The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-07-18
nATnlY dOURNAL
MONDAY, JULY is, 1870.
From the Columbus co., JournaIl
Characteristic Sayings or American

Characteristic Sayings or Americans,
Some one with a good memory fol
such, might make a very readable ar.
ticle from the best remembered and
most characteristic sayings of Ameri-
cans Here are a few which may
serve as specimens of what might be
done with time and opportunity:
Samuel Adams, knNwn for many
things, seldom has his name associated
with the phrase first applied by him
to REHABILITATION of shopkeep,
ers."
It was John Wesley. and not
Charles Sumner, who first spoke of
slavery (the slave trade) as the sum
of all ~villainies."
Franklin said many things that
have passed into maxims, but nothing
that is better known and remembered
than he has paid dear, very dear,
for his whistle"
Washington made but few epigram-
matte speeches. Here is one: "To
be prepared fer war is the most eff
fectual means of preserving peace"
Did you ever hear old John Dick
inson? Well, be wrote of Americans
10 1768: by uniting we stand, by
dividing we fall"
Patrick Henry. as every school-boy
knows, gave Us Give me liberty, or
give me death" and If this be trea-
son, make the most Of it."
Thomas Paine has many quotable
epigrammatic sentences: Rose likes
rocket, fell like stick; :" Times that
try mems souls; )" "One step from sub.
lime to ridiculous" ETC., etc.
Jeferson's writings are so besprink-
led that it is difficult to select. In de-
spair we Jump at Few die and none
resign" certainly as applicable to Of
fceholders now as In Jefferson time.
Josiah Quincy, Jr., said, Where
soever, whatsoever, or howsoever WI
shall be called on to make our exit,
we will die freemen."
Henry Lee gave Washington his
immortal title of First in war, first
in peace, and first in the hearts Of his
ceuntrymen.
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney de-
clared in favor of Millions for de-
fence. but not one cent for tribute.
"Peaceably if we can, forcibly if we
must" is from Josiah Quincy, 1911.
John Adams did not say, Live or
die, survive or perish, I'm for the
Constitution" but Daniel Webster
did say it for him.
The revolutionary age alone would
give US our article, had we time to
gather the pearls. Coming down we
pass greater but not more famous men,
for
Davy Crockett, the illustrious au-
thor of BE sure you are right, then
&c ahead"
Andrew jackson gave Us THE
Union-it must be preserved"
Benton almost lost his original
identity ia "Old Bullion" from his
hard money" doctrines.
Governor Throop. of New York, was
called Small Light Throop" for years.
from a phrase in a Thanksgiving
Proclamation.
SCOTS "hasty plate of soup" lasted
his lifetime.
TayIor's battle order, "a little more
grape, Captain Bragg" will be quoted
after he is forgotten by " all the world
and the rest OF mankind"
Seward is known for the "irrepress-
ible conflict" wherever the English
language 5 spoken.
Marcy's patched breeches are as
we'll remembered as his State papers.
Rufus Cboate gave us "glittering
generalities."
Our own Bill Allen, the Chinese
Gong" is responsible for "54-40 or
fight"
Tom Corwin's welcome with bloody
hands to hospitable graves" one of
his noblest utterances, gave him more
unenviable criticism than any other
saying of his life.
Calhoun gave US States rights"
as a most p~ernicious and absurd
equivalent for national supremacy
under the constitution.
Douglas applied "squatter sover-
eighty" though it is probable that
Cass invented and Calhoun named it.
Stringfellow was the original Dor
der Rufian."
War times gave us no end of cpl
erammatic u%tterances. Those of
Lincoln alone would fill a volume.
Chiefest of all these that noble, god
like sentiment, with charity for
all aud malice toward none."
McClellan's chief exploit was to
make us acquainted with the phrase
Change of base"
OIhG. EafC 10 ASAb = OAH III vic
line, I" unconditional surrender" II
propose to move Immediately upon
your works." bottled up" and a
hundred others. 1t seems to have
escaped notice that Grant is respon-
sible for more of these characterizing.
elementary crystalizations of thought
than any military leader of modern
times.
Sherman first gave utterance to the
great truth showing at once states
manship and military sagacity, The
Confederacy is a she'll" and he had
the rare felicity of practically demon
strating his own theorem by the
March to the Sea"
Sheridan's character and his style
of fighting are expressed BY "Sent
them whirling up the Valley"
Pope's unfortunate order from
Headquarters In the Saddle" gave
General Lee opportunity for the one
solitary joke of his lifetime-"What
can you expect Of a General who puts
his headquarters where his hindquar-
ters ought to be?'
Butler, more Iueisive with the pen
than with the sword, cut through one
of the knottiest problemt of the war
with the name "C~ontraband."