Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-10-16
THE AMERICAN CRISIS IN ENGLAND.
LineOIn's OFFER % GarIBaIdis.-The weak.
ness and 1 competency Of the FederaIs.
From The Lonion Tines, Sept IT,

LineOIn's OFFER 70 GarIBaIdI..-The weak.
ness and L competency of the Federals.
From The LOniOn Tmss Sept II.
There are few people here who have not felt their
opiaions Of the Americans somewhat modified by the
events of the war. In some respects we must feel
that little underrste dtheir powers. Perhaps
We should not have been prepared to expect this
time last year, when the little cloud just show
ing itssif that in tYelvenonth we should see two
great armies fully armed end equipped, immense
works OF defense, numerous well prepared eXpedi-
tons fleets of privateers, and other fleets sent to
rout them out OF their nests or choke up the outlets
in word, such state Of things as we had n
Europe, say fifty years ago. Perhaps we did not
expect to find the people Of New York and Philadel-
phia making up their minds to an expenditure Of
81 600 600 year, and thinking that rather an en-
copraging view of the case. Bat, alas for the per
sonal qualities which we're to have been brought
out Is the sparks between int and steel when FIRST
the Americans had the opportunity Of showing
themselves in the field Where are the cool courage
and mutual confidence necessary to an advance in
line Of battle, to crossing bsyonets, to steady
tEeat to ordinary mauG Ivering, 10 all success on
grand scale Where are the forethought, the tIc>
tics, the capacity of mind required for great Gen
eral? The truth must be spoken. The Americans
certainly the Northern States-hqve yet to learn
the art of Il remains to be seen whether the
"yOung Napoleon" who has Just revieWed the whole
army and cleared Washington of idlers, will do
much more than his comrades when il comes
=
nor the officer is up TO the mark, and We are COM
PEELED to think there must be something in the sto
RIGS Of American degeneracy. One gasconadO after
another has evsporated. Bull Run let US all down
very heavily then the disaster at Springfield set
tied US all where We were since thst low for
another month, we have been waiting for the tide
to turn at any rate for achievement of one or
another Except 4 successful attack by an over
poweTing force on soEle maritime fsrts of North
Careiins, there has been nothing to show for the
Colossal preparations.
Bu, here comes another 'lst down /" really worse
than any before. As il Departing Of native genius
or enterprise the President at Washington has ao-
tuslly sent to ask Garibald to accept the post of
Commander in Chief, throwing into the bargain the
emancipation Of the slaves IL cost an effort 10 take
in the ex rsVagant oddly and the hgmiliating char
acter of this proposal Had the government at
Washington confessed their ignorance Of war on the
grand scale, sn6 sent for great tactieian aud even
for one Of the Fiednontese Generals, that would
have been emily what has often happened before
1t might have been said that any American was
more or less l4@rihs,Gt thatis man Of personal
proves and enterprise, but that the occasion re-
CURED Ciadini. But 10 send for Garth ,ldi is to
confess failure in the element supposed to be
especially American. Ii is to confess that a
man is wanted who will go at the enemy,
and advance into his territory, against ever
poSeri0g odds On any view Of the case, Gsribaldi
is not the man the Americans want. He has never
yet attempted c. desired to COMMAND large army,
yesterdays columns, he has over and OVER sgsIn,
like the Biblical hero, Gideon. left his army behind
and done his work with 4 select body, whose love
and confidence would lead them anywhere after
him. This the scale of his fests in the vars Of
South American independence, where he fsshed his
sword for the Italian struggle he foressW. His |
defense Of Home, in ls4s was larger scale !
but it was defense and to defend twenty miles OF
rampant from q point within is different affair J
from an advance into an enemy's country a thous- |
and miles wide and as many deep, with brave |
pen en- ona aide as on the other. War is /
not the mara personal conflict, nor yet the |
simple skill, that pedsnts and aaAtueIs are apt to
think, II requires . vast ana various capacity
When campaigns efen come TO be tss2Fhed With
candor and impartialiEy it will be better kn9Ta
thst wsF is always "a game that two can play att
sad also very copplez science. GAr.h Id, ike 7
other men. may be trusted TO do what be has done
before. He has been trusted, or even trusted him
self, for large operations, whether In Northern
or Southern Italy. BE hrs failed Uowhere,
but if he is 10 be credited with no fail
ures, it Is because ne has known his
own measure, and has beea content to sssist
when twenty legions were on the ground, or when