The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1872-10-24
NUMBER "a.
An Old Story.
From tho Louisville Courier Journal.

When the late General John A. Quit
man was running against Henry S.
Foote for Governor of Mississippi, in
1851, he, not unreasonably or unnatur-
ally, mounted his war horse, brandished
his sword in the air, and fought his
campaigns over again. He made bat
tle-tield of every stump in the State
from Holly Springs to the Louisiana
line Fellow-citizens," he said, 81
have been, all my life, soldier in the
service of liberty and my country.
When the bugle call of freedom re-
sounded in Texas raised command
and rushed to the front, sharing the
glories of San Jacinto and the Lone
Star. When the tocsin of war was heard
/ upon the Rio Grande, | again obeyed
the summons and proceeded at once to
/ he scene of action. At Palo Alto and
ReSaca de In Palma | was in the thick
of the fight at Monterey and Buena
Vista, before the walls of Chepultepec,
all along the line of Taylor and Scott,
breasted the storm of shot and shell,
until at last, with my own hands,
placed the glorious star-spangled ban
ner upon the halls of the Montezumas.'
Gen. Quitman was an earnest speaker,
a brave and true soldier, and Il man of
handsome personal appearance and
bearing. All that he said G himself
was true, and spoken among his native
people, many of whom had shared his
glory and his tolls, it was not out of
place or season. 1t made a visible stir
among the masses. Wherever he went
the produced an effect. But on Ger
tain occasion, when the war feeling was
apparently stronger and more general
than usual, he observed an old man in
the crowd quite overcome by feeling,
sobbing violently, and crying out every
now and then "Amen," and "Oh my
Quitman.r When the General had fin
ishcd he sought out this old man, and
accostcd him "My friend" said he,
"you seemed to be moved by what l
said.' The old man declared that he
had never been 50 moved in his life, and
then drying his eyes says he.
"And you went and fit the Mexicans
for Texan liberty, General did you?
eyes, y says Quitman, 81 did"
"Aud you shared in theglories of San
Jacinto and the Lone Star, did you'
eyes did that toe"
"And when the tocsin of war re-
sounded on the Rio Grande you flew to
the call of your country and passed
through all the battles of Taylor's and
Scots limo until you planted the stars
and stripes ON the halls of the Montezu
mas, did you?'
eyes, my old friend, l have told you
nothing but the truth"
"My noble Quitman My brave Quit
man You have done enough for your
country. 1t is time that your country
gave You rest IShaH rOte for FOOte"
Sure enough the people of MISSISSIPPI
pi thought so too. Gen Quitman, in
spite of his services and his merits, was
not elected Governor of the State. He
was allowed to seek in retirement the
rest which his public services entitled
him to.
Our story is not without its moral.
The battlc~wreath which the Radical
campaign managers woye about their
Presidential candidate and themselves
is melting away like wreath of snow.
The people Of the United States set tho
military service of General Grant at
their proper value, just as the people of
Missippippi properly estimated the SER
vices of General Quitman. They know
that the President did successful SER
vice in the field, albeit there is suspi-
cion that the soldiers under his COM
mand contributed somewhatto that sue
cess, and ut the same time, considering
him gcncrouely they are not disposed
to question too closely his title to the
fame which chance, rather than his own
genius, has secured him. But they feel
that, even were his exploits audachieve-
ments greater and more original than
they are, he has been Oyerpaid. He
has done enough for his country, and
his country has done enough for him.
Besides, there is time for peace, as pc
cuiar in its requirements and its exac-
tions as the peri Od of war from whlc
we emerged seven years ago. There
are likewise peaceful services of great
national value, quite rs worthy of pop
ular recognition and honors as services
in the field, and, seeing that Horace
Greeley's triumphs in this department
have been equally brilliant and con- :
spicuous with those of General Grant
in his especial sphere of action, the pep
pie are coming wisely to the conclusion
that it is about time to distribute their
gifts with an eye to the occasion, di-
rected by general principles of justice.
They have given
-"tis first watch of the night
70 the red planet, Mars"
and they propose to devote the early
hours OF the morning OF peace, which
has been allowed them, to these kindly
duties which preside over corn-tields
and meadows, which dwell in seats OF
learning and temples of worship, which
direct the civilization and fruition OF
the country. The battlewreath, with
it's bloody blossoms, is falling of the
figure of Columbia, who stands, like
true goddess as she is, clad in robes OF
Wits, wearing garland OF spring now,
crs, and, With smiles and oItstre.cnea l,, inta
arme invites the war wasted. South into
her warm embrace.
- ft,,t boa lone enOupl for his