The Columbian fountain., 1846-07-17

answer. a am, dear slr,S fu sasgs}3 eh Ed s,I
tbssa yourimost obedient servant, Ri q
~ frsa &C. p MONTGOMERY
MAJ. iC. II. MONTGOMERY :aettesy aaUa Rf
SIR: To preserve and perpeluate the mem
ory Of political virtue, and 10 insureto lis vo7
tariess the honors OF legitimate renown, are
among the sacred duties yet left US to perform,
by those patriots and statesmen who have de-
scended to the tomb; and whose biographies
may operate as examples worthy of imitation
by posterity. The lives of mere iacionisls and
paury demaeogues, always. characterised by
aspiring ignorance, ignoble ambition, and nar-
row conceptions ofDa,ional glory deserve the
iniamy or oblivion invariably entalled onthem
as an inheritance; whilst the memory and
achievements, Of The patriot Of lofty sentiment
and extended yieWs, whose mind embraced
the past, the present, and the future, of a ma.
TONS prosperity and glory ,,althoughl he hinr
selflpay have, descended to helgrave, can ne
yer perish in the lapse of time, unless from a.
total corruption and degeneracy OF our natiolial
T. B j
character.
History is but a tissue Of the virtues and.
crimes OF mankind. compiled and perpetuated
for The edifcaton Of posterty and future tmes;.
and nothing bul the iron pen OF The faithful his
torian, unawed by power and unswayed by
prejudice, can or ought TO be allowed TO pre-
sent to prosperity, any historical record Of past
ages. The decepuons OF history, for temporal
ry and factional purposes, and the influence or
the passions OF historians themselves, have de-
graded the history OF all countries, our own
nol excepted. The spirit of the age, The, ban
ishment of superstltlous preJudlces, and The
intelligence Of the great mass OF The
people, now require new order OF historical
the llnie OF romance has passed
away, when men could be made 10 believe in
the entire perfection, or unredeemed infamy OF
their heroes and statesmen of history; they no.
longer expect the virtue Of angels or thevices
of demons, in the characters OF their brethren
of The human race; they simply require naked
truth Of histo,y supported by the real characters
and unadorned achievements of their conspic-
uous men, recorded by the most scrupuious
and phlosophic impurtiality, because, as have
elsewhere before remarked, IN regard TO the
most powerful Incentives 10 virtue and vice,
especially among individuals OF conspicuous
and powerful minds, it is in the very nature Of
man, 10 dread as much the Immortality OF his
crimes, as the Oblivion Of his virtues.
How valuless is patriotism, sir, 10 The hero
who ,perished in baue, .unless in the perspec-
tive OF reward from Heaven, if his name and
achievements are 10 perish with his frame IL
is the great and ennobllng sentiment oflmnor-
tally, Of never dying repowna that anlmales
the resolution Of The palrIot, and fires the soul
of the hero The gratitude and admiration Of
their country, are due 10 The memory Of their
deeds; and to withhold them irom the records,
OF history are nsuoual frauds against lhen-.
selves, the present generation, and poSlerty. B
was well and intimately acquainted with
your brother, Maj. Len.uel p. Montgomery, of,
the 39lh. Reg. United States army, He, fell in
the charge on the Indian, Breaslwork, at the
Horse Shoe battle, on the 9Th OF March, 1914,
which terminated the Creek Indian war. His
character, like that OF Gen. Richard Montgo-.
merry, who fell in the terrible charge on the
walls of Quebec, and his relative by family
consequently, was. remarkable for 6rmness,
military .ardor, and an indomabe
he was the first American soldier
who gained the summit of the breastwoik, and
the first who fell in the charge wlch Sc
cured the ,yctory---a victory which glorious
lv anticipated and sustained the subsequent
and. unparalleled 'triumphHat New Orleans
over the cipilised and enlightened allies OF the
Greek Indians, and terminated The last Brush
war ga ,asinat ldraesrss ellen io3 .t5t,x
Under these impressions OF your broiher's
character and military services, and IN consL
deration Of Major Moh'gomery's high stand
mo Al the Bar Of Tennessee, 10 say nothing
Of the duty ofsdging justice % lhe memory
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