Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-08-02

accepted his uruuous and dlscOuragng command
with doubt and hesitation is apparent from the let
ter he wrote to Mrs. Washington, announcing that
event as well as the testimony of his nearest con-
nections, whom he either consulted, who wit
messed his struggles The love of his country, and
a sense of her wrongs, were without doubt, the
great if not the sole motives which induced hun
10 take on his shoulders burden perhaps great
as man ever bore, and to persevcre in bearing 1t in
the midst Of disappointment and defeat, joined TO
unmerted censure and national ingratude. 1hat
the desire Of gain did not in the least influence
his decision is apparent, from his stpulating that
he should receive nothing for his services but the
remuneration of his actual expenditures; and that
the love of power was equally absent from his
mind, is demonstrated by It's resignation the mo-
ment his country was free.
The ambition of Washington virtue, that
of NAPOLEON a vice. The limits of the one was the
! freedom and independence Of his country; that of
the other the subjugaton Of the world. One strug
ged for the rights Of his countrymen; the other
aimed at frustrating the rights of nations. One |
freed the other ensaved his country. Finally, !
Washington drove the enemy from his native soil,
while Napoleon eventually drew his enemies into |
the heart of France, to subugate her capital, levy
contributions, and renstate on the throne the very
family whose disagreement had involved her IN |
80 many caamltles.
In dignity of mind; in patience under privation
in fortitude under calamity and disappointment; in
forbearance under provocation; III self possession
under misfortune, and moderation in success,
Washington was far above Napoleon, who knew
how to command others but not himself. The fin
est feature in the composition of Washington, and
which gives him a superiority over all other char
acters in history, that equal and harmonious
combination of qualities which distinguished both
his head aud his heat They formed a consum
mate whole; perfect editice, every part Of which
correspondent with the other, and the apparent
greatness of which is diminished in the contempla-
ton of its symmetry. Instead of having admit
ration attracted TO one particular point, or our
wonder excited by some monstrous disproporton,
the mind dwells with delightful compacency
ION the perfect whole, the eye rests on the calm
beauties of Il summer sunset, when nature combines
all her harmonlCs in one and exhibits at a single
view her greatness and her beauty. There was
no maser passion i'll his mind, swallowing up or
ovcrshadowing all the rest; and in his virtues there
was nothing excessive. We no came's hump
in the formation OF his mind; no disproportioned
Is projection producing wonder without exciting adj
,r miration. Like the star OF the Mariner he was al
d. ways the same; always shining bright and clear
j. with 1ut dazzling the eyes, always pointing way
is true as the needle to the pole.
= Nor do believe that, a closer examinations
n his military genius will suffer much in comparing
it with that of Napoleon To combine and direct
n small means TO the successful attainment Of great
= ends, is, in my opinion, evidence of greater skill
than is exhibited in the conduct of great enterpris
# es, with means fully adequate to the object. The
5, direction of SMALL i'll provided undisclpned, and
It. discontinued army, dspirited by past disasters and
d anticipating others to come, Is certainly not less
e. difficult than leading well constituted force, pro-
o vded with every thing necessary, and flushed with
victory, to new conquests. In one case, patience,
ii iortitude, orbeaahce, perseverance, an insight in
III 70 human motives and passions, and consunmate
he skill in their management is indispensable; in the
lg other the machine may be said to govern itself,
is and perform its evolutons by the innate force Of Its
us own prime lpeS OF action. All critics III the art OF
~ war unite in placing the difficulties Of conducting
c. defensive war far above those Of all offensive one
or and giving the preference, not to the general who
/ pains the victory, which Is often Il affair OF
I'd accident, but to him who maintains successful
lie defence against superior force, and preserves his
I'd army in the midst Of disaster and defeat know
IN not among all the great actions of Napoleon one
o. displaying greater fnrepidlty, enterprise and skill
nd than was exhibited by Washington at the success
us sive battles of Trenton and Princeton and if VIC
g, are to estimate their importance by their conse
ed quences, the most celebrated conflicts of ancient
III and modern times, where hundreds of thousand:
were engaged and tens of thousands fell, become
he insignificant in the comparison History records
CHI that these bloody and tremendous contests pro
duced for the most part no permanent results 1h
by possession of town, Or at most, the temporary
CHI cupation of portion Of the country, was al
is, that was acquired in exchange Tor the sacrifice
ak of heacatombs; and even when victory led TO TIT
conquest of States experience has generally show
an to its ancient proprletors, or another change o
OF masters in the person OF some new conqueror.-
ISL But these victories of Washington, though game
es, by small numbers over numbers not much greater
ne, were followed by consequences at this moment ia
pa. more momentous than all those of Napoleon CON
the bined They laid foundation for the successful
m termination OF a struggle which gave liberty to
lch new world and whose principles are now at wor
of to achieve similar triumph i'll the old. The vic
his tories of Napoleon have all ended in merely trans
the ferrng France from the dynasty Of Bourbon tina
to of Orleans
by Still, the unsullied glory of Washington mu:
zee rest more on his virtues than on his genius and
ing is for this reason he has now become, and wi
Dy remain so long the records traditions Of pas
and times preserved one OF the bright If not tn
on brightest Lights of future ages the safest and nc
chs blest example for imitation the model Of patriot
av- the incarnation Of the spirit of republican her
for In his lite and actions, both in public and private
IS we see the tiilmph OF virtue and the wonders s
but can accomplish 1t is there most clearly demon
ua srated that it is not alone 10 the qualities Of I'll
his head that indebted for the brightest hon
to ors the most impershable fame, but that those
ure the heart have a still higher claim to the adnir
rity ration of mankind. In bs.person, virtue may
ing said to have resumed her lawful supremacy, ana Il
sub example cannot hut have the most sautury effect
by giving to public admiration proper directio
lot and TO public gratitude the noblest object of d
his votion In most other heroes the spendor of the
$50 achievements throws all defects and vices into Il
han sh4.e; but had not Washington been finally su
the cessiul he would have stood where he stands no
the with only this difference that instead of being h
ne deverer, he would have been equally yenerated
he the great martyr of his country.
that The fate Of these two great men Of modern tim
the has been as different as was the constitution
In their minds One crushed under the vast ia
sve rc of ambition he had reared on the rocks Of m
be- lions, and cemented with their blood the 9th
tiff. rose to the highest pinnacle of glory, by nitil
they his ambition 10 giving liberty to his country.
more did not like Napoleon, after queng foreign en-
duct miles, turn his sword on her bosom, and become
His still more deadly foe by enslavng her himself
IS to The moment of his greatest triumph was VIII
rial instead of fomentng the disconenis of an arm
rent which, under his auspices mad freed the count
hese and MAKING il the instrument of rivetnp her cba
4