Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1838-04-07
10 the Voters of the First Divis-
ton of the Mississippi Militia.

/ regret that the time intervening between
N .aod the election, is so short. as TO pre-.
~, me in great measure from present
\ myself personally before you. This
aud have saved me in some degree from
h embarrassment of speaking Of myself
The necessary result Of addressing you
ronoh the medium of Circular,
In all we'll constituted governments,
sbother free or despotlc, the physical pow
must he concentrated under some eff
sient organization, alike to guarantee It's
fnteori,y-and to protect its citizens from
nreign aggression. Under the arbitrary
HoveTnments ofthe old world, standing ar
to;es are resorted to, not only to effect their
legitimate ends--but, also, for the purpose
VII extending their dominion over neigh
boring and powerless communlties-and
IN suppressing the tendency in the popu-
In spirit to rebel against those unnatural
"a Fictitious divisions of society, which
briginating in fraud, are to be sustained but
In force. But the wise founders of these
tonederoted Republics, with their enlarg-
IA sagacity, enlightened experience and
leepIess patriotism, were npprehensivc
here would be more of danger than pro-
lection in standing army-and wisely
Concluded that the bravest defenders OF a
peoples home were the citizens who knew
Its treasures. Time versifed their wis
dom at the ever memorable contests of
New DEMONSTRATIONS and the Thames,
Indeed scarcely battle field of the last
war but attest, how CALAMITY the citizen
bore himself amidst its tragic but trium-
Il plant scenes.
The peculiar nature of our domestic in.
stitutions, of all others, requires we'll or
ganized and we'll disciplined militia. I'm
der all circumstances, and at all times
this is indispensably necessary; how Uitat-
II ly important is it then, at this suspicious
u period-when the cantng philanthropy
n OF the age is striving to convert the slaves
of our household into the enemies of our
peace. Common prudence requires usto
guard ourselves against the lncendiary
purposes of deluded fanaticism, to place
our militia in such an "armor and attitude"
las will not only suppress even the con-
Temptation Of instruction, but efiectually
protect ourselves from the Interior views
4 of Northern aboitonists,--be they what
they may. And in so doing we prepare
n the American citizen for his most exalted
4 du,y-his country's defence; and we make
the appelation of citizen soldier not an
4 empty sound--but the appropriate deslg-
nation of the highest and hottest obliga-
\ lions of freeman's life.
s You are soon, Fellow-Ctizens, TO exer-
else one of the most important duties oil
1.-The citizen sodier--the selection of your
officers. Permit me then, for brief mo-
ment to name my humble pretenslons to
the Major Generalship of the First Dlvls-
ion.
At a very early period ofmy life, | was
animated with an enthusiastic admiration
Of the profession of arms. My late VEN
Grated Father had been engaged during
the Revolutionary War, in the SER
vice of South Carolina, the most distin-
gushed and sanguinary arena ofthat new
err to be forgotten struggle; and it was
from his details of that memorable and
4 glorious contest--that first learned to
love a soldiers duties. Soon after my re-
turn from College, in 1924, | entered the
ia Militia of this State, and was appointed
to the command of the Wilkinson Light
" Inlantry;-that had the distinguished hon
or, at the several different Reviews, OF e.
Il letting by their accurate discipline, and
gallant appearance, a public expression
Of appreciation by the Reviewing Officer
| remained in command of that corps Tor
four years, when | was appointed Brigade
III Inspector, the duties of which office ex
ercised, until the partiality Of my Fellow
ia Citizens promoted me to the command o
the First Brigade. have been twice ell
II ected Brgadier General; once by the of
ficers of the Brigade-and once by the SOW
ereign people themselves.
have been engaged actively and zeal
ously in the Militia Of the State for Il
years-and il an accurate knowledge o
the discipline and science of the profession
OF arms give me any claim on you
support, | can advance my pretension
with some degree Of confdence--as it il
known to my Fellow-Citizens of this sec
III uons lhat my pursuits III Inc rugged ant
acclivous paths Of science have been di
rected, almost exclusively, to the art anC
strategy Of warfare. For have long an
ticipaed that the period was not far dis
tant when the chivalry of the land would
be called to the field to defend the deares
rights Of freemen. !,
/ trust that my long and indefatigabl
exertions in the military service OF tn
State, will be sufficient surety to my rel
low.Citzens, should they honor me wit
their confidence, that the best energies Q
my mind will be devoted to their interest
MM 7 AMnON