Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1847-11-04
Railroad Excilement-Thc Military
Called out,


The unbroken current Of war news
which has set in upon us from the south,
for nearly two years has been changed by
something that looks a lh,Ie like war near
err home. Owing to suspension of pay
ment, or sort Of failure on the "Cen-
traf Railroad" some two weeks since,
quite an excitement was produced among
the Irish laborers upon this road in the
vicinity Of Sharon. OF the particulars that
led to this excitement we have nothing 10
say, as il is a matter TO be settled between
individuals and justice, in accordance with
legalizeG business transactions, we sup.
pose, whether poor pat" exactly sees
the justice of it, or not. But the civil
authority being resisted by some two or
three hundred excited laborers the High
Sheriff oflhls County, Mr. Henry, called
upon such military as was to be found or
ganized, to aid hun in sustaining the laws
of the state. The Norwich Light lnfalry,
Capt. L. S. Partridge, and Barnard Rifle
Company. Capt. S. r. Streeter, were or
dered on 10 tie ground, and dispersed the
mob, fortunately without any bloodshed
Before this, however we understand, sew
eral persons were severely injured; aud
the High Sheriff himself was assaulted
and received slight injury. Here is an.
other proof of the correctness Of that po-
silion we have ever assumed, and which
to every reasonable mind, can be sustain
ed without such practical evidence, that
Mi,hout a well organized and efficient mil
ilary force, all civil organization is com
pletely powerless, and all efforts to put in
force the civil laws can be of no effect
TO suppose otherwise, is admitting the
premises assumed by that class OF fanat-
les called non-resis,ants, Cor if there is re.
sislance, what power, we ask, is there to
counterac, this resistance unless it be an
organized military force, or disorg anlzed,
unmili,ary mob, if you please. There is no
alternative. You must either admit The
necessity of military organization or
consent, that mig is right" and anarchy
and discord preferable to order and peace,
What would have been the result in this
case had it not been for the two accident
al companies, (there may have been more
presently Of Cap,s, Partridge and Streeter'
We say accidental for it is an &C.
cident that military company should
retain its organization under the prese mt
law of this state. Blu, they, looking up.
on these things as every man of juds-
ment and well wisher for the welfare and
safety Of society must, have by their per-
sonal exertions kept their companies Or
ganized; and by their timely aid, the civ
II law was saved from being trampled I'M
der foot by an lnfuriatcd mob. This same
militia that has been sneered at, from the
corners of the street, by the purse proud
aristocrat, in days gone by,is called upon
the only arm "omDlpolent to save" when
the horded treasures of the mlser are in.
vaded, and perhaps will receive as a re-
ward from those they have protected, the
next time they turn out for duty The friend.
ly salulalions o. "there goes the slam-bang
-aood-wood-string -beans," and other
like expressions, such as their usually ex-
tensive knowledge makes them familiar
with.
But this is fruitful subject, and we are
overs,epping our limits. 1t is one that sho'd
be kept before the people, as we are becom-
ing every day more exposed to such scenes
as the one that suggested this article.
We would call particular attention to
the excellent communication in another
column, signed ~ friend TO the Militia. "