The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1863-03-10

! nat mucous mOFtdI iepToSg, NHleH
seems TO be the sad but inyariable alten-
dant upon all political discussions in a
free government, corrupting the very
sources Of public life, breeding only the
base spirit of faction, had taken complete
possession of the opposition, and in its
sordid calculations the dishonor of the
country, or the danger of the army, was
as nothing, provided the Office, the pow
er, and the patronage of the Government
were secured in their hands. 1t wa; ol
little concern to them, provided they
could drive the Ministry from Office,
whether his downfall was brought about
by blunders in Spain, or by the King S
obstinacy about Catholic Emancipation,
or by an obscure quarrel about tie inilu-
ence Of the Lords of the Bedchamber.
The sincerity of these declamations OF the
opposition was curiously enough put TO
the test some time afterwards, when the
Ministry, wearied by the factious dema-
gogueism with which all their measures
were assailed, and underst landing perfect
ly their significance, boldly challenged
their opponents, if they were in earnest,
to make a definite motion in the House
Of Commons, that Portugal should be
abandoned to its fate. This move com
pletely unmasked their game, and for a
time silenced the clamor, for it was per-
fectly understood on all hands, that deep
in the popular heart, undisturbed by the
storms which sweep over its surface,
there was thorough and abiding con
viction of the absolute necessity of resis
ting the progress of Napoleon's arms,
and that the real safety Of England her
self required that the resistance should
then be made in Spain. Sill this noisy
clamor did immense mischief; it weak
ened the Government, it prolonged the
strife, it alarmed the timid, it discour.
aged the true, and it so far imposed upon
Napoleon himself, that thinking that in
these angry invectives against the Gov
ernment he found the real exponent Of
English sentiment, he concluded, not
unnaturally, that the people were tired
and disguised with the war, aud that the
privalons which it occasoned, were like
a cancer. slowly but surely eating out
the sources Of national life.
In the midst Of these violent tumuls
al home, Wellington was silently prepar
inc for his great work within the lines Of
Torres Verdras. II would not be easy 70
overrate The difficulties by which he was
surrounded He was fully aware OF the
outcry which had been raised against
him he knew that from cabinet weak
ened by internal dissensions, and on the
verge of overthrow from the vigorous
assaults OF the opposition, and from its
own unpapularity ocaasioned BY the fail
ure of Tie Walcheren expedition. and the
disasters in the Peninsula, he could ex.
pect no thorough and reliable support.
Indeed. the Government, almost in de-
spair, threw the Whole responsibility for
the military measures on tie Continent
on him alone. He accepted the respon
sibility in a most magnanimous spiit.
Secure within the lines o! Torres
Nerdras, he quietly waited until the want
Of provisions, and the utter hopelessness
Of an assault upon his position, forced
upon Massena the necessity of retreat
ing Then instantly pursuing. in a ser.
les of battles, of almost daily occurrence,
he drove Massena out Of Portugal, end
reached once more the Spanish frontier
in May, 1911, nearly three years after
the English had sent an army TO the as
sisance of the Peninsula. Here he rest
ed for long time, making preparations
for the siege OF Badaloz and Ciudad
Rodrigo, operations requiring time, and
the success OF which was essential TO the
safety Of the army in its further progress
Still. SO little was Wellington's position
military and political understood in
England, even at that time, after all the
proofs he had given of consummate abil.
ily, that public clamor was again reused
against the mode adopted by him for
conducting the war. As there were no
disasters Mt which 10 grumble, people
talked of barren victories" because.
like those of Creey and Azincourt, they
brought ro territorial acquisitions. for
getting then what they have never been
weary of boastingly proclaiming since.
that these victories We're the best proofs
that their army was distinguished BY the
highest military qualities. which. prop.
erly directed and supported, were capa
BILE Of achieving the most glorious results.
So profound was the conviction oil the
immense superiority Of the French both
in numbers and in the quality Of their
troops, that the public mind was in a
state of feverish anxiety, and many Of the
stoutest hearts gave way to despair
As it to render The situation
more gloomy, il possible. tho Marquis OF
Wellesley the brother OF Wellington. left
the Ministry upon the ayowed ground
that the Government would not supper,
the war with sufficient vigor History
has stripped his conduct Of any such
worthy motive. and shown that the real
| trouble was his anxiety to supplant Mr..
Perceval. At the same time the attack
was kept up in the opposite quarter =
No man ia his senses, sail Sir Fran.
els Butdett, could eutertain hope oI
tie inal success Of oul arms in the Pc,
nnsala. Our lanrels were great. but
barren, and cur Victories. in their effects.
mere defeats Mr. Whitbread. too, n
ii 4