Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-08-04

The Inconsistencies of wrong-doing among
some Of our modern statesmen is one of their
marked characteristics. They deal with the
most delicate interests of individuals, as well as
of the State with perfect unconccrn. The bull
at his ease than they are in handling the dest-
mics of the nation. Our national life is so very
robust that no blunder which they make will
Immediately affect its health, and hence blum
ders of the gravest character pass unnotced.-
The career of the statesman among us is like
That of CULVER among the Iilliputians, un-
haunted by regrets and unvisitcd with the blush
of shame. lie enjoys happy insensibility to
which but few others can attain.
We make these remarks as particularly per-
tinent to one of the prominent measures of the
administration of Mr. Pierce, viz: the retired
list for the navy. This was measure that had
been needed for 4 long time; and the interests
Of the country were suffering from the want of
attention to it. The course to be pursued in
the case was so simple and plain, and SO unat-
tended with difficulties from any popular oppo-
sition to it, that one could not well perceive
how there was much room for the commission
of errors Put the gravost kind of errors and
hlunders peye committed; such as required an
immensely Of trouble, labor and expense to rec
tity. The smallest kinds of passion and prcu-
dice were enliinded in the breasts of our cabi-
net officers on the occasion; they showed them
selves utterly incapable of those broad and lib
eral views which were necessary for an effective
execution of the measure; and instead of max
ing a bcnctcent provision for the meritorious
officer worn out in the cuuntry's service. suta-
bic to the dignity of his position, they estab-
lishcd sort of mongrel system Of court-mar-
t!alS, well suited to harass and humble him be-
fore finally depriving him of his support. The
abuses that had crept into the naval service
through the neglect of the government, the
Pierce administration sought to rectily by n
measure that was as hasty and impatient as it
was passionate and invidious. Their whole
work had to be unaone, and at an expense
that would have supported the desired retired
list for many years, if not for centuries, to
come.
Among the cabinet officers of that day, there
was one whose military education alone one
would suppose, should have saved the admins
tration from such blunder. We alude to Mr.
Davis of Mississippi. But we do not find that
the matter ever disturbed his equan;mity much,
or occasioned him any considerable loss of self
esteem. Sustained as he is by the slave power,
which can sustain anything however gross, he
ln,l
placency, and upon his future ones with hope.
Not materially different from the bungling
work Of the navy retiring list, was another
measure OF the Pierce administration, viz: the
lengthening Of the course Of studies at West
Point from four to FIVE years. This was a
measure, we believe, of Mr. Davis himself.
whilst he was secretary of war, and seems to
have been adopted by him because he was will
ing "fo take the responsibility" 1t was an i'll
advised measure, differing from the established
usage Of every other institution of the country,
and wholly without any sufficient reasons there
for. 1t has consequently given rise to great
deal Of troubiej for it is much easier to do
mischief than il is TO cure it and at length af-
ter several attempts to arrange the matter with
out inconvenience TO the service or loss of credit
10 Mr. Davis, a commission has been appointed,
consisting of six persons, of whom Mr. Davis
himself is one to assemble at West Point and
decide whether the measure of the said Mr.