The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-05-10
s.es.ots from History.

That distinguished English officer, SiT
| Charles Napier, on presenting new co!0Ts to
| the I'D British infantry, IL India made a
] characteristic speech, reported IL the Times
] July II, 1851, III the c"ufse Of which he
] said "Never can forget the banks Of the
tuiaiiee, and the bloody bed Ct that river,
where 600 OF our men Ionght 35 900 enc-
mics where, for three hours, the musket
and the bayonet encountered the swosd aud
tue Shield in mortal combat for on that
dreadful! day no man spared ioc-aee acre
too 1'eak for MERCY"
ln the Bible history Oh the Jewish people
occur numerous examples and warnings Of
the dangers OF false ciemency. One Of the
most Stirling OF these is the invasion OF
Israel by BenLadad, King ci syria This
Benhadad sceLlG to have been as arrogant
and boasttui as Yankee, and far superior
ia military power to the invaded county
Indeed, his immense force rendered the idea
OF opposition ridiculous. The message nc
sent to the King Of Israel, when he came be.
tore Samafia, was as AMBIGUOUS as the mani
'estoes Of Lincoln aud his Generals: "Thy
| silver and thy gold is mine thy wives, also,
| and thy children, even the goodiiest. are
| mine." The lsraelitish King, at first ap
7 palied by the odds against him, returned ali
I lug the turbulence OF Benhadad, who replied
/ that he would reduce Sanaria TO DUST, which
would then not suffice to give Landtu.s to
ali the lnen Of his numerous host Reused
To the exigeney by such message, the King
OF Israel sent back this royal answer, not
unworthy the consideration OF the Benhadad
| now threatening With equal arrogance the
| Confederate States: Tell him, let not him
| That girdeth Oh his harness boast himself as
| nc that putteth it CIT" Then, ia obedience
TO the prophet Of the Lord, the Israclites
| Tell upon the invaders, and though they
| numbered little more than seven thousand
men, the vast multitude Of the Syrian army
| was swept away like dust before whirl-
| wind, the arrogant 6enhadad being the first
| in the flight.
But this was not the last Of it. A second
stupendoas invasion was prepared. The
King OF Israel, ioscwarned OF its approach,
though his utmost preparations bore no
comparison TO the Syrian power, resolved
that be would not again be shut up in Sa-
Haria. but that the contest should be in the
open country. The army Of Israel, in front
Of It's colossal opponen is described by the
sacred historian as looking ''like two little
Hooks Of kids" But tho battle Is not al
ways to the strong. Agaio, through the
might Of God. the Israe!ites were not 'Onty
victorious, hut achieved great, crushing,
decisive victory. Bcnhadad himself sought
shelterin position from which, however,
he knew there was no chance OF escape.
God had given him aud his whole army Into
the hands OF the King Of Israel But mark
how even great virtue, Ike humanity, may
be SD misplaced Ia the time and object OF
Its exercise, as to paralyze the wise benevo-
lence Of Heaven.
tenhadad mad 10 hope hut in throw ing
mmsch upon the clemency Of the King o.
Israel His counseliors assured him that
| they had heard the Kings Of Israel were
inefeiinl men. He accordingly sent ambas-
sailors to beg the Syrian Kings lite, but to
Ao.e The manner an which the application
was received, and to frame their demeanor
aseofdingiS Clothing tLemeelyes in eack-
eaoth, aha with ropes about their necks--
CUSTOMS Oh those days by which such sup
piahIs attended to express that their fate
was Ia thc handle Of him before whom they
appeared they thus addressed the King OF
lsrasl: "Ihy servant Beahadad saith, Draw
thee, let nae live" Ey the universal prac-
tee u that age, by all the dictates Of sound
policy, the captive monarch HAD no right to
expect aaght but death. II David had been
the KING he would never have delivered him
that without cause Was his essmy. Eut the