Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1841-09-09

dwell upou those high political conside.a-
tions which make il the solemn and impe-
rious duty of every free State. 10 be al all
times prepared to defend its rights, its in
slilulious, and its liberties, equally against
foreign injustice, and domestic ssurpation.
Tha, a well trained Militia is the only safe
means of efiecting this object. is funda-
mental aphorism in our political system,
laid down in nll the American Constitu-
,ions-thc truth Of which is by no means
weakened by its triIeness. The necessity
Of this species Of military power becomes
doubly apparent, when il is considered
that South Carolina is a member Of an
extensive copledeIacv growing in popula-
tion with fearful rapidly. aud having a
common Government clothed with i'm
mense powers; conferred for 1.-The common
defence and general welfare" but capable
nf being perverted, rs We have been made
too painfully sensible, to purpose of injus-
lice and oppression. Among these pow
ers is that Of raising aud supporting ar
mics" in war and in peace--a power more
dangerous than all others united. and yet
vested in the Federal Government in
terms the most unqualified compre-
hensive.
If the fears OF federal encroachmeu,. en- :.
tertaiued by some Of the 'wisest and ,st
patriotic OF our revolutionary state, en-,
were not entirely visionary. and if the sov-
ereien,y OF the several States is, ns they
Justly deemed il. an essential barrier,
against these encroachmenls, how solemn
is the duty of every State to be al all times
prepared 10 fulfil its high destiuyl
While the Federal Government main
Inins standing army, increasing in num-
hers with the increase of population, the
States that shall neglect to provide that
great constitutional bulwark Of liberty,
body Of citizen-soldiers, will deserve
any destiny that may befal them.-
Amidst the violent struggles Of great
political parties for power, in which the
great and vital interests OF the people
NAV be sacrificed, to promote the ends o.,
ambition, who can predict how soon a
crisis may occur when the Militia of the
States will be called upon to resist some
bold usurper, al the head Of a merccnary
federal army!
All wise States have guarded against
domestic usurpa,ion and tyranny, with as
much vigilance as against foreign injustice
and violence. And what more ample and
perfect security can human wisdom pro-
vide against this danger, than military
power, not confined TO a particular class
separated from the people. but ditlused
through the whole population Of the Stn'e!
A people thus prepared, may be said 10
hold their destnies in their own hands. and
their liberties by an inde!easible utle.-
FEietv, then, can this preparation be made
! wifis tbs least Inconvenience and expense
ssse aiel The answer is obvious. BY
gl luz body of wel-instruclcd officers,
is iii fines ready TO lead our whole Mill.
is tcscE iafO the field. whenever the emer-
gensy may call for their services. With
c6nsp Sirns and skilln officers. it is conf
dead sel5e4rd tilat the body OF Militin
be- siased 90 meet any troops they
IS he csises ncn ID encounter, after
slIf5c s1Ilsia Lls fnirl1g in ii!e
IS III Ia 81 ss'eges aPpa-
ireuilp exirapaE There Is 70 ezaggera-
ton. Mercenafy troops. who have never
i9s8. ip hsliIeMaHf "a safh gre Sdars aeS FL shs
10 no respect superiort to Militia toIerably
sTell-.rained; and eyegy DAY. of actral SER
giee ID sl.e4ield, Eeald ias.Feasc she supe-
slorits 81 militia pfce rs asiguntnge
Islcll tlss sessss:srg lnis essess in the
! sia's pl stleir training. ssoald be more
ssllsf 8Jnief fhalanced. by the intelligence
fslsieh would characlerizc, aud the motives
which would anima,c, citizen soldiers.
fighting heir piva battles and defending
lllsirowG silars.
hose yissfs arc fully confirmed by one
eS llle rloss Eemarkable portions ofmodern
SslBFs That extraordinary succession Of
victories hnd conquests. which illustrated
ssla arms ufihe French republic, in the
eafiy stages OF The revolution, were achiev-
ed almost exclusively by citizen soldiers,
drawn oui by conscrption, and partly train
ed while marching 10 the fields they were
iluconquer. This wonderful phenomenon.
all the military historians Of the time, as
cribe to the well-known fact, that France
abounded at the time in skillul and scen,
flc officers, by whom The couscript soldiers
were hastily trained aud then led on 10 vic
tory. In modern warfare, where so much
is effected by military combinations, almost
every thing depends upon The officers. No
troops, however brave and heroic, achieve
anything, without competent officers to
command them, Courage itself, becomes
useless. under such circumstances. Is il
not, therefore, worth the effort 10 maintain
n system, which il steadily pursued, will
in few years furnish the Stale. not only
with body of ski!lu! officers, but body
ofcilizen soldiers, moderately wclltraincd,
and accustomed to The command Of those,
by whom they would be led 10 battle in
any emergency, and in whom they would
have entire confidence
1t cannot be supposed that an enlishten-
cd community. much less body Of high
minded and patriotic officers, will ever hesi-
late as to the expediency Of pcrscvering
in system, which has already produced
such striking results, as to command the
admiration of the neighboring States. No
officer is worthy 10 wear au Epaulelle,
who will not cheerfully encounter the
small sacrifice involved, in rendering a SER