Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1862-11-22

lave not the work before them, let me shy thet
'aulus Emilius. who lived about l6O years BE.
II more than 1000 years ago, was the most
minent Roman General Of bis day, and had
been elected Consul, with definite object oI
conducting IA campaign in Macedonia, against
Perseus, Kink Of Mucedon.
Before leaving Rome for the war; ns was
customary in those days, be made an address to
the people Of Rome. Among other things he
says
| shall take care to remit to yon, as wei
os to the Senate, an exact account OF all
that passes; and you may rely upon the
certainly mud truth Of my letters ; but
beg Of YOU, as a great favor, that You Will
NOT give c. edit to, or attribute consequence
by your creduity to, the vague aud unau
thenticuted reports which are iltqnenlIy
spread abroad. l perceive well, in this
war, more than any other that win
whptever resolution people may determine
TO disregard these rumOrS, they will not lniI
to make an impression, and inspire some
drgree Of discUul agement. There are those
who in comnanv, aud even at tnbles, com
mand Armies, regulate The disposition OF the
forces, aud proscrihe all the operations OF
the campaigu. They know better than
we " here we should encamp, and what
posts it is necessary for Us to seize; at what
line aud by what d,dle, we ought to enter
Macedonia; where it is proper to establish
our magazines from whence, either 10y
sea or land, We are to bring provisions,
when we are 10 fight the enemy, and
aud " hen lie still. They not only prescribe
" hat is best to be DONE but for devla'ing
ever so little from their plans, they make ii
crime in their consul, and cite him before
their tribunal. Bat know, Romans, this
is a great impedmcnt with your generals.
All have not the resolution and conStaucy
of Fubns, 10 despi,e imperinent reporis
He could choose rather to uiftr the people
upon such rumors to invade bis authority,
than TO run the business of opinion, aud an
empty name | am far from believing
that generals stand in no need Of advice
think, on the contrary, that whoever
would conduct every thing alone, upon his
| own opinion, and without consulting the
/ judgment of others, shows more preSump
! ton than prudegce. But some may ak,
/ how then shall we act reaSonahyY BY
not suffering any persons 10 obsrude their
advice apon your generals but such as
are, in the first place, NerSed IN tic art OF
war, and have learned from experience
| y What it is TO command aud iu the second,
who arc upon The ,pOt, who know the enc
my, are witnesses in person to all that pas
SeS. and shares with us ia all dangers. II
| there be any one conceivcs himself capable
/ Of assisting me with his cOunSels in the war
/ You have charged me with, let him not re-
I fuse to do the republic that service, bui let
! him 20 with me into Macedonia a ship,
| horses, tents, provisions, shall lie supplied
at my charge. But if he will not take so
much trouble, and prefers the tranquility
Of the city to the dangers aud fatIgueS OF
the Grld, let him not take upon lin to
hold the hem, and continue idle in port
The city of itself supplies sufficient matter
Of discourse on other subjects but as for
| lheSe let it be silent, uud know. that We
shall pay no regard TO any cuunsel<, but
! such us shall Ue given US in camp it.
self
Tie historian, on tie sound aud sensible
speech, makes the following remarks, which are
also worthy of consideration by our people at
the present day
The discourse Of Puulus Emilius, which
GbOuuds with reason aud good sense, shows
that men are the same in all ages Of the
world. People have an Incredible itch for
examining, crilicisug and condeming The
Conduct Of generals aud DO not observe Iha
by 50 doing they act in manifest conIrad,c
ton 10 reason aud Isticc: to reason OF what
cun be more absurd and ridiculous, than 10
see persons, without any knowledge or cXpe'
rlcuce in war, sci themselvcS.u up for censorS
Of the most able generals aud pronounce
with mags erial air upon their actions
10 justice for the most experienced cal
make no certain judgmrut without being
upon the spot, the least circumstance OF time
IIhace, disposition Of tbe troops secret orders
not dIvuIged, being capable OF making al
absolute change ln the general rules o
Conduct Bat We must not expect tt
See falling reformed, that has lis source
in The curlo.i'y aud vanity OF human nutur'
and generals w would do wisely, after The eX
ample Of Pauus Hpilius, 10 de>pise Ihes
ciIy reports and c,ude opinions of idle pee
l. who have nothing else to do, aud hay
generally Us lilile judgment as business
Now, Mr. Editor can we do a better servic
to the public, u these, as think, speculativ
times. than by trying to Induce our friends, e
pecially the young 10 read aud study more N
{ t ry aud less fiction.
notice the volume before las been in Il
n town library more than 20 years. From its al
+, peurance judge it has been handled very car
fully, and yet 10 those du'i, ignorant days, whe
you-a much younger man than myseii-was
school, the boy or girl wha had oppornni
but failed TO make an acquaintance with Roll
S Z as, uncommon. 1t was certainly SO III Il
a dull, ignorant times when was at school,
: deed, hope your readers one and all, VII CIV
: heed 10 the excellent advice Of the old Roma
aud the instruction Of the judicious and amiab
historian Roin. R,w.G O..
> There are two kinds Of augers-ho
good in their places. One has a screw Il
Il . ..l, ii ~