The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1852-10-28
For the Journal.
Cc0tt,s Civil AbilifteS,

have been frequent theme of controversy
between his supporters and those of Pierce.
Your article the other day on the subject wasl
sufficient to convince any unbiased mind, thati
those talen were in no small degree; but,
there is one point of view in which, perhaPs,'
the question has not been presented, and
(which would prove their existence in strik-s
Ing manner To all who are not blinded by!
'partizan feeling it would be conviction.
A subordinate General may become great.
warrior, and still be inferior in all the requi-
lstes of wise legislator or Governor. IleI
merely executes the duties assigned him byi
1.-The superior officer, whose intellect it is that
lconceives, combines and arranges, the orders,
ISSUED and the measures designed for the ac-;
of the desired end. The COM
smander, therefore, it is evident, requires a
shgher order of mind than the under official.
He does the thinking, and designs what the
io;her executes by his direction. The con-
sduct of 4 large army, the conquering and gov
1islative ard executive capacity essential; and
swhen successful it is unequivocal proof of
stheir exercise by the. superior commander.
aTherefore, if Scott is worthy of considera-
:s.tion as one of the worlds greatest military
acieltains, it must be regarded as no pre-
ssumption, but good evidence, that when ne
necessity calls, he will not be found wanting in
3ability as statesman. That should he be
detected to fill the highest civil office, it is not
probable that any deficiency will be discov-
3ered in those faculties for governing in which
}he so much excels, and which made him so
: llustrious when acting in the same station as
IA military man.
equivalent to the same quality and cOnse-
squencc in the other, all history asserts, for
/ the great and leading General is always
Hound occupying the same position when act
ding as statesman. Is the presumption reas-
sonable then that makes Gen. Scott an ex-
sception to the general rule, and that without
4the shadow of reason!
/ The Consuls and Caesars of Rome were
1mighty conquerors, but they were equally IL
ilustrious as governors OF turbulent nation,
land of an extensive and increasing empire.
sCromwell was successful in the field, but he
5was yet more eminent as the controller and
sdirector of the councils, aud as protector of
i'll, in, 4
,cut crisis. Napoleon was raised from child
!hood TO arms, his life, it may be sail was spent
iin the camp and on the battle field; but not
understanding, his success in war was not more
remarkable than his wisdom in the cabinet,
while the boldness and rapdty with which
lhe developed the resources of the country
sdnd the arts of peace, can only be compared
with his military exploits. Such indeed, to a.
greater or less extent, will be found the in
stcllectual character of all the leading histori-
zeal military men. Now, in view of all this, il
docs appear to me to be the quint-essence of
nonsense to telk of Gen. Scott as ''merely al
military man," who must be foolish or TO-
n IL
;mingle with men as they do, and still coil
stnue to be merely any one fling, and ignorant!
sor incapable rs respects all others.
VIII the people reject man worthy Of ia
ivorable comparison with names like thosel
above, and elect the nominee of clique, an!
,obscure individual for whom it was nccessa-!
Try to bolster upa reputation! If they do, i'll
Twill show total disregard of Il leading prin-I
,ciple in our government-the election of the!
best men for the first olfices-which to thes
'woId will be an indication of something acronq''
lin the working of our popular institutions.
D.