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

The Martial Spirit Of the Country.
No county or nation, either ancient or
modern, ever presented such a spectacle
of its subjects OF citizens offering them
selves SO spontaneously, and ir 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. If the President had asked for
100000 men instead of $4,000, he could
have had them. The only balloting that
seems necessary is, not for who shall 60,
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 aye guided by no merce-
nary motives, but are animated alone by
sterling patriotism and ardent love for
their country and her institutions.
The English Times, and several leading
European journals have often tauntingly
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, land 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 ap.
premiership TO The trade Of arms. They
| tell us too that their own experience has
taught them that for man TO make good
soldier, it is necessary that he should throw
off as much as possible the character of a
man, and assume that of a machine, and
be at the entire disposal ofhIs commanding
officer.
When the news Shall have crossed
the Atlantic as 1t no doubt has BY this
time, entering fully into the length and
breadth Of our country, on the fist alarm
of war being sounded-when they shall.
lhave read the account OF thousands of VO.
lunteers having offered their services tC
the Government, beyond the number 1t ha:
called fort may perhaps convince then
that the United States does not seek fal
men, reaches any town or village in th'
United States, there is no skulking int,
holes and corners TO avoid the recruiting
, sergeant. But, on the contrary, gene
rous noble rivalry exists who among it
young men shall be champions and defen
, ders of their country's honor.
1t may perhaps puzzle he politicians 0
| Il u Il 4. 81
son of all this. They may ask themseIve
the Question-How is it that neithe
conscrlption nor impressment are ne
: Glossary TO fill the ranks of the Unite
States army? We will answer the ques
ton, and let them into the secret-lt is this
] the people of.the United States are, i
every sense of the word, free people
E No war can be commenced TO satisfy IN
: ambition of princes. the men themselVe
0 who fight the battles of their country, ar
0 the sources whence spring the power {
the Executive 10 make war. Every elias
e of our citizens are represented IN tn
e councl-board of the nation. The peopl
i are not tools in the hands of monarchIca
Il tyranny, but the Sovereign himself troI
s whom issues the power to wage war or
), make peace.
: The highest authority known to tn
J, Constitution OF the United States havIn
t, then most solemnly and in the name
r the people declared that war exists, tia
people debate no longer whether right
h wrong. The time Tor action has been dt
% cIared to have arrived, by majority
r their own body. Their banner is throw
to the winds, and upon its broad folds
}; engraved the motlo-"My country, RICH
Is but right or wrong, still my country"-
1t Political differences are forgotten-Wh
a and Democrat are ranged side by side
&c the ranks. Perhaps the warmest su
al porter and most bitter opponent OF tn
war find themselves shonIdering the
d, muskets in jnxiaposition. Tney know Il
T. time for discussion has passed away, al
they go arm in arm to meet the Toe, al
each mans watchword is-"My country
With such material to work upon