Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1848-04-26
For the Adoertiser.

FOT tHc 1QBSVtSeF. e..
"REMINISCENCES OF THE PALMETTO RE-
CEMENT.
LIEUT.. COL. J. P. DICKINSON.
No. VIII.
Ah who can tell how hard it is to climb afar
The steep where hme's proud temple shines 8
Alb! who can tell how many snul sublime
Has felt the influence of malignant star.
And waged with fortune all eternal war.
BEArrfE.
II Is the singular fate Of s,ne men, tn o
possessing much merit, to have their mo.
lives and conduct previously miscon-
s,rued. and TO experience high degree of
popular i'll will. Such was the l't Of
Lieut.. Col. Dickinson. With brilliant
talents, high courage. and lofty State pride.
which clo,hed him almost with the attri-
butte of hero, it vas his misfortune to he
subjected To great unp'pulari'y in his Re
simcn,. This was the more remarkable,
as he undoubtedly possessed in au eminent
degree, thoss qnali'ies of mini aud heart,
which were calculated to ensure popular
favor. Generous, brave, and highly so
cial iu his disposition. he was qialihed by
nature, il would seem, to become the IA.
vori,e Of all around him. AMI when he
chose to exert his talent in this way. he
seldom failed of success. But he failed
in uniformity Of conduct. which prevented
tho favorable impression he made from
heing permanent. This had its cause part
ly in a constitutional defect. In his pow
ers Of mind. there was want of proper
5alonce-an ability to control his feelings,
and to keep them iii harmony wirh the
bold dictates nf bis reason. Ia bis active
zeal to promote the bfty projects of his
ambition, he often stepped beyond the
hounds Of moderation. aud failed to bring
to his aid the necessary appliances of sue
cess. Too often. in carrying out his
schemes for improvement. he left out the
important element Of moral influence
lie relied 100 strictly upon the s:ern in
iuuc,ions Of the lsw--upon the rigid en-.
forcenent Of physical penalties forget
ting tho wise maxim of the Venusian
Bard:
Wis consilii expers mole ruitsua.
To design and 10 execute wete with him
results of The same menlal operation. BE
tween the thought conceived and the
thought applied. there were no sradalions
.s D sugsest was the easY efQr:s of his reas
a. md
1ssvs 1essv of Character prompted him TO tmme
.iis;e execution. Nostiine was consumed
in maturing the plan; IN exposing It's prac:
,iesbiIity and Importance. or III br'nslas
mems minds into a condition 10 receive u
Fixed 10 his own imagination, he conceive
ed il was only necessary iosugs sos' his Plai:
70 others to have them properly insrodu.
ced. He saw clearly himself the way nc
marked out, but he did not take the pre-
caution TO open !, fin olhefslo follow aitel
him. Hence he ieftUut mos. importan
element in practical reformatinn. viz:
Gradual and prudent prepardtioa Of men;
minds to adopt the proposed projects O I'm
r,,op.nent. All men do Not apprehend
with tho same readiness, and some. coase
nueu,ly, must have their minis instructed
on the subject of the proposed idnovasion
before they eau be expected to incline e
their adoption. Many tooi confirmed II
habits, and in 4 particular course ot lsie
ara naturally averse from new prof ,cls o
improvement, on from unusual exercises o
The mind or body. To innuvate with me'
of This character, II is necessary to ALA.
their preiudices, aud tolead on their mind
gradually TO The introduction Of the give
project by the agency Of intermediate III
ducemen,s.
Omi,ting these iuportan, consideration:
Col. Dickinson suggested and undert0o
expedieu,s for the improvement, ot the n
eimeut, in which he was mol si'rly su
,sined, and in which. therefore, he mo
frequently failed. These expedien's wer
often regarded by officers a. fmpract'cabl
sometimes iujudtcious. aui by the men
unnecessarily laborious and eSac'ins.-
They generally pointed. it IL true, 10
hiph degree Of excellence, aud not uuir
ouently gained the acknowledgment
many 10 their utility and importance if r
duced TO practice; but the effort reqnlr'
IN effect this, often proved al obstacle
euccess, and led most to suppose they we
in reality unnecessary, aud tire wild su
ses,ioas ouly OF a fanciful brain. sien'
his many bold schemes for tho advanc
meut Of the Resimeus, finding little fav
with those Of more practical way
thinking. proved generally aborsive, al
gradually deprived their author of his 3,
pu,a,ion for practical judgment. II
w.s one chief cause of Cot. Dickinson
unuupulari,y. To reformer, or TO st
cess in impor,an, enterprises, nothing
go grea, a drawback as reputation
genius wi,hou, practical judgment. or
is sometimes more harshly called WI
out common sense. The most feasible pli
are from this circumstance, oilen mane
,niscarry. Amoug men senoraf'y, wi
h confidence in the agent often prove
serious obstacle in the accomplishment.
the work 10 which he is engaged. a
the sIigh,es. deviation from the comm
judgmen. Of men mos, readily Produ
tkis want Of confidence.
"Tis ha,der far to please than give offeo'
sen,
The least misconduct damns the brlsh
YouNo.