The Battle of Churubusco [pp. 78-116]

so Battle of Churubusco. [July,
pursuits, or excite with reason the hostility of sects or classCs. It arose, perhaps the first, with the very dawn of
mankind; it has engaged, throngh all time, the energy of
liuman genius, and impelled it to its loftiest efforts; it
served to cement the fabric of civil society; it con~rmed,
while it aided to form, the civilization of the world;* it
fixed on equitable bases the laws of international intercourse; and while man's passions exist, his nature not being
revolutionized, war must continue to be practiccd,t as the
most certain and the most ennobling means of national
adjustments. With all the arts and sciences, if not at the
summit of all, it merits study and improvement. Lvery
field of arms confirms some experience, or developes neW
theory, and while the bold encounter fbr victory, with life
on the hazard, wins the general admiration, original ideas
are fnrnished~ to the military student, towards perfecting
an indispensable department of knowledge.
in judgment to both doctrines, of innate notions, and those derived or developed
from external contact or observation, we only assert that maxims of wisdom
are drawn from experiment or experience, not only in war, politics, &c., hut
in ordinary life. ~Vhatever notions are inborn, for a wise course of conduct
in any avocation, and to fix comparatively the rules of such course, expen'meut is indispensably requisite. By association, ne'v thoughts will be awakened-by trial, new theories are established into uniform practice-and the laboors undergone, and the sufferings endured, stir il~e latent sentiments, and
induce the profound and practical meditation of bmnan kind. Etiam capillus
unus habet umbram suam. The smallest hair casts a shadow.
*A close examination of the rise of empires will lead to all these conclusions. Bacon furnishes a summary of the uses of the profession of arms. He
offers six essential reqm'rements for the greatness of a State, of which four
are as follows: 1st, In the population and breed of men. 2d, In the valour
and military disposition of the people. 3d, In the fitness of every man to be
a soldier. 4th, In the temper of the government to elevate the national character. (2d vol.) All pointing to the military art. In his Advancement of
Learning, he says: "The arts which flourish in times while virtue is in
growth, are military; while in State, are liberal; wbile in dedination are voluptuary." For all purposes of grandeur and glory, for power, respectability,
and happiness, the same wise man says: "Above all things cultivate a stout
and warlike disposition of il~e people."
"The Pai~c~ OF Px~c~ never specially forbade war, but left it to the
spirit of the gospel to remove the ceuses of war... ~`he sweeping con
demnation of all war by the Quakers is not warranted by Scripture." ~mall
Books on Great Subjects, 3d vol.
There is an unreasonable, uncharitable and superstitious notion, that a
soldier, so far as his prof~ssion is concerned, is`of the world;' and that a
man who dies on the field of battle is necessarily less prepared for his change
than one who dies in his bed," &c. The evils pointed out. Maurice's Kingdom of Christ.
C~sar said tl~e suddenest passage from life was the easiest. And Bacon