! shades would arse to reproach thcm with nara
| ntudo aud warn them other danser-dd the,
not ruproacl this most dangerous Of pc Icl
! heresics, and chidr this arrogant assumption OF
military superiority. In exhibiting the charac
| ct tay,, nd int
orityte i Soldier. my aim will be only to present
a rough and imperfect outline.
On What will the Soldier ground his claim of
! superiority
! lie is engaged in one OF the most useful ofpro,
! irssnns bur II is not dleniGed by writers OF es
tahishcd reputation, with the name oi liberal
because II requires no effort of the imagination
! The art Of War ranks with the art Of navigation
aud thc Mt OF Physc and is inferior Ia utilr,
10 one ifnot TO both. The physical force an,
scientific resources Of the community may b,
placed At his command but he himself may -,
ignorant of the first principles Of science aud b,
incapable of writing despatch with grammar
cal precision. He has rarely exhibited in any
aye ar expansion Of intellect in any other pur
suit than his immediate profession and man,
who raut highest in the profession of arms
have shown, n all things else, capacities inieri
/ OF 10 most others A. a tune when Roman liter
htute Appropriated to its zenith, and all wer,
considered i,iiterate who were ignorant of Greek
/ Marins, VINO ranks among the FIRST of Rnmar
Generals, was publicly approached with his new
II having learned The language. Indeed he il
described as "A rustic. naccuStomcd 10 either thu
docencIrS or reiinemcntS ofcuiiivatrd life Scyl
Ia. another General equally famous in the an
mails Of warfare, devoted his youth to lIbidinou
pursuit aud spent the time usually appropriar
ID to the acquisition ofuseiu knowledge anon.
mlmicS. testers. dancers, and builoons Both
however by their pre-eHWsM military 0rfi0us
conquered the enemies Of tue State. oyercam
all who dared TO question their right to rule. an,
marched 20 supreme authority through rivers o
I blood. Rome herself the mistress of the world
skilled as She MIS- IN war, found her deadhest an,
most formidable enemy in Nithillatcs. a rli
Bafbarial bur although il Is nutnccts>ary TIA
a distinguished djer should nave his nlnd ex
pandcd aud enlightened 10y general knopled5a
there are other attainmruts which he ought +,
possess: lie ough to learn to obey she Cipi