The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-04-24
Something Good.

Something GOOD.
The Senate and House of Repre-.
ssntatives of Missouri, upon the mo.
ton Of Gen. E. L. Edwards, Of the
House, have adopted set Of Joint re.
solutions, 10 instruct the Senator'S aud
request the Representatives of Nilsson.
ri in Congress TO procure such aitsra-
tons Of the Federal laws, for the gov
ernment Of the army, and shall increase
the pay Of the soldiers, diminish that of
the officers, provide for the widows
and orphans Of soldiers killed or other
wise dying in the service, and other
wise reduce the present distinction be-
tween the officers and soldiers, as much
as shall be consistent with discipline
in time OF war. These resolutions were
sent, by the Legislature Of Missouri, to
those Of the different States; and in
New York they have been referred to
the military committee.
"We voie for Mat," says the Phila.
delphia Ledger; "with all our democ.
racy Of institutions, we have more prac.
tical aristocracy in our military service
on land and water, than any other ma
ton in the world, England excepted
England is a rampant aristocracy, in
which commissions in the army, navy
and church, are regarded as the proper.
ty of the mobility and gentry to bs
used as provision for their younger
sons; the oldest keeping tho paternal
property fer the purpose Of maintaining
the aristocracy. Hence in England,
officers are highly honored and LIBERAL
ly paid, while sailors and soldiers are
not honored at all, scantly paid, and
treated like beasts of burden, fit onlyt
fetch and carry, fight and win laureIs
for officers TO wear. si5 s.a laa
"But we, who profess the most un.
limited democracy in laws and man.
ners, closely copy the English in the
government OF our army and navy
Officers are gentlemen Of course. Sol
diers and sailors have no right to such
estimation. They are dogs, to be ad-
dressed with get outr or come inI
or 'lie close! and occasionally kicked
or cufed. Officers in principle, spirit
and feeling, treat their men with cour-
tesy. But some officers, who are sgen-
tlemen' by commission, but not gentle-
men by breeding, use the privileges of
rank, according 10 OUR military consti-
tuition, TO treat men with indignity. Is
this wide social difference necessary to-
discipline? Not. at all. No armies are
better disciplined than the French, and
in none is found so little social distinc-
ton between officers and soldiers
Hence while officers are gentlemen,
soldiers are gentlemen also. The.
French military laws are exceedingly
severe, while French military manners
are exceedingly genllemanlike, Quak-
erlike, christianlike: the cooperation
proving that discipline results from law
and pride of character. and not from
vulgar and brutal tyranny in the officer,
and reckless degradation in the soldier.
Do our independent companies exhibit
any want Of discipline in peace or war!
No. Yet they are social equals and
companions, the officers commanding
and the men obeying, under sense Of
duty and selfrespect. But the adyo-
Gates of the present system will ask,
how will you govern our killers and
We answer, by fine, in,-
orisonment, hard labor, degrading from
rank, hanging, shooting, when they do
wrong, and by gsntleness, courtesy and
praise, when they do right. Among
'ailors and soldiers, the most degraded
ire always the least amenable to dis
:ipline, and the most harshly treated,
ire always the most degraded. SIS! 10
"But how can we remove these de.
grading inequalities, when we pay
soldier seuen dollars monthly and a cap
lain hundredi The captain is mofs
important than the soldier, because hs
must think as well as fight whils the
soldier is exempt from thinking by blind
obedience. But what can the captain
10 without the soldier? Nothing.---
Hence the difference in Importance is
10 sot great as that,in pay. In Mexi.
%, officers fare sumptuously, whils
Ioldiers starve; and hence Mexico has
IN army Of rapacious officers and "a
mere rabble OF worthless soldiers Our
whole military system is wrong and
ought TO be reformed"