The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-11-15

"a - dsp, rHsE walker.ss.
Al. .,a, ESsS ne Msrphls APpsaLl a, b.l
hs coffsfR ondeI9e between this gem
'tlehsp,r and TIE 'sse 'ssesretary III Of war pub,
nstsf nsn,y 5y n esterdsy y TS IN which h hs prof
feH Hfy fesshshon sF T BrisAdisrrGe ieral
m az saaa H.is or many many tes., cas-
'Sns prsgp uIth' tnnpch nplhii interest. Ii fur.
fishes TIC c6p9tf Mth TIC, Brst tan tible
3 Ssdst tEoPP!a} ~ " Ss!?: ?sy, ,sA%!e}A y hss. been
SlloSf 7Ydt yapss Con- ledssss edssscy. sin since the
18sl At ssi illSsI liyaIrh si q dc breeze m
ql0ia sSsss sSsss dosSs 81 tbssa aCsSildi SIttaM u Mont,
t6hety.e 10 Shit ali mlaenntioane u nGiae Of tbe an
0Sesd84y ybs4 we exhibited by General
aNESl e liPrS Sas;;slsy as;;slsy pre-,
nSSfcs noe, Upon .IRypp hpSagits, hp!Sagit, I and II m
sslsitsai'i ISss @.ssls 4 'lai.., I.
nity oasrad I'd the Presiden., his conduct
Is certainly marked BY degree of cold
and Calculating regard for his own per-
sonal interests, at the expense Of a limited
stock Of patriotism, which will reap for
him merited harvest of popular con.
tempt. seit-interest, and not "selfres.
pect" as he alleges, is manifestly the mo-
tive that induces this suicidal and ire
parable blow at his own reputation---
heretofore irreproachable and unspotted.
When Immediately after the secession
Of Georgia he resigned his commission in
the army Of the United States, and offered
his sword, and his services TO that com
monwealth for the defense Of her asserted
sovereignty, his, conduct through natur.
al misconception wss attributed to lau-
dible zeal for the cause of southern FREE
dom. and he was at once properly reward
ed for his loyalty. -. 800 .s... 81
But in an eyikhour Gen. Walker has
become q victim to that most mischiev-
ous of human passions, a vaulting ambi-
ton which in this instance he has very
imprudently allowed to overleap ITSELF
A prurient and restless desire to hear his
name resounding in the trump of fame.
and an unmanly spirit Of Jealousy that
despises merit which it cannot emulate,
have sorely tested his patriotism in the
crueible by process of metalurgy which
it has sadly failed to Withstand. Verify,
"Ambition hath one heel nailed in hell,
Though she stretch her fingers to the heavens"
The moral OF this officers case, howev-
er, if properly considered, furnishes les
son Of wisdom to the country OF almost
incalculable Salue. Lust for offico, always
the bane Of American politics, has seized
with the violence of on epidemic upon
the volunteer army of the Confederate
States. We con find an innumerable car
ayan Of patriots loafng about the street
corners OF our cities, and infesting CROSSE
road groceries in the country, who express
an entire willingness to expose their sa-
cred persons to the bullets Of the enemy
provided only they be allowed to wear
epauletts. The ranks have no attractions
for these men. They want Offices just as
Walkcrwanted promotion, and will grum-
BILE and snarl in chronic dissatisfaction
day after day. because the men who Or
ganized the army were so short.sighted as
not to provide a number amply sufficient
for oil the greedy applicants, who may be
disposed to put in their claims. We have
no doubt that there are other presumptu.
GUS coxcombs in the service, whose infat-
cd, notions Of Their, own merits and mill
tary genius find q level in extravagance
wish this mans. They are perfectly will
ling 70 fight SO long, as their own. arnbi-
tious aims have q fair prospect OF being
sgratified, but invariably slacker their en-
thusiasm so soon as the occnsion arises
requiring their individual interests to be
subordinatsd 70 the public veal. We need
no time servers Of this kind in o crisis like
the present. This great experiment Of a
free government has been made for no
bier purpose than ,instituting disgusting
scramble tor Office. 1t is no time for mill.
tarymen to be distracting the popular
attention, and diverting the popular mind
from the issues Of the day, by petty per.
sonal feuds, where the achievement of a
national independence is the one great
paramount object of this war. We cannot
pause in the conflict TO adjudicate the
relative merits of Tom, Dick and Harry.
where some appointment is to be confer
red, or some promotion made by the
President im the regular exercise Of an
undisputed constitutional power. Men
should be, satisfied with the positions as
signed them in this glorious work of
building up new nation, however hum.
BILE those positions may be. and it is not
going too far to assert that true patriots
will be satisfied. ~ 80 p '''' ~
Gen. Walkers services are certainly not
indispensable to the success Of our cause,
nor in his retirement will the nation be
disposed to admit with Falstaff that we
.'might have better spared better man."
He goes home under the ban Of popular
odium, and the}only regret is that his
brief career wip fll page in history that
will serve to detract in a measure from
that sublime 'disinterestedness which we
have always claimed as the chief charac.
teristic of southern patriotism. Let him
pass silently TO the sepulchre of human
distinction, and add another signal exam
pie to the catalogue Of unappreciated
gepiuses. Then we can well salute him.
"ImmOrtal hero! thy foes Ger come ~
Forever reign, the rival of-ToA THunB"
~ A telegraphie dispatch from New
York To the Cincinuati Commeroial sla.