Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-07-22
The Martial Spirit Of the Country


The Martial Spirit Of the Country.
No country or nation, either ancient or
modern, ever presented such spectacle
Of its subjects or citizens offering them.
selves so spontaneously, and in such great
numbers, to defend the soil of their coun.
try from invasion, and to uphold its Just
rights, as the United States now exhibits.
The tocsin of war had scarcely sounded
the alarm had scarcely been given, before
thousands of armed men offered their SER
vices, to 60 any where they might be re.
quired. II the President had asked for
100000 men instead of $4,000, he could
have had them. The only balIoting that
seems necessary is, not for who shall 90,
but who shall stay at home. Men have
resigned lucrative situations, and left their
business in The care Of others, that they
may enroll themselves in the ranks OF the
volunteers. They are guided by no merce-
nary motives, but are ANNA ted alone by
sterling patriotism and ardent love for
their country and her institutions.
The English Times, and several leading
European journals have often tuuntingly
asked the question--Where can the Unit.
ed States get an army, if any sudden
emergency should make such force neces
sary? They tell US we have got no troops
in our pay Of any consequence, and we must
necessarily succumb if brought in contact
with the well.drilled forces OF the Europe
an monarchies They argue that to make
any body of men effective in the field, it
is necessary that they should serve an op.
premiership to the trade of arms. They
tell us too that their own experience has
taught them that for man to make a good
soldier, it is necessary that he should throw
off as much as possible the character OF
man, and assume that OF a machine, and
be at the entire disposal orhis commanding
officer.
When the news shall have crossed
The Atlantic as it no doubt has by this
time, entering fully into The length and
breadth Of our country, on the first alarm
of war being sounded-when they shall!
have read the account Of thousands of yo.
lunteers having offered their services to
the Government, beyond the number it has
called fort may perhaps convince them
that the United States does not seek far
for the raw material. When orders for
men, reaches any town or village in the
United States, there is no skulkiDg into
holes and corners 10 avoid the recruiting
sergeant But, on the contrary, gene
rous noble rivalry exists who among lis
young men shall be champions and defen.
ders OF their country's honor.
II may perhaps puzzle the politicians Of
The old world at first TO discover the rea-
son of all this. They may ask themselves
the question-!Iow is it that neither
conscrlplion nor impressment are ne.
cessary 10 6l the ranks Of the United
States army2 We will answer the qucs-
ton, and let them into the secret--it is this:
the people of the United States are, mi
every sense of The word, a free people.
No war can be commenced 10 satisfy the
ambition of princess the men them.eIyes
who fight the battles of their country, are
the sources whence spring the power Of
the Executive 10 make war. Every class
Of our citizens are represented in the
council-board of the nation. The people
are not tools in the hands Of monarchlcal
tyranny, but the Sovereign himself from
whom issues the power to wage war or 10
make peace.
The highest authority known to the
Constitution Of the United States having
then most solemnly and in the name OI
the people declared that war exists, that
people debate no longer whether right or
wrong. The time Tor action has been dc.
clared to have arrived, by a majority Of
their own body. Their banner is thrown
10 the winds, and upon It's broad folds is
engraved the motlo--"My country, right;
but right or wrong, sui my country."-
Political differences are forgolten-W Wing
and Democrat are ranged side by side 10
the ranks. Perhaps the warmest sup.
porter and most bitter opponent Of this
war find themselves shouIdering their
muskets in juxlaposlion. They know the
time for discussion has passed away, and
they 90 arm in arm to meet the Toe, and
each mans watchword is--"My country
With such material TO work upon as