Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-05-27
AdhesiHsness.


The bump which presides friendshipi is cledb by
the phrenolog Is adhesveness. The books Say that
person, in whom this organ is very large, Is "un-
willing TO think or believe i'll Of bis friends, and sacr-
foes gladly, for their sakes ease property happiness
reputation, and even life ITSELF" The loss Of friends
il sgOnzing almost beyond endurance; and the inter-
IuptOn Of friendship frequent source Of partial de-
rsDgement"
"One having very large adhesveness, with large or
very large destructvenes eOmbativeness, selesteem
and srmness with only moderate small conscientious
ness viii be most ardent friend and an eqsany bitter
enemy will never forget favor or an injury I'll the
one is rewarded and the other avenged or confessed
cannot do too much good 70 bis friends or evil to his
foes; and viii make al his Sequantances either ardent
friends or bitter enemies"
such person, if he we're the ruler of great people
might do iacalculabs harm. Carried away by his
friendships he might appoint incompetent men to Office
and persist in UNFOLDING them in spite of the gravest
faults. The lives and property Of millions OF citizens
might be lost BY the incompetence Of an officer with
out abating the intense friendship Of bis prince ID
vain might the victims Of this officer appeal to their NJ
Ter and cry out against the injustice Of placing them at
the mercy Of man who not only had never shown any
with the protection Of great city manifested decided
incapaciy by advising the destruction Of the tOrthca-
tons Of the place be defended The people might
point TO this instance Of Incompetence and recall the
fact that the advice of the officer had been officially dis
approved by the prince himself and bis chief military
adviser.
But the appeal of the people would avail them moth
ing. prince endowed with very large sdhesiveness,
verv large self esteem and small eOnscientOusness would
not be moved By popular elsmOr BE would still cling to
his friend and al the strongly because bis eapaei-
" was Questioned For bis appointment as due not at
all to merit but to the princes favor; and any mPeaeh
ment Of the avorte ability reflects on the judgmento
the prince But TO one constituted, friendship is so
poverful that it takes the place Of Judgment. Never
theess the prince is angry because it seems to him that
his judgment is called in question: Whereas ia point Of
fact only his fond aud too persistent affection is con-
cerped in the matter-his reasoning faculties having
nothing whatever to DO With it.
So far from abandoning the incapable officer itmght
well happen that such prince has been described
would advance his avOre 70 position still higbsr and
Of far more fearful responsibility than that which he
held when be advised the dsmsnting Of the forts of
the harbor he was sent TO defend. This promotion IN
der the circumstances would seem 70 SAVIOR of madRsss
on the part of the prince but to the prince himself
would appear as a simple duty Of friendship aud the
prompting OF good heart
In his new department the Incompetent officer might
exhibit the same deficiencies he bad discovered on
f,rmer occason-mght entail horrible suHerngs upOl
the people and put in jeopardy the very kingdom itself
But II AZ the last after much useless carnage and
uninterrupted series Of miSmAnaged engagements,
sultng invariably in bloody defeats, officer should
take command over the incompetent fVOHe, and if the
new commander should retrieve the sanguinAry blum
ders of his predecessor the beeagured city and
save the sorely mperled kingdom-i this should come
70 pass, the friendly prince would be almost to
claim the victory as due to the skill Of his Vorite and
as convincing prOOfOf bis (the princess wisdom in APP
pointing him 70 50 responsible position. But if the
other hand, the besieged city should fall the blame Of
defeat oOud be made to appear to rest on the COM
mander-the princes favOrite would be shielded from
public obloquy, and the great calamity to the kingdom
would call for such e1ertOns the part Of the people
that all elamor would be hushed thereby.
This Is but one of the many cruel misfortunes which
NAV befu country in consequence Of the nordinate
and unreasOning friendship Of prince. History, both
ancient and modern, contains doubtless many examples
in proof
Cour.iers and caterers will of course, applaud what
ever their lord may do; but good subjects while abat
ing no loyalty to the crown, will be slow to encourage
in their prince that OverWeenng fOndness which con
Pounds affection with abilty-makes personal attach
mems the sole sst Of caPacty-brings defeats to ar
mics and distress 20 thousands Of innocent and heI
less people To encourage such disposition in ruler,
il 70 ensure the continuance of improper appointments
and while the Capital in which the fatterers reside may
for the time be safe under competent COMMANDER the
system oe aVortism and the casualties Of war viii even
suay place both the prince and his parasites at the
mercy Of man as incapable his master is ineorrgi-
HE