The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1854-11-03
WASHINGTON Know NoTHTsG-HIs OPIN.
ION OF FOREIGN MILITARY OFF1cERs.-Ses

! WASHINGTON KNOW NoTHTSG-HIs OPIN-
, IoN OF FOREIGN MILITARY OFF1cERs.-Ses
Washington's Writings, vol. vi. p. l3:
"The design Of this is to touch, eurseIily,
upon subject of very great importance 70
the wel-being ofthese States; much moro &c
than will appear at first view. mean the
appointment of so many foreigners to Offices
OF high rank and trust in our service.
The lavish manner in which rank has hth-
erto been bestowed on these. gentlemen will
certainly be productive of on, or the other of
these two great evils, either to make it des-.
picabl, in the eyes of Europe, or be the
means of pouring them in upen us like tor
rent, and adding to our present burden. J.
The officers, my dear sir, upon whom YOU
must depend forthe success Of this cause dis
tinguished by length of service, their con-
nexions, property, and in behalf of many, |,
may add military merit, will not submit much
If any longer to the unnatural promotion Of
men over them who have little plausbility
unbounded pride and ambition, and persevs-
rance in application not to be resisted but
by uncommon frmness, to support their pre-
tensions; men who in the first instance tell
you that they wish for nothing more than
the honor of serving in so glorious a cause as
volunteers; the next day solicit rank with
pay; the day following want money advan.:
ced to them; and in the course of a week
want further promotion, and are not satisfi-
ed with anything you can do for them.
"Then the expediency and policy of the
measure remain to be considered, and wheth-
er it is consistent with justice or prudence to
promote these military fortune-hunters, at
at the hazard Of your army. They may be
divided into three classes, namely, mere ad-,
venturers wi ithout recommendation, or recon-
mended by persons who do not know hsw
else to dispose of or provide for them; men
OF great ambition, who would sacrifice every
thing to promote their ow personal glsry;
or mere spies, who are sent here to obtain a
thorough knowledge of our situation and cir
cumstances, in the execution of which, / am
persuaded, some Of them are faithful emissa-
saries, as do not believe single matter es-
capes unncticed, or unadviseu at foreign
court"
"Baron Steuben, now find, is also want
ing to quit his inspectorship for a command
in the line. This will be productive of much
discomfort to the brgaders. In word, all
though think the Baron an excellent officer,
l do most deroutiy ,ctsh, taat are had not a sim
gle foreigner among us, ercept The Marquis La
tayette, cho acts upon very different principles
from those rhich govern the rest"
AS it was in Washington's day respecting
foreigners, it. is now, and probably ever will
be; and the objection in reference to ciyiloi-
fees is not less reasonable no10 that it was
then in reference to military. The mere cir
cumstance of naturalization has no effect in
changing the principles and characters. As
TO Lafayette, he was truly an exception. He
was not liege man ofhe Pope; and it was
he that said to Professor Morsei-U euer the.
liberty Of your country is destroyed, IL WW be
done by Roman Priests.