Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1843-07-29

liFfsd by T. T. Scholar, Of the II. s.. Army
The editor himself being evidently a colder.
The object of this magazine IL to elevate tho
purposes, principles and character Of the hme-
riean soldier, and the editor has happily Sc
lenied as iip ,Botto.
"Hohct and shHlpe from no cpndi'inu riFe,
Act we'll your part, there all the hpfur lies"
In his Introductory, Mr.. Scholar considers
clnsnIy tfln moral degradation If lie lr,ups -,
The line, and is bod in his inquiry why this
should be 80. lie writes with ease. elegance
and force although we think The spblert
might properlEAa and perhaps benetleially, re-
eeiYe d more extended discussion.
y grant causes eonspirs 10 sink the
American soldier below the level Of those Of
the rank and file Of a~ln,est any other civilized
country. These are, fret: the mixed tbarae.
ter (naiiol,ally) Of those who Compose our
regular army, and, seco,dlv, the great dis.
~titictlpl prevailing betweer officers and men.
In no other country is that distinction 50
marked as IN our own, and this, strange 10
say, IL chiefly owing 10 the republican nature
of our Institutions While the commopee,
lahornf IN the land il too proud TO train Up his
son expressly for the ranks, tile most diaiin-
gsilsled ef our citizens aspire 10 the privilege
of placing a ~favorite child at West Point. The
eranlette and sword are a passport into any
circle the gafb Of the soldier closes a but
Tie We Y lowest against him
Such n state 1T public sentiment COMFORTS
well, inded, with our professions Of civil eupa-
lily, and universal consideration of merit
In other countries, where nrtstue raeies are
created and sustained by parliamentary acts,
the laws distinguish, between ~classes. In this
where all, according to law sand proelatnalions
Of rights are equal, wealth and professions are
attainment Of a respectable footing in life,
~metit-unless It be of that kind which, battles
down all opposition, and rises pre-eminent
over All preiudices-is of the least possible
consequence. The scat Ionors the ,nan-noi
the man the scat. The shoemaker and The
l~awyer-unless The former be rich and the lat
Ter poor-hnlnss the former has discarded and
can live IN E~plentlDr without the OCCUPATION
that has enriched him, while the latter can
live by hiF--are as widely separated IN
all social relations, az the master and servant F.!
True respcclabilitr--lhat rcspeetability which,
will stand without n~inehing the ordeal of a
moral analysis. has no more influence on
he position a man, or a body OF men, oct upies
II society in the United States, than the move.
nents Of our pen have on the course Of the
sun or the fluctuations of the tides.
We would not however. by The tt ttement
If such facts, wish to throw one pebble in the
way Of those who have in contemplation the
of that class or those classes, on
whom the mildew Of the spirit Of our demo
,racy has been shed. Every sensible reflect
ny man, should, as he must, seorn such pre-
ndites, and rising in the dignity of his own
place those who harbor them beneath
liz contempt. In the ranks of the Anne, lean
rmy are men of sterling hearts and minds
oen who, if military discipline prevents them
the companions and associates Of their
arc every way worthy the first seats
II the p~arlols Of the aristocracy of our villa.
es. But we cannot recommend to them such
cats as by any means the most valuable ac-
~uisitions of life. Far higher, far nobler oh.
ects are within the scope Of a reasonable am
ition a pure, erect and honest life--the ma
nring and embellishments Of the MUD. No
is placed by his position altogether
The pale of these they are the boon
t ~exertion and perseverance,. {
1t is for the promotion Of these objects the
Magazine has been commenced. In
s pages will be found a variety of it,forma~
on interesting to the army, literary and sci. !
ntilic articles, dispositions on Temperance
nd relig' OH. We select from the EDITORS
ddress the annexed paragraph: {
I" Why, let me ask, is II. that the Army has J
Uttered itself to have been lowered, in the Q
sale OF public opinion, below the citizen ! /
there any thing IN the profession of arms il
'hich has been instrumental in this work of !.
egradation Certainly not--all history =
'ould go to prove the contrary for although b
he days may have long past, (and it il ear Q
estly hoped they have) when the profession .
arms was the leading, aud indeed almost :
le only honorable occupation If a nation, vet 7
long az the wisdom Of an enligited people o
decide that.i is necessary and RIGHT 81
for the defence of her territory, a suila. =
e armed force should be employed, we can :
se no reason why there should, stigma attach q
the employment. G
Why, then, | would againg ask, has the r
riny suffered itself to be thus lowered . yes.
filtered itself; for | conte' d that with our
lives, to a great extent, lies the fault, bv il
It contending for the stand in society which
our just due. h.
That there is nothing dishonorable in tho p
~otession OF arms, will, | think, be admitted. A
it, then, that the army If composed of the e;
PARTICLES OF material of which society oil
formed 7 lf we were to admit this fact,
would not clear up the difficulty. satistacto- W
" answer the question: but would merely III
move the difficulty back to an earlier date tn
r, had not the Army become contaminated
'th vice IN The first place, there certainly ..
uld have been nothing to deter the virtu- hi
u youth of our country from Joining il, in 'e
as there is nothing i'll the profession =,
hich is of itself disreputablc. 2
But while | admit thai in the rank and file Oh
the Army may be found a sufficient quantity ::
the baser material OF society, | am slow 10 ~
lteve that a greater quanty exists than is -
be found in the same number of persons N
civil life. ii
But again, ! is contented that the punish n
.iiS inf c ed In the Army Ii cnsns Of nf :.