Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-11-04
From the Charleston Mercury.
THE VOLUNTEER SYSTEM

CERRALvo Mexico, Sept IL, 1886.
The President in addressing the colonel of volunteer
regiment, enioned him forget that he comman-
ded freemen, mercenary solders' Soon after South
Senator spoke IN terms OF the berest ndgnaon of
the hirengs OF Government being placed on the same lev
ell with the gallant patriots VINO LETT their homes and their
occupations fight the battles Of their country The Pre-
sden and the Senator here but pressed the sentiments
OF 4 large OF the people, who regard standing army
necessary evil, inefficient and vnueess on the field Of
battle, be tolerated, however, time of peace becau..
useful the thief cachers and Indian regulators upon the
Western frontier, and brick and scavenger in
the forts OF the Atlantic coast Although there is but one
solitary instance record in the annals our country OF
regular troops behaving badly presence of the foe
unprncpled demagogues have long caused the peo
pie to look upon them with drus aud to rely mainly %.
the sturdy yeomnnry OF the land.
Nothing be more idle than attemp, 90 defend the
army against the viruen attacks OF INCORPORATING mscre
ans but we feel 1t TO be solemn duty expose the folly
and madness Of the volunteer system. 10 order TO do this
we must trace the progress Of the gallant patriots from
the Of leaving their homes and occupations I'd TO the
present MON and will find it marked by one con-
nued series Of bunters foies crimes ou,rages and enor
Soon after heir enrolment, in the march through
their States, IhoyEbegan by committing depredaons
upon farm yards and poultry roos staggering about with
bowie knives and revolving pistols frightening by their
martial bearing old women and tmid maidens and then
inspired with confidence by the mpunity attending these
e eecentricnes. they bruised manged, shot and stab
bed each other cursed and reviled their officers and in
some instances muinied against them and ATTEMPTED To
take their lives. Al they openly defied all authority
laughed al he commanders iniefiefed with the manage
Of the ships annoyed themselves and ths crew in eve
~ conceivable We have heard some sea captaps
say that the prices could not induce them
second time to bring live cargo OF gallant patriots
On landing At Point Isabel and BEazos Island three
hundred 1900 miles from the VI tho enemy some
Of these warriors, glowing with military ardour and love Of
country, eTo"ed like baniam cocks, shouting show
the Mexican nigeer and IN instance whole regi-
brought their colonel or three trembling Mex
abOure the u. States qusrtermasters employ and
standing around them with fixed bayonets proclaimed 10
triumph their asonshed chief the glorious pturs Of the
savage foe Others less patriotic and more be.geent
pended their surplus yalour upon ya regiments and con
vered the SANDY plains Of Texas into grand boxing
Others again. cappoined in their golden visions o. rHed
palaces and Decorated churches UNIDENTIFIED themselves in
degree by breaking open the suffers store al Brszo
Island and stealing goods the Of one thousand dol
ars. During he transportation 10 Mstamorns they took
command Oi the steamboats,, and IN some instances for
ced the capnns Of the point Of the baypnot land them
at improper places, IN direct violation Of the positive
/ orders
The city OF Maamores quiet as country village dur
the occupsGon BY the regulars, changed into Pan
demOnum; murder, rape aud robbery committed in
the broad light Of the sun; the semi civilized Mericans
looked with horror and disgust upon such scenes Of beast
~ depravy and awful never before enacted IN
this barbarous land The drunken song the muTdor0us
shout the dying groan the brutal laugh and the screams
Of the arRhted women, blended In fearful unison by day
and by night. In the mean time the country flooded
with letters niainng the mOsip1thetc lnmenons hard
ships because iosooth these patriots had - endure prva
ton which the 'mcrconaries only laughed We doubt
not that many far eyes were dmmed during the pesua
these affecting ePisies while the unhappy writers
sJlacng themselves 10 grog shops and gambling stews
Millions have already been expended upon the voun-
teers, though tho has just begun and what have they
chrcicu country FIVE hundred miles in extent embra-
cling the richest land, in Mexico end containing one city,
four large towns and villages aud ranches has
been conquered by the regular troops without the co-opea
ton Of the patriots unless count the few who were
present at the capture OF the filthy little rancho II Burn-
some eight thousand gone back to the Uni
tel States and though on their return they spoke with
harshnoss end bitterness Of the injustice % their dband-
mcnt, know that Oh Of them, with tho single e.ccptop
OF Col Johnsons splendid regiment Of Texan niemen,
were anxious TO return to their homes and occupations
and had held meetings that subject before they had hra
that they we're TO be dsbanded. or to hundred thousand
that the Union pgmpousy proclaimed be eager to rally
around the eagles Of Cen Taylor he takes but $500 with
him % hight The great battle around the walls of Monterey
which T. TO decide the iso VI this campaign and probably
Of the Mexican war
The brunt "r this battle is then to be borne b. ,hc
'merconsues whoa The President has spoken Of "a
contemporary. The reminder Of the volunteer.
are TO DO Left Maamoss aud Camargo may
Heaven pity the poor MoIicsns who live in tho
vicinity Of their camps II they refrain from those Of
brutality with which they have already dRraced the Amc-
mean name, we fear repetition Of the gross insults 10 wo-
men, the wonon desiucuon Of cattle, coTn fields end fen
&C. SC. They have already injured our cause moro
than be rcmeded by the bayontq OF 6fy thousand III
the choco troops that tho world has ever seen Our cue
csss. like that of al invading armies pcnds as much up
on The respect io The private rights and religious prejudice,
OF the Invaded nation upon The vuour and efficiency oil
ouru2ops Spain, from which these very No1cans s3flng
furnished the proof during the peninsula war. that insult
and outrage may stimulate a cowardy end encmina,e eco
PIE 20 the performance Of the most wonderful deeds Of d.
ring and hardy enterprise
u has ever been che ardent desire Of the commandne
general 20 c1ncao the MeRcaus insts1d Of making re-
uuons upon hem o. other cOnqucrors would have done
lie has paid their prices a tho supplies he has oh
tanedifom them for the use Of the own
religion ore chapiulaoin orr army-men wearing our uni
Torn Sncci with them 10 wofshp. and Join with them ir
the imposing ceremony Of The Cathode Chrrch social re-
iaons and kind feelings sprang up and would have sri-
mated N lasting endshps, but for the enormios perpe
uaed by the Eolunieofs II was fortune To be- with
the hfs troops that ayed here end we can never forge
the look Of anxiety o these PoO wfeches when they in