Vermont Watchman And State Journal

GEN. TAYLOR.

We copy the following from the Journal of Commerce. The admirable harmony of General Taylor's life must strike every beholder. His actions correspond with his sentiments, and in word and deed he is alike unapproachable.—N. Y. Tribune.

The Hero of Buena Vista. Great emergencies, it is said, produce great men. If they do not produce them, they at least bring them to light. So it has been in the unhappy war between us and a sister republic. A man of simple unostentatious habits,—who, though possessing great wealth, chose to follow the profession of arms, and was satisfied with the common routine of military life, never thrusting himself into notice, but simply doing his duty in a quiet way,—is by the force of circumstances brought prominently before the public, and is found to possess the highest military talent, and every other quality which men are accustomed to admire.

In early life, and in an humble rank, he successfully defended a western fort against a superior force of the enemy. His modest dispatch, recording the defence, had almost faded from remembrance.

At a later period, a brilliant victory was won by him in the Florida war, and even with that we had almost ceased to be conversant. There was no crisis of public affairs, or essential risk of the national honor, to make these events of historical or political importance. In comparative retirement, or at most in the command of distant posts, the unaffected though successful commander passed away years of obscurity. We cannot tell whether this was congenial to his feelings or not; but be this as it may, he knew how to "bide his time," and the want of such knowledge destroys the prospects and usefulness of many a really great man.

How many of our most gifted public servants impatient of delay, have endeavored to control destiny itself, and create the events upon which their advancement depended. How many bright spirits have thus been shrouded in darkness, before they have reached even a mid day career.

General Taylor, fortunate in his philosophy or his temperament, permitted events to take their course—tranquil in retirement, and calm even when forgotten.

But all at once he develops the qualities of a great General. In the most critical situations his judgment foresees what his valor wins. No matter what may be the difficulties around him he meets and overcomes them all. In strategy as well as hand to hand, he evinces superior skill and when the nation almost gives him up for lost again and again he sends back to it the intelligence that he has conquered.

In no page of our history do we find recorded four such hard fought battles, fought at such fearful odds as these which have placed such laurels on the brow of General Taylor and the brave troops under his command. The country is astonished to find it possesses such a man!