Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-08-14

the earnest prayer--lhe shouts of victory, as
she fitted to and fro from armyto enny--all
surround that hero warrior Though, batteries
speed their whisliing shot at his person, and his
garments are burnt and rent by powder and ball,
yet he moves not; bnt reigqs, with unclouded INTEL
ect and with calmness unparalleled, the pres
ding genius Of this scene. He has not -miscacu.
lated his own force or that OF his adversary, but
by his own stesdiness Of nerve and the jndomha.
bic energy with which he carries out his own pur
poses he has ioIled back the cloud which lowered
over his little army, and with coming dawn
awakens under bright sun 10 an unparalleled
victory and 10 immortal fame. Here is picture
for you OF the military chief Of which the original
is Zachary Taylor. No drapery surrounds it,
spread by fancy; the coloring,s furnished alone
by truth. 81, 2bGs. OH gs
j Here are the exhibitions at once of courage,
energy, and military skill OF the highest order -
that skill which consists in a knowledge of his
own army and Of the moral and natural situation
Of that Of his adversary that skill which teaches
the leader when and how,to fight and conquer,
which, after ALL is the consunmaon OF the mill.
| tary art. His countrymen are accustomed to look
upon General Taylor in the light OF, military
character alone, and, indeed his operations, and
the manner in which, without once trusting TO
luck, he has conducted those operations to glori.
Gus results, indicate such system in The manage
ment OF professional business, such large expert.
ence, such high order Of intelligence such cour.
age and perseverance in positions Of danger, such
energy Of character and steadiDess OF purpose,
as must stamp him. at once ss soldier Of most
commanding talent, and as an extraordinary man,
| but it is not TO these traits would relief, as
before stated for the nobles features fhis charac
ter, or upon which have myself fingered with
most pleasure, when contemplating him. Those
qualities may make great captain. but they
do not make the better character--a good man
My service in Mexico frequently brought me
near to General Taylor, and was industrious in
my examination Of the actual character of the
man whenever opportunity was presented. !
have no motive to deceive You, and you must take
the impressions received for what they are worth.
The manner in which politicians, in this our day,
are accustomed 10 speak Of men, and especially
Of such as may be elevated 10 political power, is
so utterly extravagant, so pfofussly hyperbolical,
that, after they take bold OF the character OF Gen.
Taylor no description could give would be
recognised as bordering on truth. Glowing ora>
tory will seize The achievements OF the General,
and dress them off in all the frippcry of metaphor;
and doubt whether the man viii ever be regar.
ded, or whether he would know his own likeness.
have seen the pictures Of him in books and
pamphlets. and in prints. Some have the head
of Napoleon, otheis that OF Caesar, and some are
unlike any original have ever behed, but none
Ike the Genetal know So it will be with the
pictures the politicians will execute. If desired
10 express, in the fewes words, what manner oil
man General Tayloris, should say, that, in his
manners and his appearance, he is one Of The
| common people Of this country. He might be
transferred from his tent at Monterey to this as
sembly, and he would not be remarked among
this crowd of respectable old farmers as man a
all distinguished from those around him. Perfect
ly temperate in his habits; perfectly plain in hi:
dress; entirely unsssuming in his manners, he APP
pears TO be an old gentleman in fine health
+ whose thoughts are not turned upon his personal
appearance. and who has no point about him tc
attract particular attention. In his intercourse
with men, he is iree frank, and manly. He play:
off none Of the airs OF some great men whom
have met. There is an artificial dignity somt
men wear, TO add TO moral stature which con
science whispers 10 them need support from man
neriSm Some, who arould be deemed great, pre-
serve their reputation by studied gravity, which
D seems to say .F .--
... 81 am Sir Oracle;
h When | ope my mouth let no dog bark"
. But a close and critical examination OF lhes
e always discovers assures in the character fatal,
J.. blemishing the perfection which they pretend 10
\ and preserve the appearance Of, by keeping at
. distance from their peers. Gen. Taylor is not o
this class oil great men. Any one may approach
, him as nearly as can be desired, and the NOR
l. closely his character is examined the greater beau
# ties it dscloses. did,.
y /. He is an honest man. | do not mean by tina
y merely that he does not cheat or lie. meal
e that he is man who never Ensembles and VIII
+ scorns all DISCUSSES. He neither acts par
! among his friends for effect nor assumes to b
what he is not. Whenever he speaks you hea
what he honestly believes, and, whether right O
i. wrong, you feel assurance that he expressed hi
|, real opinion. His dealings with men have bee
1t OF most varied character, and | never hav
II heard his honest name stained by the breath G
e the slightest reproach.
}. 2. He is a man of rare good judgment. B
e no means possessed of that briliancy of genu
IS which attracts by its flashes, yet like the meteor
y expires even while you gaze upon it; by n
t, means enjoying that combination Of talent whic
l. penetrates Instantly the absrusest subject an
}. measures its length and breadth ss if by intuition
! Gen. Taylor yet has that order of intellec
e which more slowly but quite as surely master
d all that it engages and examines all the comb
II nations Of which the subject is susceptible
, When he announces HE conclusions you fee
e confident that he we'll understands the groun
81 upon which he plants himself, and you re.
st assured that the conclusion is the deduction c
e skill and sound sense faithfully applied 10 tn
st matter in hand 1t is this order OF mind whic
lie has enabled him, unlike many other officer
d OF the army, 10 attend 10 the wants OF his famil