Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-06-01

| Dut OF inter 1ne, mas HlsO WTltIeI anu EhIU ln1Cn
on the same subject. This latter gentleman, |
think, calls ii suggestion y but never, venture
to say, did any metaphyscian, pushing his re
searches furtbest, and deepest into that occult sci.
ence, dream that would come 10 pass, which we
have discovered and clearly developed- that is,
that two subjects so unlike, rs an appropriation to
n road in 1910, and the tactics proper in Indian
war ~ 1911. were not merely akin, hut actually,
identcally the same.
| Mr.. Speaker, this discussion should think, il
not absolutely absurd and utterly ridiculous,
which my respect for the gentleman from Michi.
gan, and the American Congress, will not allow
me TO suppose, has elected another trait in the
American character, which has been the subject
Of grent admiration with Intelligent travellers from
the old world. Foreigners have admired the ease
with which us Yankees, rs they caIl us, can turn
orr hands 10 any business o. pursuit, public or
private and this hns been brought forward by
Our own people, as proof thai nan, in this great
aud free republic. is n being very far superior to
The same animal in other parts of the globe less
favored than ours. A proof of the most convin-
cling character OF this truth SO flattering to our
national pride, is exhibited before our eyes, in the
gentleman from Michigan, delivering to the world
Il grave lecture on The campaigns of General liar-
rison including variety Of very interesting mil
itary events in the years 1911, 1872 and 1873
In all other countries, aud in all former times be.
fore now, gentleman who would either speak or
be listened to, on the subject of war, involving
subtle criticisms on strategy, and careful reviews
OF marches, seges, bat'les, regular and casual and
irregular onslaughts, would be required to show
first, that e had studied MUCH investigated ful
ly, aud digested well, the science and history Of
his subject But here, sir, no such painful prepa-
ration is required; witness the gentleman from
Michigan. He has announced to The House that
he isa militia general on the peace establishment! I!
That he is n lawyer we know, tolernhy well read
in Ti,ld's Practice and Espnasse's- Nisi Prius-
These studies, so happily adapted to the suhjec!
of war, with an appointment in the militia in tire
of peace, furnish him, at once, with all the knowl-
edge necessary to discourse 10 us, as from high
authority, upon all the mysteries in the "trade of
DEATH" Again, MIR. Speaker, it must occur to cv-
cry one that tce TO whom these questions are sub
United, and these military criticisms nre address
sed, being all colonies at least, aud most of u.s.
like the gentleman himself brigaders, nre of Mi
conceivable tribunals, best qualified to decide any
uice point, connected with military sciance. |
hope the House will not he alarmed by an impress
sion, that am about to discuss one or the other,
of the military questions now before us at length,
but wish TO submit a remark or two, by way of
preparing us for proper appreciation oflhe iner~
lis of the discourse We have heard | trust, as
we are all brother officers that the gentleman
from Michigan, and the two hundred and forty
colonies, or generals, of this honorable House,
will receive what have to say, us coming from
an old brother in arms, and addressed to them in
a spirit of candor,
Such as becomes comrades fee,
Rcposng after victory"
Sir, we all know the military studies of the gen
teinan from Michigan, before he was promoted.
take il to he, beyond reasonable doubt, that he
had pernsed with great care the title puge Of
" Baron Steuben." Nay, GO further; as the
gentleman has incidentally assured us he Is prone
TO look into musty and neglected volumes, l ven.
Ir n tI,lt,t a..
sonal knowledge, that he has prosecuted his re-
searches so far to he able TO know that the rear
rank stands right heilind the front. This think
is fairly inferrbc from what understood him to
say of the lines of Eucampment at Tippecanoe
Thus we see, MIR. Speaker, that the gentleman
from Michigan, so far as study can give us know-
edge of II subject, comes before u.s. with claims to
great profundity. But this is n subject, which.
of all others, requires the aid of actual experi-
ence to make us wise. Now the gentleman from
Michigan, being militia general, as he has told
us, his brother officers in tn, simple statement
has revealed the glorious history of tolls, priya-
tons sacrifices and bloody scenes, through which
we know, from experience and observation, n mi
liia officer in time Of peace is sure to pass We
all, in fancy, now see the gentleman from Michigan
in that most dangerous and glorious event in The
life OF militia general on Tie peace establishment
"a parade day! That Tor which ali the other
days Of his life seem to have been'made We can
see the troops in motion umbrellas, hoe and axe
handles, and other like deadly implements of war
overshadowing the field, when 10! The leader of
the host approaches.
" Fan q. his coming shnes;'
his plume. white, after the ia IN of the great
Bourbon, is Of ample length, ana reads lis doeiil
history in the bereaved necks and lusoms of forty
neighboring hen-rooss Like the great Suwaroff
he seems somewhat careless in forms and points
OF Dress hence his epaulets may be on his shout
d rs, back, or sides, but still cleaning, gluri0nsy
gleaming in the SUM- Mounted lie is. too. LET il
not he forgotten. Need describe TO The colonies
and generals of this honorable House the eed
which heroes bestride on such occasions? No, |
see the memory of other days is with YOU. You
see before you The gentleman from Michigan
mounted on his crop-earei, bUshy tai ell mare, The
singular obliqnilies of whose hinder limbs is des- !
crbed by that most expressive phrase, "sicke
hams" her height Just ourlecn bands all told :"
yes, sir there you lis steed that laughs al the
shaking Of The spear ;''.thut is, his "war horse
whose neck is clothed with thunder" Mr. Speak.
er, we have glowing descriptions in history of Al. |
exander The Great, aud his war horse Burephalus, |
at the head OF the inyinciblc Macedonian pialnnx
but, sir, such are the Improvements of modern
times that every one must see, that our militia
general, with his crop-earcd mare, with blsly -tail
and sickle ham, would literally irighten off bat
lie field, an hundred Alexanders. Bot, sir, to the
history of the parade day. The general thus
mounted, and equipped, is in the field, and reudy
for action. On the eve Of some desperate enter !
prise such as giving order to shoulder arms, it may
he, there occurs crisis one of the accidents of
war which no sagacity could foresee or prevent
cloud rises aud passes over the sun Here an
occasion occurs for thai greatest OF all traits in the
character of u commander, that tact which ena-
lies him to seize upon and turn to good account,
events unlocked for, as they arise Now for tn e
caution. wherewith the Roman Fabus ioiled the
skill and courage of Hannibal. A retreat Is or.
dered, and troops and general, IN n twinkling. are
found safely bivouacked in neighborlng grocery
nut! even mere, the general still has room for The
exhibition of heroic deeds Hot from The field.
and chafed with the untoward events of the day,
your general unshealhs his trenchan, blade, eight.
cen inches ia length, us you will well remember.
and, with an energy and renorseless fury, he slices