Tri-weekly journal. (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1847-188?, 1847-07-10
THE IJEUTENANT- GENERALsHIP.

ed article in defence of the Administrators
and Mr. Owens course upon this subject. 1t
contends boldly that the President being res
ponsible for the success or failure of the plan
of the war, ought to hare had the choice Of the
individual lohO 11as to carry that plan into &C.
ecutiOn, and insists that to have Gen. Scott or
Gen. Taylor in command of our armies was
'similar to sending Wing to represent Dem
ocratic principlesiT' This odious and outra-
geous sentiment, first promulged by the infa-
nous Brinkerhoff on the floor of Congress, has
been disayowed and denounced by the decent
portion of the democratic party throughout
the whole country, nor would Mr.. Owen or his
editors dare advance it now, was it not as
last resort to shield him from the merited indig-
nation of the people. So true it is
ale, that stands upon slippery place,
Makes nice of no vile hold to stay him up"
But this paltry excuse, so far from breaking
his fall will only plunge Mr.. Owen into''a lower
depth in the estimation of honest and right
feeling men of all parties.
Whatever may have been the fears of the adj
ministration, real or pretended, upon the sub
ject, the great mass of the people, of both par
ties, have, from the first, entertained the full
estconfdence in our general officers in the field,
and especially have they had confidence in the
gallant Taylor. And when it became known
that scheme had been set ON foot by the Pres
ident and his advisers, to degrade that veteran
soldier from the high position he had achieved
only by life spent in memorable services TO
his country, and place over his head a mere par
tizan Of the President, upon the poor pretence
that it was necessary to the success of the war
that the democratic ''GeneFal-in- chiefs at Wash
ington7 should have democratic 'General-in
mass Of our political opponents, to say, that
they watched the progress of that scheme with
as intense an anxiety, and visited it with as
bitter and heartfelt denunciation as any other
portion of our people. They felt that this
would be a most cruel and unjust return for gal
liant deeds and illustrious services, and forget
ting the Partizan in the American, they met
their Wing countrymen in public meetings
throughout the length and breadth of the land,
and fearlessly proclaimed their sentiments upon
the subject. And it was their voice-the
mighty voice of the people that went up to
Washington and sustained our noble Senate in
its successful resistance to an Executive dicta-
ton which had proven too potent for the indie
pendence ola servile House of Representatives.
1t was this prompt and manly Intervention
Of the people, democrats and wings, that more
than any thing else, prevented so great an out
rage fTom being committed-1tnatprrv our
country from adding another memorable evil
dence to the many on record of the ingratitude
Republics prevented Tom Benton
That never set a squadron in the field
Nor NE division of battle knows
More than a spinster; all whose soldiership
Is mere prafae, without practice;
from superseding and degrading as able soldiers
and as gallant spirits as any age or country ever
produced.
Mr.. Owen and his editors well know all this
they well know also that the same feeling
still pervades the hearts of the people, and yet
in their desperation, as the only apology for
this trucking to Executive dictation, or lend
ing too willing ear to the Establishments OF
Executive patronage, they dare to put his de-
fence upon the ground that it was necessary to
supersede the old Hero with political friend
of the President, in order that confidential re-
lations" might subsist between his Ex-
cellency and the general in the field, and
they follow this novel and startling doctrine
with the foul and calumnious intimation thai
to leave Gen. Scott or Taylor to command the
armies and conduct the plans of the administra
ton was similar to sending a Wing to Con
gress to represent democratic principles, ant
could result only in traitorous attempt OF
their part to defeat the measures they were
chosen to conduct.
Thus is the odious doctrine that "to the vic
tors belong the spoils' attempted to be extend
ed until it covers and sanctions the prescription
of the bes: men of the country, because the,
may happen to differ politically with the pow
ers that be, even from the active duties of pa
! triotism, and from the exercise of their legiti
mate functions on the battle field, the right t
: which they have gained by the most eminen
u services rendered to their country at ever
stage Of long lives devoted to the upholding {
its honor and glory. Are the people prepare
for this corrupt and dangerous innovation ?