Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1838-07-17

D57 John Fitzgerald, an lrshman, aged about 30
died al the farm of ID. Foster, near Newburgh, on
Tuesday last. In the pocket Of the deceased was
found piece Of paper on which written "Palrick
Monnin 236 Broadway"
For the Herald
The Army.
Mr.. EDITOR = -Percelvlng from the tenor OF feve-
raj recent arlices in your spirited paper that you
evlnce disposition TO do justice 10 class OF men
OF whom the writer constitutes one, am induced to
trouble you with few observations relation To our
little army, and should you deem The source from
which they eminate, as 1t is, an humble one, am
conVncedfrem the character o. your paper thpi you
will not on that account refuse them an insertion.
The army is generally cons dered, among our good
citizens, the last refuge OF the prof gate and dlssl
paed-of the drunkard reduced 10 his last "copper"
The convict Just escaped from the pemtenuary and
whom society throws from its bosom with scorn and
loathng a moral peslence. This, 10 a certain
tent,is true There many vicious characters whom
the army can no more hope TO escape from than soc
ETY., snnl they ars known-.here are many who have
been dsspated, and with the loss OF worldly charac-
tor and )rdly goods in the recklessness Of despair
abandon their friends and acquaintance and seek 10
hide themselves and their disgrace from the gaze OF
wor which knows them no longer. There IS sui
another class who, from afiluence or comfort have
been by the force of uBorseea contingencies reduced
TO poverty, and who perhaps have laIklng predl-
lecuon for soldier life, which they abandon them
selves 10 with a degree of enthusiasm when other
means OF support tail them. OF this latter class
purpose 10 sfeak. They are not numerous; and
only wonder there are so many, when the feeling
have alluded 10 above has obtained, which consIgns
one man 10 the lowest step in the scale OF humanity,
who is mad enough, fool enough, or unfortunate
enough 10 be willing to set himself up as a target
for cur savage foes 10 shoot at Now the question
naturally arrises why is this feeling abroad 2-why
deemed unfit associates for respectable cltl.
zens?-why are we thus degraded? 1 answer, sim
ply from the fact of our being enlisted soldiers Ii
ma not be generally known, Nr. Editor that in our
army-in our republican army-proRouon beyond
the grade of sergeant is almost unknown TO the en-
listed soldier, and the knowledge Of this fact am
disposed 10 attribute the bad character OF many OF
our recrus-the immense number OF oesernons IN
TO the number OF our forces which are con-
tnualy taking place, and the lack OF spirited high
feeling in our different corps Take away from the
soldier the Indictment 10 exeron and emulation, and
hr becomes mere machlae-oseying The orders oil hs
Off GERS because he knows he must aetuaed alone by
the principle OF fear the ambition OF attaining
10 the dignity of the +" Cherron." Sensible that
with his utmost Efforts he can 60 no further the man
of spirit SINKS into unwilling and degraded slave
unwilling because from youth no has been taught
that our institutions were republican, and thar worth
and merit IN man should enable him 10 attain dis
uncuon-degi AIDED because public opinion has set
lis seal upon him. We see, TO be sure, occasionally,
IN the public prints, laudatory commentators OF
"our gallant army and "our brave troops" but
when do we see oar fellow citizens taking us by the
hand and say ing respect you"
There Is a radical defect IN our military oryanza-
tion and think II lies here We have in the bosom
OF the freest Republic upon the face Of the earth
an institution more arlstocratic IN It's tendcncy-more
dangerous than any similar
ms iluIlon in monarchical Europe / allude 10 the
Military Academy at West Point
And here permit me 10 say, that your paper IS the
only one n the city in which have remarked dis
position to speak of this Institution il really de-
serves. The large dallcs far as can ascertain,
uniformly speak o. the Academy IN the highest terms,
and indeed appear To seek opportunities 10 praise II.
know no way of accounting fer this, unless II be
that the NEST of them directly or indirectly inte-
rested IN H. Let US take a view OF this mandatory
Of privileged aris,ocIacy, IN some OF us bearings
upon US poor plebans Ii was originally INTENDED,
believe, for the sons OF revolutionary officers, and
those IN mddlng circumstances OF life; but ITO
what base uses has II come al last" IL ~ now
conyer ent way of rewardiDg political parIizins for
their services. The sons or relatives OF members OF
Congress, and those in high places, alone are admit
ted and have seen the descendants Of revolution
sry sres ofhose who have died IN The service OF their
country refused admission, 10 give place To sons of
pot house poticians, a cl,ss OF citizens Qenerally
who are abls 10 educate their at College. These
receive an educanon-i will not say good one-at
the expense OF government, and they are sent tsrth
10 command men, whom, from the very nature of
their relative Circumstances they have been tau2htto
CONSIDER immra. urabiy beneath thep" IN every at
tribute. They have never mixed with them-never
studied the characters never investigated heir feel
inrs motives; sn they know that the line DE ween
cannot he pass, and the nsipral consequence IS,
they consder themselves far rs heaven an adh as
sunder. What wonder then, If sometimes they do
=" play such fantastic tricks before high heaven,
which II the angels should see am sure they d drop
tear of pity. will not pretend 10 say that there
n . not many valuable officers who have graduated
from this institution; but only speak OF u IN vew
Of its general sosTing upon the army and upon our
country.
Let this blot upon our free institutions be Gone away
with. Throw open the road TO promotion nom inc
ranks; and though will not pretend TO suggest
plan, LEI schools he a5shcd at different military
posts, FIR the instruction Of the non commissioned
ocersin Mathematics and EnRinee rnr and No doubt
exls,s in nv mind that the ranks Of our 80 vice will
speedily he filed with m intelligent class of young
men, zealaus in the discharge of their duties and en-
u Gus of d,stn etrsn who will make far heitr sol-
ders than The pampsred sonr ~ the wealthy ard m
n rental who have eniy ss,icred commissions, per
hsps, m order 10 eperd ih,r money pcn'eriy. ~ 10
IN " To urge that you create gopd ofsrs ros
the renks We have only tn look 10 history 10 show
fnat the best Generals were thus created. In the
French army The beet one ~ the woild-if's usual
10 sr,e CT YEARLY oporr MOI. comm's
I'm, ficers f,r cOu, miss oas The Grand Army OF