Year: 1861

From the N. Y. Commercial Adveriserl


Language is all too feeble to express our
admiration of the patriot hero to whom the ]
President has wisely entrusted the arrange |
ments for the suppression Of the rebellion at
the South. Like all truly great men, he !
rises promptly TO the attitude of the occasion. |
The more he is burdened with responsible |
ity the more herculean the strength he brings
to sustain it. The grasp of his mind, or
perhaps more properly, the, instinct Of his
genius, responds quickly TO the magnitude
of the work before him. Passed the allotted
age Of man, and necessarily reduced in physi-
cal vigor, his mental energy has suffered no
abatement. He plans and natures his
schemes with the same clear perception Of
the bearing Of the mnutest details that he
so astonishingly displayed during the war in
Mexico. To his quickness of design and
wide comprehension of details he adds a
maturity of experience unsurpassed by that
of any military commander the world ever
saw. 1t il occasion of devout thankfuness
to Divine Providence that Lieutenant Gen
eral Scots life and intellect have been spar
ed to this day.


1t is cause Of thankfulness because the
genius and experience of this true hero were
specially needed in this trying crisis. Had
President Buchanan availed himself of his
counsels when they were first patriotically
rendered, the decentralization that has taken
place, and the fearful calamity of civil
war, might have been avoided. Providence
has spared Scott to remedy that which he
would fain have prevented. And it is no
more than truth to say that no other living
American could have brought to the treat
ment Of this great national disease the skill
and the wisdom which he does Nay, more.
The man does not live who is so exactly
qualified for the responsible duty. Europe
has at this day some great masters in the art
Of war; but General Scott is as
great in peace as in war. He combines with
the courage and daring and military genius
of Wellington or Napoleon the qualities
of a diplomatist in rare degree These he
has displayed at all times, and they are in
deed SO prominent that they soften down
the sterner features, reduce the angularities,
common to the character of military COM
manders.


And it is this combination of qualities
that makes AFOREMENTIONED Scots ser
vices invaluable at this crisis. Not that ne
gotiation is in order The time for that has
gone By. But that this element iif the
veteran general mind pervades and nell
crates the sterner, keener conceptions and
purposes OF the warrior, and prompts or
impels him to look at all the relations of the


belligerents toward each other as well as


their present mutually hostile attitude. His
mind is so constituted that it can and does
take in the civil as well as the military as


pect Of the contingency. 1t is not in the


nature OF General Scott tu wage war with
vindictiveness even against foreign foe-


Against his own countrymen, however wick


ed their purposes or gross their crimes, he


will conduct warlike operations no further


than they are necessary to correct the evils


against which they are directed. One knows


not whether most to admire, the frmness OF


his purpose or the moderation of his acts


But we all feel certain, that there is no failure


in the conception Of his plans, and no relaxa-


tion of the inHexible will that executes them.


But there is another and at least equal


cause Of thankfulness for the continued ca


pacity of Lieutenant General Scott We


refer to his almost parental tenderness and


care for the troops he commands. This has


passed into proverb in the army, and is,


in large degree, the secret of that unbound


ed confidence which soldiers repose in him.


A morning paper justly says of him, that


he is as chary of mems lives as miser is


of gold. He never moves if he can avoid


it, until he sees not only that he can accomp-


lish good purpose, but that he can accomp.


lish it at the least possible risk to his men,
This care of the troops confded to him EN-


braces also vigilant oversight of their health


and comfort, which, however, is an essential


quality in every good military commander


During the whole Mexican campaign, not
withstanding the impatience and almost
| Of hotb oN,oa,a onI ,,,o, he
could never be induced to hazard battle


until he had fully satisfied himself that il


could be fought at the smallest sacrifice Of


the lives of his men consistent with the as
surance of victory.


: Of course it is unnecessary to say tha
this humanity is never carried to the verge
, of hesitation or indecision. While he feels
f as probably few military chieftains have fell
, the great responsibility iMseparable from
!, command over the lives Of men, he knows
J also that those lives have been offered up OIL
) the altar Of patriotism, and that he is to ust
them when need is for the country's good
But it is consoing reflection for the friends
| and relatives Of those tens Of thousands o
men who are now rallied under his banner
that there will never be by his command
} any reckless waste of human life. His pru
D dence is as conspicuous as his valor. Ant
t this, combined with his giant intellect, hi
Z sound Judgment his military genius and hi
9 large experience, should excite everywher
h the most unlimited and unwavering conf
dence in his conduct of the present militar,
g operations against the enemies of constitu
( tional Government.


Military men, and especially those VIII
@ have once served under him, have this con
Q dence. Civilians, who know nothing of tn
: complicated machinery of army organization
e and movement, and cannot appreciate tn
d immense responsibilities of him who has t
y direct and work that machinery, are apt +
Q conclude, because they see no open move
9 ments, that the commander of the army
9 inactive Let such at least learn lesson
d from the past The public thought nothin
IS was being done to arrest rebellion and SUP
J. press its outrages when Fort Pickens wa
l. quietly but efficiently rc-enforced; there wa
e lull in the sound Of preparations also be
: fore Fortress Monroe was garrisoned and SUP
|. piled, and before the Southern ports wer
1t blookaded and for twenty-four hours be
l. fore the mastery movement which resulte
70 in the occupation OF Alexandria and Airing
y ton Nights the public mind had lapsed int
1t the belief that no forward movements wer
D TO be made, no troops marched into any {
y the rebel States, until the fall. Surely it
id tive tbat ayan the ohtusest of civilian