The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-04-26
General jackson and General Taylor om-
pared. f-H

by ATTIcus.
Let us compare them. Without at all disparag-
Ing the departed and even according him many great
qualtiesit cannot be denied that they qualities
Of dangerous tendency 10 tho government. He
had great courage, and great frmness--but lie had
also indomiiable will and ung0vernable violence OF
temper. Frank and Jealous In his friendship, he
was not Less nnsparing and impacable In his prejn-
dces and his eninifies. He never deserted friend
nor forgave foe He infused sort Of military fe-
rociiy into his civil Duties which sometimes left us
in doubt whether he was IN the Cabinet or Camp ;
and though he steered The ship of state with the
steady hand Of an nnfinchng pilot and never shrunk
from the storm, nor manifested the slightest alarm,
vet he too often struck terror into every other
soul on board by his adventurous recklesness and
uncompromising resolution. Prudence did not be-
long to the catalogue of his virtues His sternness
and severity held no communion with forbearnnce
and humanity, --as TO sympathy, justly 80 called,
with him II seemed 10 be utterly extinct Charac,
terstics Of this kind, bound many men In e r, bat
few In vencration and still fewer in love. lie did
much good TO the country, and not little harm--so
that al this time when impartial posterty is about
adjusting the balance Of his account II Is sill doubt
ful whether the debts or credit will preponderatc.
lie was an extraordinary man, with extraordinary
faults. Peace be with him; and while history re-
cords his infrmes and errors lei ms skip the page,
or let our gratitude oblterate It's remembrance.
Turn we now to the living. With the exception
Of courage mud rmness, and zeal In his lrendshlps
Gen. Taylor bears no resemblance 10 the instrious
departed. Mild, merciful and forgiving, he seems
to have no rcsentmenls Of his own. He strikes no
blow but from the impulse Of duty-an duty fulfill
ed he mingles his tears with those Of his victims
and returns them groan for groan. With him, "Grm
visag'd war has snnoothed his wrnked 'front.'" With
his. companions in arms, he s the plain, bnnt unas
Stunning soldier, who relies for his distinction upon
his acions rather than his commission, and always
exhibits The superiority OF moral over mere physical
power Ills civil accomplishments are SO blended
and mixed up with his military prowess that he af
fords most striking II not unparalleled specimen of
the true citizen soldier--One who might be securely
translated from the head Of the army 10 the head OF
the government, or 10 the rank OF the civil commun-
ity, with no other change than that Of apparel lie
has al Jackson's determination, with thousand
times his prudence Call his generosity with none Of
his prejudccs. His friends doat upon him his enc.
mics or rather the enemies Of his country only fear
him.. He Is great man-sfill undevcloped but de
noting by his proportions, elasticity and expan-
sveness OF strength and ability equal all emergen-
cies. Sternness may be assumed by him when Il
becomes necessary, and i ceases with the necessity.
His goodness equals his greatness and his modesiy
Is inferior 10 neither. do not therefore rest his
claims upon mere military qualifications but upon
moral and mental worth, without which, colder Il
q sconree, bu, with which, he comss treby recon-.
mended to The prondest Office In tho gin Of On ap.
plnndine aud grateful people the Presidency Of the
United States. Bait, Pafrief.