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

THANKS TO THE ARMY.-The vote of thanks TO the
army that gained two battles in two successive days,
over an enemy three times more numerous and which
has passed both Houses Of Congress as joint resou-
luton, poor affair. Congress thank the surviving
officers and soldiers. They could not, in deccncy,
have done less, and they might have gained credit
for better behaviour, by doing little more. They
sympathize with the families and surviving relatives
of those who fell This too is ,reH enough, but not
quite enough. They offer gold medal to General
Taylor. This too is well; but they might have done
better with very little expense, less than that
caused by the debate this joint resolution.
We object to this restriction OF commendatory do
nations to the commanding officer. General Taylor
needs medal to record transmit his fame No
man, woman, child in the nation will be ignorant
of his merits. History will record them, and tradi
ton will render his name familiar to late generations
But what will become of the names borne by the sol
diers the prirateS, the men, without whom neither
General Taylor all his officers could have gained
these battles. Oblivion is their lot excepting among
their immediate relatives But such is the course Of
human events. Those who need no aid receive it
all, while those who helpless, and whom little
aid would encourage. inspire establish, are left to
struggle alone. In this republican government men
are aided by the public in proportion to their indie
pendence and denied in proportion to their need
Instead of this pu vote of thanks the least thing
that Congress could have dOne to escape the mputa-
ton of contemplate ingrattude, they should have
of his officers and men engaged in these two battles.
All these medals should have been precisely similar,
cast in the same mould, stamped with the same die !;
and the object of this should have been to proclaim
that all did their duty alike from the commander-in-
chief TO the private SOLDIER that in estimating devotion
to country the law makes distinctions, but regards
the obscure mans mite sacred the distinguished
mans rich donation The poor soldier gives his brains
and his blood, his head his heart his hand his life,
and it is all that he has to give. The General can
give more. Then if no distinction can be made in
the zeal with which each gives his all, why should
any be made in the mode of acknowledgement! Ma
poleon gave the same cross of The Legion of Honor
to the soldier and the field marshal the same
that he for himself But we republicans, demo
Gratis, in the sordd, wooden nutmeg spirit of cacua-
tioH, estimate virtues In dollars and cents, acknow-
ledge them according to rank and thus proclaim that
GA saint in Grape is twice saiat in lawn"
Away, with this vulgar estimate borrowed from Eng
land, thenost sordid, lowtoned, wooden nutmeg
drchy in Europe! The highest, the most inspiring
trophy Of the French soldier that cross, the same
that gttered upon the breast of his Emperor.
1t proclaimed to both in courage, in of duty,
IN devotion to our country, we are equal, for each
does all in his power" Would General Taylor have
valued his medal less for seeing its counterpart glitter
upon the breast Of each of his companions from the
highest the lowest! Sharing in heiratigues, pri-
vatons and dangers, he would have gloried in having
them share in has honors. And making the medals
of silver instead of gold, would have proclaimed that
their worth consisted, not in their erchangeabe ralue
Of dollars aud cents, but in their commemoration Of
noble deeds. And the would have been less than
two thousand dollars fifth part of the sum just
voted for the papers af General Hamilton.
In addition to the vote of sympathy to the survivors
of those who fell, we would propose a monument in
the National Museum at Washington, consisting OF
silver platte showing their names and rank, and the
battles in which they died. The vote of thanks
merely says that officers and soldiers nobly fought
and nobly died for their country. But when patriotic
interest inquiries, acho they! the vote leaves tho
the answer TO echo-lcho? -Phad. ledger.