The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-01-20
Respectfully yours,
10. JUMPER VIRGINS.
For the Union

| lNVt A"e 'uioh
The jewel consistency like many other
things of value at the present day, seems
to be-in commercial phraseolOgy--at
discount. l might go further aud say of
this once highly priced jewel, as it is Of
ten said of precious stones, disinterred
from the burial cities of three thousand
years ago, "The art of cutting and
bringing out the brilliancy Of these
stones, is lost to the present age" Ger
tain it is, we are not often dazzled by
bright examples Of consistency in actors
in the present evil times on which we
have fallen, though ineonsistencies are all
too glaring. o."
was prompted to these reflections by
the painful contemplation of a remarka-
BILE feeling or sentiment, prevailing among
some, which is notably ungenerous and
unjust towards one, who, three several
times of late, has proved himself TO be,
not only a lover of his country, but emf
nently qualified to defend her rights and
avenge her wrongs.
Words, we all know, are not necessa-
ry for the expression OF the thoughts of
the heart.
There is language of the eye, of the
features, even of silence tout ensemble
of mans bearing at certain. times, which
carries conviction as readily as nervous
Saxon" on the tongue, An observant
man, cannot but come to the melancholy
conclusion that there are those in our
midst, protesting to be true patriots, (and
believe they sre) and who desire TO see
this war terminated, and, who yet, use
the above described language to decry a
merited reputation and express an abso
lutte disappointment at recent victory.
Charity might find, perhaps, palliation
of this gross Inconsistency in that prin-
ciple of our nature which in a greater or
less degree governs us all, refer to SOB
st'nacy of opinion" Let me illustrate the
workings Of this principle by suppOsing a
case.
Thus, c. is called to position of trust
and responsibility, by the powers that be
such and such results are expected from
bis management of affairs; the results
are unsatisfactory and G. is removed and
w. is put in his place. G. has warm
friends and they say many things-well
moant--but evincing zeal without knowl-
edge Among others, it is confidently
and incOnsiderately affirmed by them,
that w. will certainly fail, and they state
the case olearly-C is a man Of the first
order of mind and military genius-he
fAiled, Twill admiD w. is a man of the
&oord order, etc, consequently he must
fail
Now had C's friends sagaciously con-
sidered that the combination Of events |
in nations daily progress at such times
as these, are as uncertain and shift
ing as the figures Of Kaleidoscope, and
that w might be befriended by variety
of new events and circumstances they
hardly would have been so rash WIS
friends accept the test and await the is
sue. Plans mature, are executed, and w,
is successful Now consistency and man
Illness demand that C's friends should
abide by the test they themselves estab-
lished, and should acknowledge, grace
fully as possible, that w. merits the rep
utation they conceded to c.. but here
steps in obstinacy of opinion and
prevents such an acknowledgment, and
C 8 friends are left the other alternative
Of disparaging WIS success and Of con
ceding nothing to his abilities,
If such case as the above example
furnishes, were to occur in real life, my
humble opinion Of the matter would be
expressed in this wise The friends and
foes Of w, should, in justice, award to
him an eminent and well earned reputa-
ton, while Cs. foes and fiead, should
not, in Justice, gauge his merits by WIS
success. FAIRNESS !