The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-10-24

and the fuss and feather clubs have vet produced bu
ittIe impression on the public mind They have faie
even 10 raise enthusasiic shouts among The whgs muct
less 10 make any apostates from the democratic ranks
What subject Il Is for eliclaiion in every patriots
heart that The days have passed away. trust forever
when mere military services, however distinguished
shsi oe passport 10 the chief civil magisacy OF The
country!
| would lay down this broad and strong proposition
whcn ought In all future time to be held sacred
hcle OF democratic ailh. that man ought 10 b.
transferred by the people from the chief command OF tn,
army oi the United States TO the highest civil oic,
within Their g The reasons for this rule of faith tc
guide the practice OF republican people are overwhl I'm
ing;
| The annals OF mankind since the creation demon
slrale ms solemn truth. The history OF all the ruin
ed republics both OF ancient and modern times teach.
es US this great lesson. From Cesar 10 Cromwell
and from Cromwell 10 Napoleon, this history pre-
sents the same solemn warnngbeware OF eleyating to
the highest civil trust the commander OF your victorious
armies Ask the wrecks Of the ruined republics scat
tered All along the tide OF time, what occasioned their
downfall, and they will answer in sepulchral ionesihe
elevation OF victorious generals to the hghes! civil power
r the state. One fate from one common cause
has destroyed them all. Will mankind never learn WIS
tory been written ID vain Mr. Clay, in his Baltimore
speech OF 1927 expressed this great truth in emphatic
terms, when he mpored the Almighty Governor OF the
world to visit our favored land with with pesli-
ence, with famine, with any scourge other than military
rule, blind ana Needless enthusiasm for military
nown" he was right in The princple-wrong in lis ap.
plicalon. The hero--the man of men 10 whom it was
applIed-was then at the Hermitage, plain and private
farmer of Tennessee. He had responded to The call OF
his county when war was declared against Great Brit
ain, and had led our armies 10 victory but when the
danger had passed he returned with delight TO the
agricultural pursuits of his beloved Hermitage AL
though. like Franklin Pierce, be had never sought
civil offices and honOrs, yet he infuen-
tal and conspicuous member OF the convention which
framed the constitution OF Tennessee, their
first representative and their first senator in Con-
gress-aflerwards judge OF their supreme court
then again senator IN Congress, which elevated sta
ton he second time resigned from love of retire
ment. He was brought almost literally from the plough
as Cncnnaus had been, to assume the chief civil CON-
mand. The same observations would apply 10 the Illus
rous and peerless Father OF his Country, well
General Harrison. They were soldiers only in the day
and hour OF danger, when the country demanded their
services; and both elevated IRON private life, from
the shades OF Mount Vernon and the North Bend to the
supreme civil mags,racy OF the country Nerher of
them was soldier by profession, and both had illus
trated high civil appointments. General Taylor. it is
true, had been soldier, and always soldier. but had
never risen 10 the chief command II remained Tor the
present wing party to select their candidate Tor the
presidency the commanding general OF the army. who
had been man OF war, and nothing but OF war,
from his youth upwards. This party is now s,rainng
every TO transfer him from the headquarters OF The
army the chair OF State which has been adorned by
Washington, Jefferson, Madison, ana Jackson, without
amomentary resignation OF his present high Office
withou, the least political Neutrality-suspicious. any
pIte without any breathing time, between the highest
military and the highest civil honor With what tre-
mendous force does the solemn warning oil Mr.. Clay ap
ply 10 the OF General Scott
Far be from to say or insinuate that General
Scott would have either the ability the will to play the
part OF Cesar, OF Cromwell or OF Bonapare Still, the
precedent dangerous in the extreme III these things
be done the green tree, what will be done the
dry II the precedent be established in the compar
ative infancy and purity OF our institutions, OF esvatng
TO the presidency successful commander in chief OF our
armies, what may be the disastrous conseq when
our population shall number hundred millions, and
when armies IN tire OF war may be counted BY
hundreds OF thousands In those days. some future militia
y chiesn, desrous OF obtaining supreme power by
of election 10 the presidency, may point back 10 such
precedent and that in the earlier and purer days OF
the republic ancestors did not fear TO elevate the
commander OF their conqnerng armies 10 this, the high
civil station. Let not forge chains in advance OF
our descendants.
great truths They warned by the experience of
past tunes, that liberty Is Hesperan fruit, and only
be preserved by wachiu jealousy. Hence, in all their
constitutions OF government, and in all their political
writings lind them lnculcatlng in the most solemn
manner jealousy OF standing armies and their leaders,
and strict subofdlnaon OF the military 10 the civil
power. But II there danger 10 liber-
ties from such precedent, the habit of strict obedience
aud absolute command acquired by the professional sol
der throughout long life almost necessarily dIsquaihes
him for the administration OF democratic republican
government Civil government Ia not a mere machine,
such a regular army. In conducting 1t, allowance
be made Tor that love OF liberty and spirit OF nde
pendence which characterize our people such allow
never be made-authorty can never be tenn
pereI with moderation and discretion by professional
soldier, who has been accustomed to have his military
orders obeyed with the unerrng certainty OF despoc
power
Again; What fatal effects would il not have on the
discipline and efficiency o the army 10 have aspranis for
the presidency among It's principal officers How many
military ciques would be formed how much intriguing
and eleconeerng would exist in a body which ought to
be unit and have other object in view except to
obey the lawful command of the President and 10 pro-
eet and defend the country II all the political folies
OF Gen Scous life were investigated, aud these are not
few venture to say that nearly the whole OF them have
resulted from his long continued aspirations for the pres
dency. At last he has obtained the whig nomination
He has defeated his constitutional in
chief The military power has trumphed over The civil
power The constitution declares that the President
shall be commander IN chief OF the army and navy the
United States but the subordinate, the actual com
mander OF The army, has suppaned his superior What
spectacle this and how many serious reflections
might inspire In times OF and OF danger Ia
tai consequences might result TO the country from the
fact that the President and the commanding general OF
the army are rival and hostile candidates for the pres
dency But shall not pursue this train OF remark IL
my most serious conviction that General Scott would
have stood far higher both before the present generation
and poserity had he been candidate for the pres
idency. The Office which he now holds and deservedIy
holds ought 10 satisfy the ambition of any THIS
the American people will determine by triumphant ma
joriiy the first Tuesday OF ovember next This will
prove 10 be OF the most fortunate events in his
tory-auspcious AT the present time and still more
pcIous Tor future generations 1t will establish pTece
dent which WILL trust, prevent future commanders in
chief OF the American amy from becoming candidates
for the presidential office.
Again 10 make the army hotbed Tor presidential
prants will be to unite the powerful influence OF all its
aspiring officers in favor OF foreign wars, the best
means OF acquiring military glory, and thus placing them
selves in the modern line OF safe precedtns candidates
for the presidency and for other high civil offices The
American people sufficiently prone to war without