Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-04-29
From the National Era
The Military Movement.

We have no disposition to disparage GeneFai
Taylor, because his profession is repugHah' ~
true civilization, because he has won VICTORIES -
a war unnecessary and unjust, or because ne ~
a stakeholder. thus occupying Postioh DIT wal
with tba snrit of the ace and the genius OF real
Doroocrocv His bravery is unqueStlonable; but
i rnrst he recollected that courage Is the rule,
Nth men-cowardice the exception. His pru-
,Ianoa Is commendabe-hi care for the comforts
of his soldiers, his forbearanCe towards nom
combatants, his conduct at Monterey IN fact,
his whole course as a soldier, shows that constr
mtionally he is humane man, and that though
ready to shed blood when the bloody rules OF
war demand, he is no less prompt, when they
are silent, to spare its efusion Wthal, 1t can
not be denied that he has always eylnced great
practical skill as commanding general, and
framed his dispatches with breyitN precision and
good taste,
TO deny all this would be folly; it would be-
trav nothing but prejudice But what is there
in his acts, or in the qualities indicated, to entl-
tie hmto the highest office in the gift OF this
natonl
By whom is he nominated By the Wings,
who have uniformly denounced the war, as I'M
necessary, aggressive, unjust And yet, they
would make man President for gaining yicto-
ries in such war-crown him with the highest
honor for rendering popular war, which they
have constantly Iabored to make unpopular,
Will they stop shouting, long enough to con-
siderl How many years is it since every hair
mon them stood erect with apprehension at the
idea Of electing to the Chief Maglstracy dis
tinCuished general Just because, many years be-
fore, he had won memorable victory! True,
there was much to aIlay apprehension. Hall
generation had passed away since the great e.
vent. The battle Ind been fought upon our oDR
soil, against an invader, in defensive war, wa
ged for the protection of precious rights The
hero had retired from the field, and proved HIM
self as excellent citizen as he had been a
soldier. lie was not taken from the camp; he
came from the People. But what do these poll
ticians crewhile 50 fearful of military influence,
now propose! Totake, aoIcas roIcnS, fresh from
the camp, with the dust and blood Of battle still
upon him, man who knows nothing Of civil
life, except through the hearing Of the ear who
has never been used to any other rule than that
of war, the vital principle Of which, every one
knows is DeSpoiiSW, and to make him the Chlci
Magistrate of a Republic, whose very Iiie-blood
is DEMOCRACY, the antagonist OF such Dcspot-
ism! Is it wise, is it not monstrous to bring
the camp and the cabinet in so close JuXtapos
ton! If the highest civic honors are thus to be
Won if bloody victory is to be the stepping
stone to the Presidential chair, when are we tC
have peace! VIII not the sword deyour forever
How long before the army shall become tin
master of our destiny! Do you not make it thu
strongest interest of the ambitious to embroi
the nation in war, to perpctuate and aggrandz
the military establishment 1t was not thus on
fathers acted Washington was chosen for tn
highest seat, not because he was first in war, bu
because he was first in peace In all probabll
ty, no other man could have harmonized ant
shaped the conflicting elements under the ney
constitution. But who were his successors!-
Civilians, ALL The army had done immcns
service. 1t had turned out distinguished gener
ais who had signalized themselves by their tai
ents and their brilliant deeds But the peop
were Jealous of military influence, and were ben
OH making the arts of peace more honorable THAI
the art ofwar. A different course would have pro
we'd fatal to the government What Mexico nov
is this republic would probably have been In
stead of being blessed with aGovernment of thu
Pcoph, we should have been cursed by the etcr
nal strife of military dictators, and in place of
General Taylor operating as the instrument of
powerful CtOtL government, VIC HliSllt navy nav
an American Santa Anna, embodying in himsel
the imbecilc sovereignty of a crushed nation.
Suppose the precedent set, can you RESTRAIN
consequences Look at the future There
another hero who is to be honored. Genera
Scott is the conqueror of Vera Cruz and tn
Gibraltar of the New World Ere long, thu
dream of revealing in the halls Of the Montezu
mas will be realized, lie who bled at Lundy'
Lane, will dictate peace at the Cann0ns moutl
from the city of Mexico. Having recognize,
the victories ofTaylor as sufficient recommends
ton to the Presidential chair, would You dsre
gard the claims of Scott And then, what O
Worth, and Wool, who already are acknowledges
as only second in distinction and services be
cause second in commando Your precedent
pregnant with evil; it will entail upon us lin
of military claimants to the Presidency; and, a
successful Spoilatjon of MeSico'is now consider
ed valid reason for comforting Presidential hon
ors, the military aspirant hereafter may ASSUME
that the conquest of Mexico will furnish clea
and an indisputable title. Better stop this gam
before we begin it.
But who are they that are so jealous to con
vert General into PRESIDENT
J. Seekers Of the spolls Of office, who mag
inc that the popular enthusiasm is certain guar
anty Of success in this adventure of President
making
2 Politicians of the school of Harmon, tn
centre of whose world is the moneyed interest
whose two great principles, on which hang al
law and liberty are, bank and tariff; AM
whose only idea of a government is, that Of al
immense dolar-coining machine They Away
go for the man who, sound in the faith Of thei
two fundamental principles, is the most available
no matter what his character or circumstances
no matter what other issues may be involved, 0
ether consequences may follow They woul'
be equally jealous for Shareholder Or an aboli
zionist, follower Of the camp or member Q
the Peace Society, provided he could be elected
and would then secure them high tariff and
national bank.
g. Men of impulse, whose feelings arc Away
misleading their judgments, and whom certain
kind of thoughtless chivalry renders susceptibl
to the delusive glories or war,