Lincoln telegraph., 1841-05-13
ORIGINAL.
FOR THE TELEGRAPH.
HANNIBAL AND BONAP&RTIc.


On examining the actions of these great war-
riors, how nsensbly we led to exclain, how
august how majestic We overlook ALL but
what seems to us great and resplendent we see
the extent and swiftness of their conquests, their
intrepid courage, instances of their noble gener-
osity and affection for those under their command
which makes them to be regarded as fathers and
protectors, without considering the secret hidden
springs of action and as scripture represent
them, cruel, wild beasts, lions, bears, tigers,
spreading terror and desolaton universally, and
forever gorging themselves with blood and
slaughter
History may bazeR forth the warriors glory
but see the blood-stain on their tablet They
have shone and disappeared s'like the white foam
crest on the tossed wave" Oh ambition, false
ambition, thou instigator of war hear a warning
voice sighs Ger the ocean of eternity, sbehold
the warriors glory" And yet we are prone to
forget this. Who can help loving the little Han
nbal entreating with tender affection his fathers
permission to attend him into SPAIN ! seem to
see in the boy the fire dart from his eyes, the
martial vigor displayed in his countenance, which
marked afterward the greatest general perhaps,
that antiquity can boast of. Who can but ad-
mire that determined perseverance in Hannibal
and Bonaparte which led them over the Alps
whose tops seemed to touch the skies TO struggle
with the ruggedness of the paths of the noun
tains, where they could hardly stand and when
the armies hung their heads and grew dishearten-
ed, and multitudes dying from fatigue and
hardship, it seemed to be more than the spirit of
aman that could put fresh courage into their
hearts, fill them with pleasing hopes and inspire
them to pursue their march, though the road
grew more craggy. the ways narrower, sleeper and
more slippery on they marched sometimes STUN
bling and beating down another, where there
was no food for them in mountains buried under
eternal shows; and how do we regard that fear
less independence as we term it, by which they
could speak contemptibly of the greatest oppo-
sing powers. Hannibal scorns to compare him
self with Scpio; Bonaparte with Wellington.
What ought the powers of Rome, Russia, Aus
tria, England to dazzle such warriors we the
conquerors of the Alps-the field and the glory
will be ours Rome's greatest enemy was Han
hiba; three times he cut to pieces the Roman
army; and, bnt for the factions in his country,
sworn eternal enmity to the Romans and what
greatness of SOUL am almost led to exclam
when read of his groans and tears, his exas-
peraton, in complying with the orders of his
jealous countrymen. Here, I think l see in
Hannibal what cannot in Bonaparte the one
fought for his countrys glory, the other for his
own. Hannibal, name inspiring terror to the
Roman, says, when fed to Antiochus, 81
bound myself to hate the Romans; it was this
that made me draw the sword against Rome ;
during thirty six years it was that, even in times
of peace, drew me from my native country and
forced me to seek assylum in your dominions
forever guided and fired by the same passion,
should my hopes be eluded here, l will fly to
every part of the globe and rouse up all nations
against the Romans. hate them and will hate
them eternally, and know that they bear me no
less animosity. So long as you continue your
resolution to take up arms against that people
you may rank Hannibal among your best friends" "
Did I say Hannibal fought for his country s
glory ] would feign think SO, But he says not