Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-11-26
From the Columbia South Carolinlap.l
a Snccch fnr NIL Time.

Our attention has been called to a speech
delivered By the Roman Consul Paulus h1 NJ
Illus, in the year A. NJ. 1886, little more than
two thousand years ago, which the Historian
Rollin has preserved vol f. page 2l7 Of Lip
pincott's Library edition. 1t is so admirably
appropriate to the present time, when We have
so many generals who stay at home and advise
Lee, and BsaureGard, and Johnston, as to the
best mode for conducting their campaigns, that
We arc tempted to copy the speech entire. 1t IL
NOT equal in length toa stump OF congressional
speech Of the present day. but is rather sIpc,
! rior in quality TO most Of them. The speaker
| had lust been chosen Consul, with special
reference to his taking the command in the
existing war With the Macedoniaus, and the
following may be called his inaugural speech
"You seem to me, Romans, to have ex'
pressed more joy when Macedonia Tell to my
| lot than when was elected consul, or ent: r
ed upon that office; and TO me your JOY seem
cd to be occasioned by the hopes you con-
cciyed, that should put an end, worthy OF
the grandeur and reputation of the Roman
people, to q war, which, in your opinion, has
already been OF too long continuance. hare
reason to believe that the same gods, who
have occasioned Macedonia to fall to my lot,
will also assist Inc with their protection III
conducting and terminating this war success
fully; but of this | may venture to assure
YOU, that shall do my utmost not to fall
short Of your expectations The senate has
wisely regulated everything necessary in the
expedition ain charged with, and as ] am
ordered to set out Immediately, shall make
no delay: and | know that my colleague, L.
Licinius, out Of his great Zeal for The public
service, will raise and march oil the troops
appointed for me, with as much ardOr and ex-
petition as if they were for tIniself shall
take care to remit TO yoll, as well as 10 the
Senate, an exact account of all that passes
and you may rely upon the certainty and
truth Of my l=tterS; but beg of you, as great
favor, that you will not give credit to, or lay
any weight, out Of credulity, upon the light
reports which are frequently spread abroad
without any foundation. ! perceive, well,
that in this war, more than any ott er, what
ever resolution people Dlay loruI to obvia:c
these rumurs, they will not ;all to make i'm
pressiuu, and inspire know not what dis
couragcmcnt. There are those who, in CON-
pany, and even at table cuuIInand armies,
make dispositions, and prescribe all the opera
tlOns Of the campaign. They know better
than we where We should cncamp, and what
posts it is necessary for us to seize; at what
time, and by what deiie, we ought to enter
Macedonia; where it is proper to have maya
zines; from whence, either By sea o: land, we
arc TO bring provisions; when W. are 10 fight
the enemy, and when he sill They not only
prescribe what is best 10 d., but for dcgiating
ever so little from their paEs, they make it
crime in their consul, and cite him before
their tribunal But know, Romans, the
effect of this is rcry prejudicial to your
generals All have not the resolution end
consistency Of FakitIS. 10 .icspise iinPcr'inent
reports. He could ciorse rather to suffer the
people, upon such unhappy rumors, to invade
his authority than 10 ruin atr.irS, in order to
preserve their opinion, anu an empty name. |
am far from believing that generals stand in
no need Of advice; think, on the contrary.
that whoever would Conduct everything alone,
upon his own opinion, and without counsel,
shows more presumption than prudence
But SOME may ask hnw then shall we act rea
soBaby? 10 not suffering any person to ob.
trude their advice upon your generals, but
such as are in the first place., verscd in the
art Of war, and have learned from experience
what it is 10 command; und iH the second,
who are upon the spot, who know The enemy,
are witnesses in person to all that passes, and
share with US in all the dangers. If there be
any one who concciveS himself capable Of as
sisting Inc with his cntlnscls in the war you
have charged me with, let him not refuse to do
the Republic that service, but let him go with me
into MacedoriI ships, horses, tents, provisions
shall ell be supplied him ut my charge. But
il he will not take so much trouble, and pre-
fers the tranquility Of the city to the danger
and fa,igues OF the field, let him not take
upon hi.u to hold the helm, and continue idle
in the port. The city of itself supplies suG
cient matter of Discourse on ether subjects ;
but MS for these, la. him be silent unon them !;
and know, that We shall pay no regard to any
counscls, but such Us shall be given US III the
camp itself."
The Historian adds the following appropriate
"rhis discourse of paulus 4; nilius, which |
abounds with reason and good sense, shows
that men arc the same in all ages Of the
world People have propensity for exam
iniug criticsing and condemning the conduc; !
of generals; and do not observe that doing so
is manifest contradiction to reason and jus |
tce. What can be more absurd and riicu.
l0us than to see persons, without any know |
ledge or experience in war, set themselves up |
for censors of the most able generals, and pro,
nouncc with tnagisteria air upon their
actions! for the most experienced can make no
certain judgment without being upon the spot:
the least circumstance Of time, place, DISPOSE.
ton Of the troops, secret orders not diVulged,
being capable Of making nm absolute change in
the rules Of conduct But we must not ey-
f,,l. r.. hoc
source in the curiosity and vanity Of human
nature and generals would do wisely, after
the example Of Paulus II nilus, to despsc
these city reports, and crude opinions Of idle
people, who have nothing else 10 do, and nave
generally as little judgment as business"
The whole chapter is full Of interest.