The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-05-10
NISCELLA ANEOUS.

MISCELLANEOUS.
"REMINISCENCES OF THE PALMETTO
- REGIMENT.
=, The following is the fourth number of SC
ries under the above caption, in the course OF
publication in the Edge6eid Advertiser:
..s COL. JAMES P. DICKINSON.
I, IS the singular fate Of some men, tho
possessing much merit, TO have their motives
and conduct grieviously misconstrued, and
to experience high degree of popular Ill
will. Such was the lot of Lieut.. Col. Dick
inson. With brilliant talents, high courage,
and lofty State pride, which clothed him al
most with the attribute Of a hero, II was his
misfortune to be subjected to great unpoPu-
lar!ty in his Regiment. This was the more
remarkable, as he undoubtedly possessed in
an eminent degree, those qualities OF mind
and heart, which were calculated to ensure
popular favor. Generous, brave, and highly
social in his disposition, he was qualified by
nature, it would seem, to become the favor
tic of all around him. And when he chose
IN exert his talent in this way, he seldom
failed Of success. But he failed in unifornl-
" of conduct, wl,icll prevented the favora-
ble impre >sions lie made from being perma-
nent. This had its cause partly in constl-
tutional defect In his power O. mind, there
was want of a proper balance-an ability to
control his feelings, and TO keep them in
harmony with the bold dictates of his reason.
In his active zeal to promote the lofty project
of his ambition, he often stepped beyond the
bounds of moderation and failed to bring To
his aid the necessary appliances OF success.
Too often. in carrying nut his schemes for
improvement. he left out the important ele-
sment of moral influence. relied too
strictly upon the stern injunctions of the law
uponihe rigid enforcement of physical penal
iies-forget,ing the wise maxim OF the Fenu-
sIan Bard:
Wis consilii cxpers mole ruit sua.
To design and to execute were with hlm
results of the same material operation. Be-
tween the thought conceived and the thought
applied, there were no gradations. To sug-
pest was the easy effort of his ready powers
ofinven,ion, and his active energy OF chalac-
Ter, prompted him to immediate execution.
No TIME was consumed in maturing the plan,
IN exposing its practibility and Importance,
or in bringing mems minds into condition
10 receive il. Fixed in his own imagination
he conceived It was only necessary to sug-
gest his plans to others to have them proper
introduced. He saw clearly himself the
way he marked out, but he did not take the
precaution to open it for others to follow al
ier him. Hence he left out most irnpor-
iant element in practical reformation VIZ: a
gfaduaa and prudent prepa,atto" OF mems
minds to adopt The project Of improvement.
All men do not appreheud with the same rea.
diuess, and some. consequently, must have
their minds instructed on the subject OF the
proposed innovations before they can be ex-
pccted to incline to their adoption. Many
too, confirmed in habits, and in particular
course Of life, are naturally averse from new
projects of Improvement, OF from unusual
exercises Of the mind or body. To lnnovate
with men of this character it is necessary to
allay their prciudices, and to lead on their
minds gradually to the introduction,o ,ol the CIV
en- project by the agency ofintermcdiate in
ducements.
Omil,ing these important considerations,
Col. Dickinson suggested and undertook ex-
pedlents for the improvement of the Regl-
!, ,ment, in whirh he was not fairly sustained,
and in which therefore he most frequently
failed. These expedients were often regar-
ded by officers as impractlcable, sometimes
jniudiciae.', and by tine men as unnecessarily
) jaborious and exacting. They generally
pointed, it is true, to high degree of excel
lence, and not unfrequently gained the &C
acknowledgement of many to their utility and
importance if reduced TO practice; but the
effort required TO effect this, often proved
an obstacle to success, and led most TO sup
pose they were in reality unnecessary, and
ihe wild suggestions only of a fancful brain.
Hence his many bold schemes fo; the ad-
Sancement of the Regiment, finding little fa-
gor with those of more practical way OF
: thinking. proved generally abortive, and
gradually deprived their author Of his reputa,
ton for practical judgment. This was one
chief cause of Col Dickinson's unpopularIty
To a reformer. or to success in important
enterprises, nothing is so great drawback
as a reputation for genius without practical
Judgment, or as it is sometimes more harshly
called, without common sense. The most tea
sible plans are from these circumstances
aoften made to miscarry. Among men gen
orally, a want af confidence in the agent
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