Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-03-04
From ths Nansaoi Gazette.
REASONABLY REFLECTIONS.


in a few months, in smell volume. ihe
following il a passage from II, which may
be new 10 many readers, mentioning facts
which should be known in this country,
especially at this time. The matter Is
concerning the army system oil France.
and exhibits in strong light the state OF
society throughout, the Kingdom, as y
mus, necessarily be when every man u
subject TO do military duty for seven years,
a, the very period Of life when his habits
or industry aud business, and his domestic
associations us husband aud father, should
be formed.
.lt Is Difficult, for on American to con-
ceve an idea ofthe true state oil the work.
ing class, upon whose passions these men
continually operate. Perhaps thirty cents
a day, or a little more may be the aver
aga price Of labor throughout tfsnce ana
out of this the workman must cloths and
feed himself. Then comes tho seasons OF
interruption, when tho starving mechan.
icsare thrown upon the community, toseek
the support OF life as they can. With 10,
every honest, industrious man can reason
ably expect 10 provide something IN the
meridian OF lite for ito decline. by em''
grating westward, he can procure q piece
OF hnl, aud close bus days surrounded by
his family. But such an occurrence ~
Europe would bs little short Of mraciei
aud in his reasonable expectation OF 81
eventful acquisition Of property 10 our
country. with the moral stimulus which
accompanies il, and IN this despaIr of the
future which seem almost insepsrable from
the condition of European laborsr,
trace one ofthe most striking distinctions
bel ween q new society and AN old one,
and one Of the surest guarantees Tor the
pespe,uution of our institutions.
An illustration con6rmatory OF this
state Of things, is furnished by the law oi
conscription. BY this law every young
man, alter the age OF twenty years, Is Ia.
BILE 10 serve 10 the army. tic draws tor
his chance of enrolment, and ~ then called
as his number aud the exigenctos OF the
public service may require. tie serves
seven years prsclsely, a, the time oi NE
when he ought to DO forming himself Tor
his eventual duties, and laying the founda-
ton of any responsibility ho may hope TO
acquire. tits precisely the period which,
With US, if lost, would be lost lrreparsbly.
The average annual demand of conseripts
ia France, 10 keep The army at its requl.
site number, is eighty thousand and THIS
immense amount IS every year drawn
from the class of the population IN the
very springtlme Of life, To be returned
such OF them indeed 40 have the luck, good
or bad, as II may be, 20 return seven
years after without any preparation tor
eventual usefulness.
"put the mos, remarkable fact in all
this institution is the pay which these fore
ed soldiers receive--a pay which, alter
making the deduction which goes to the
Government for indispensable supplies,
amounts to OWE CENT day, twenty-five
dollars and half for seven years SER
vices. And yet this process OF military
supply seems firmly established and en-
grated on the habits Of society nor have
seen among all the propositions with
which the public has been excited, since
nv residence here, for tho moderation oil
the existing institutions Of the country,
single alusion to this greatest ct all prac-
teal expressions. And cannot account
for this apparent indifference TO a subject
which strikes every American with aston
ishment, unless it results from the convIc'
ton thu, bare support IS all the laoorina
classes can procure by tho most fortunate
exeriiun, and this may as well be IN the
army AS elsewhere 4
Such is the system ~ France, ana
with certain notifications IN other coun-
tries Of Europe, the governments OF which,
on account Of its operation, nre SAID 70 be
strong. To our apprehension large
standing army is at once nm index OF
despotism feeble in itself, and resting for
support upon the arms of the soliicry.-
Just in this particular does our republican
institution differ from oil other forms OF
civil polity in existence. It's strength IS
intrinsic. It's safeguard the affections o.
the people. Every where but IN the Uoi-
ted States the municipal authorities are
protected from the people, here they are
protected by the people. lhe opeIslon
Of laws among US is through respectful ac-
ouescence in the necessity and justice OF
them. In foreign countries 1t IS through
the organized coercion OF d military force.
There is a spirit OF truth and patriotism IN
the suhioined remarks OF the American
Sentinel, which we warmly commend.
The subject Is kindred to the matter IN
hand. Where but in the Union, winch
ruffian scrbblers abroad have held up as
semi. sa yage--where but here would thou
sands and tens of thousands of men peace
ably assemble, peaceably discuss questions
of the most exciting temporary interest 10
the mass, and peaceably dispense 70 their
homes, as men do daily throughout our
vast lerritory2 Republicanism needs shan
tins no higher eulogy no better proof that
its foundations are eternaltruth and equity
alt must certainly be regarded 40 a