285
WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1851
is merely intended as a compliment. It has been urged by gentle- men in favor of the measure, that General Scott has received no brevet, while other officers subordinate to him have received brevets for their gallant conduct in Mexico, and that it is befit- ting that he should now receive some expression of the public gratitude. There was an eminent reason why he was not breveted. It cer- tainly was not that Congress wished to withhold from him any expression of approbation, or even admiration of his gallant con- duct in the prosecution of the war with Mexico, but he had fi11ed the measure of promotion, and there was no higher office to which he could be breveted. Other officers subordinate to him could be breveted, because they had not attained the acme of promotion; but he had attained that years before. But has not every expres- sion of admiration been given? Have not medals or swords been given him? Have not the thanks of Congress been voted? And what more can be given in the expression of national approbation than what has already been tendered? I would not deprive him of one iota of the fame that is due to him, nor would I interpose upon party principles-as that has been alluded to-the slightest objection to any expression of public approbation or to any public demonstration of honor that might be offered to him by this body. The Senator from New Hampshire has very pertinently said that if it was necessary to complete his fame by the expression of Congress in approbration of his conduct, it would be a very idle expression, and that it was unnecessary to the consummation of his fame as a general officer, or as a conqueror, if you please. The annals of his country will transmit his fame to posterity without any idle expression on the part of the Senate, if he has the littleness to wish for anything so flimsy. The-honor that is to be accorded to him must arise from the consciousness of Amer- ican feeling-from the fact that he has served the nation, and is entitled to its gratitude. But here it is proposed to give to him a mere idle expression on the part of Congress, when the war has passed over, when it should have been tendered, if at all, at the termination of the war, the recollection of those glorious achieve- ments being ·then fresh in the memory of every one. What neces- sity is there that suggests or urges it upon the attention of the Senate? Is it to gratify an idle vanity? Certainly not. A general who is capable of glorious and honorable achievements could not be gratified by any expression that Congress could give, when all public feeling had passed away, and when it would be a mere cold, insipid expression, as a matter of form.
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