Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-07-27
POLITICAL.


into the history Of other nations and reflects up.
on human nature. Military reputation under all
forms of-government, and among all people, has
possessed decided advantages over every other.
There are two reasons for this; the trst Is, that
it is more easily understood, and the full value
not only more easily assigned, but IN addition,
the people are prone to add to it by extravaeant
exagseratinn. The simple untaught man, who
cannot comprehend the excellence and the merit
of a statesman, or philosopher, like Bacon. or
Chatham, because that excellence arises from mo-
raj attributes, and therefore not, an object Of
sight or of hearing, can readily place before his
Imagination the incidents of battles, and destruc-
ton; while those engaged i'll them, become dem-
gods in his esteem, when in truth, they may
have been nothing more than ignorant ruftians.
That man can readily comprehend the services
Of the brave officer. who has been placed at the
head of body of troops, who has exposed his
person in battle, and has, by good fortune. and
conduct, obtained victory; but be cannot see,
or understand. the intellectual spring which has
set the army 10 motion, aud directed when, where
an for what end. it has been ordered into the
field. The motion of the arm is seen, but the wolf.
ton, which nerves and directs that arm, is lnvi.
sible. When compared to this unseen moral
impulse, the mere soldier is Of no more import
ance, than his own sword or musket compared
to himself The child looks upon the drummer,
as the greatest man of the army, because he
makes the most noise.
The second reason for the popular devotion to
military fame is. the greater notoriety which 1t OBJ
tains. Hundreds NAV have heard of the achieve.
ments of Francisco, 10 whom the name OF Patrick
Henry is scarcely known, and his transcendant
merit still less understood. There is no spot so
out of the way, SD unfrequented. 10 which the
fame of the warrior will not penetrate. 1t will
be the subject Of the eside tale, or the idle de-
clamatlon Of the nuisy politician; it will be the
subject of familiar conversation among those who
have scarcely heard Of the most enlightened and
patriotic names of the country, and whose moral
influence may have fixed its fate and character.
This is a melancholy source of reflection TO the
patriot aud philosuphic statesman. 1t was not
without reason that our statesmen were so appre-
hensve OF the danger to our free institutions from
military men, and no one more elOquently. and
more propheticallv declared its dangers than
Patrick Henry. When once the popular min d
is seized with extravagant admiration OF the mi
lirsry spendnr of any one. it no longer reasons;
it binds itself to him with the force ut religious
faith; nothing can be wrong which he does. -
While OIL other subjects, the ignorant are con-
tent to look to those Of their fellow citizens WHO
in relation to the military favorite. they consl
der themselves as competent to decide as any
one else; thew believe in him. and therefore yield
the most implicit appreciation to every thing that
he does. Statesmen may warn them in vain
against those measures, whose tendency is to-
bring ruin and slavery upon them; their 6ettJ
IS fixed on the idul, and in matters OF Jain rea-
son is superseded. 1t is impossible for you to do
any act which will be dsapproved by those sup
purters; they will disbeiIeve. or it they believe,
they will say, that you had good reasons for your
acts.
If you should declare that member of the Sc.
nate who dared to vote against nomination
made by you, should be banlshed from the Re-
public; that any Representative who voted, or.
spoke against favorIte measure, or favorite
individual, should be beaten with hickory cud-
gel; or, if you should denounce the highest Judi
oial Tribunal for having made decisions disagree
able 10 you; in any Of these cases, and in every
other of those examples, furnished by your adj
ministration, SO full of mischief, Of error, and
usurpaton-your act would be apprauded by
those whu place their faith, as well as trust, IN
you, and eyhibi, the degrading, melancholy spec
tace in free country Of uoi,o,iary political SER
pifude do verify believe that 1t you had or
dered half dozen Senators, and Representa-
tives from either branch OF the Natiouai Soii.
eress, to be seized and beheaded on the steps OF
the Capitol, the act would still be approved by
thousands of those who support you as Hero!
Within few days. have witnessed IN this city,
display of attachment, as perfect, as any that
Hero. Demi.od or Tvvant ever enjnyed. Many
of those who earnestly wished you to approve the
Bank Bill, aud who in the firm belief that you
would do so, were prepared to shout your prais
es. no sooner heard that you had desplsed their
wishes and tramped on their dearest interests.
than they raised a huzza of appreciation. They
huLzad for tie Veto If you had signed. 1t
would have beer huzza for the Bank. What
infatuaton!
| Alas, is it then in human nature to love ty-
rants. aad to be infatuated to- such degree as to
applaud, even while they place their feet upon
the nccks of their willing slavess But there 10
still hope that the good sense OF the people will
prevail, and give proper direction TO the mIsta-
/ ken. although honest zeal. OF your devoted wor-
shippers. The foot print of despotism is seen
( upon this hitherto free land-and IL strikes no
/ terror to the hearts of yfree"aen! Who could
have believed this few wears ago, when the
slightest approach Of the fend, would have caus'
al m inv chudde rinu thron phOut the Re-