Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-07-30
Our Generals.


civil or military. Ages ago, when all knowledge
consisted in the acquisition Of details, and prn-
ciples little understood and nine tenths of the
details had no natural foundation, the longest liver
could learn the most, and consequently age and wis
dom almost correlative terms As the man of
sixty had been favored with twenty more years than
the Of forty for the acquisition of these details,
the Oldest must nave collected the largest budget and
of course the wisest. But all that is changed,
natural laws being discovered and principles being
expanded aud youths of fifteen now knowing more
than of eighty in the days of Aristotle knowl-
edge consists in the comprehension of principles and
their prompt application to details. This requires
analysis and combination, which are powers very df-
ferent from those of mere acquisition; and hence
young Napoleon may be thousand times wiser than
old General Hampton At the commencement of
the last war, the country had the remains of the
Revolution TO direct military affairs DR.. Eusts
and General Armstrong successfully at the head
of the War Department, and Generals Dearborn and
Wilkinson and Hampton and Hull commanded the
armies Every thing went wrong. All these men
were energetic and efficient in the Revolution, but
had become superannuated at the commencement OF
the last war. Defeat and disgrace the results.
Then Generals Brown, Scott, Gaines and Ripley,
young men created by the war of 1912, and General
Jackson then in the vigor of middle age took the
field, and every thing went right All tie naval COM
manders who goriousy sustained the honor of our
flag young middle-aged men, No; a rem
nant of the Revolution was among them.
Now we are in another. war and young and Md
dleaged gaining victories before the country
is even apprsed of hostles, and thousands of young
men are hocking to its Standard almost before they
called, while the old men quarrelling about
rank and etigtts and playing all sorts of ridiculous
pranks, or exhibiting the most selfish caution. Gen.
Gaines, most brave and skilful and active officer in
the war of 1872 has become superannuated, and acts
accordingly. He has long been celebrated for TAX
ing responsibility and acting his hook -
and perhaps the principle prompting 10 this is his
vanity, which always delighted with seeing him.
self in print In the war between Texas and Mexico,
he marched with the army into Texas without orders,
under his construction of the treaty between
Mexico and the United States; and he has been
caiii- ont an army not only lrt0ai but against or
ders He is terrible al c6fsttutonal questions, and
never misses an opportunity of Jumping i2to one,
Never model of discretion, excepting in the field,
he has quite outlived his natural stock of the article
aud the best thing that the Executive do for his
reputation is TO save him from himself and to allow
him to repose his laurels. He-has raised penti-
full crop by past services, and for his own sake, as
well as that of the country. should not be permitted
TO NOW them down. in a vain attempt to raise new
crop after new fashion. ''On your arms restr'
General Scott too has grown DID, and we fear be-
fore his time. At age when body and mind are
usually In full vigOr, he seems TO have suffered his
ne intellect be obscured by rihes and his patriot
De daZZieu NlSfoHS OF SELL Ills leiler 10
the Secretary of War shows little soicitude
about the Presidency than the campaign. General
Scott Is this the hero of Chippewa! Is this the
gallant spirit that shook from armies the night
of revolutionary senility. and led them victory
and glory! In those days, you made your country
your first yourself your second object. But now you
viii not face the enemies of your country, because
you are unwilling to give advantage to the ene-
mics of yourself! How selfish are men often made
by long service When some Colonel Tool at New
Orleans assailcd your courage, we reioiced in the
whitening, annhiating rebuke which he got from all
Americans Your glory, sir, was the nations orna-
ment and when it assailed, no American tongue
should have remained silent, no American should
have hung idle. But you have done your best to
blast your own aurels. But they will bloom in spite
of your folly if you renounce partisan politics, and
mind your military business. We expected better
things of the hero of ChIppewa.-Pa. Ledger.