Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-08-10
The Drills at loves and the Cavalry
Parade at Shinburg.

WE have enjoyed two more opportunities OF wit
Messing the Military Parades and Reviews oil the
South Carolina Militia, since preparing the editorial
for our last number, in which We made feeble at
tempt TO do justice to the pride and spirit OF our eI-
cecnt yeomanry.
i, is due TO TRUTH that we should again statc that
the turnout not large, at either place, but what
was equally as much, or more to be desired, the peo.
pie were cheerful and happy and the men aud officers
did lhi. duty with zeal and readiness and good humor
Colonel SrRoM and his Majors and Suburdinatesa al
LOVES, presented quite handsome and Military ap-
pcarance, and so did the whole regiment; although
the day was ho, enough 10 have given The men per-
feet foreIaste OF the temperature oil the neermost re-
| sions of fire.
4, Shinburg Liberty Hill TOO, the Cavalry, as it
always does, made noble display. 1t ccrlainyth
most handsome and imposing arm of our service 1t
reminds one of The days Of Chivalry and Knight
crranirv, when beauty and valor bunked together, anu
when love and war were the ruling passions OF the
! human heart, and when woman and religion were The
only Guddesscs al whose shrines the manhood OF the
times knelt and bowed, ir humble submission
We acknowledge our preference for the Cavalry,
| for we were proud to rank ourselves rs an humble
member of the Hussars, until the bounty of the State
exempted us from further military service.
Col. TALBERT, although he was present, we regret
to say, was qntenweil, and unable on the last day
10 appear on parade. But as some compensation 10
the regiment Brigadier. General WILKES, aud his ac-
complisled staff were present. and al the conclusion
Of the DRILL notwithstanding The excessive heat oil the
weather, and he slight inJisposon Of The Brlgadicr
General, he made them few appropriate remarks,
comrlimenling them their appearance, and thank
ing them most cordially for their attention 10 Duty and
their prompt obedience 10 command.
General WILKES is fine looking officer, and we
| ,ouh; not. in due time, will become an ornament to
that par of the military to which he belongs.
Maor.Gcneral McGowES, spoke again at both
places Our friend in further vindcaiion Of tho mill
tarv SYSTEM conlended that if the muters were abo-
ishcd, the PATROL in miserable condition. would
be neglected. or totally abandoned; and the conse-
quence would b., that The scenes OF 81. Domingo,
nigh; al any time be re.enaced here, and We mig II
be liable cn any night, 10 be aroused from our sIun-
bers by The conlagration of ourdweInss and by tie
piercing screams Of errorstricken children, and
violated mothers and daughters, weltering in their
| blood.
We have in our midst, the elements of combustion
and single spark from The torch of the ncendiary,
might light upa baeful-re, which all the gallanlry and
chivarv Of our sons could not eItiaguSl until ou r
hearlI.siones Were crimsoned with the blood of in
flnts and mothers, and murder had rioed and become
drunk IN the run and desua,ion, not only Of our
fruitful elds and thriving settlements but of our villa
ges towns and nourshng cities. AT such crsis would
require all the devotion, and more, The country,
which bore the Palmetto banner, like frey meteor,
througI the bloody field Of Churubusco, and planted
it in triumph, ali rent in threads, and dripping with
gore on the proud walls and batemenls of the city
| OF he Monieznmas. Ii would be reproach TO tile
blood of BUTLER, whose sou! was lighted to heaven
by the flame Of battle, while leading his children 10
victory; - and of ADAMS and BRooKs, and TILLaAN,
your neghbors. whose spirits went in quick pursui Of
their noble leaders,, from The ensanguincd field and Of
| BLOCKER, and GooDE, and CROKER, and MARTIN,
and CALIHAM, and LYLEs, who glurousIy died al the
| very moment, The daring eagle Of Mexico was shorn
OF her pnions, and The banner they lovcd waved ,r
umphany aud joyousIy from the citadel and palaces
OF til. presumpuous city, which had Jefied them to
arms II would be reproacb, l say, % all your he
roc dead if yOu should become forgctful If the ubi
cations you owe your ancestors, your children and
!
should neglect the common VI your defence and
security, and thus render yourselves easy prey
Tyrant with his mi! lions Of mercenares, or TO that
race of savages in your bosom, whose barbariy and
thirst of vengence, while encouraged by incendiary
aboliliohists, would spare, the least advantage,
neither age, sex, condition, but would glul its Tell
spirit by the indiscrinna,e of man, woman
and child and by the utter destruction Of every thing
tina. beauties our land and country.
We brother officers and fellow soldiers can scarce
y boast Of being Drawer wiser than forefahers
who freed the country of The British yoke, after
unparalleled struggle Of seven years duration, and
they deemed it only c1pedient, but indispensable
that they should establish the military system, we'll
to defend themselves against mobs and instructions
at home, as against tyrants ami enemies abroad
There is law Statute books even now,
which was passed by fathers, and which actually
made the duty of every male citizen of certain age
10 take arms with him. even to church on the Lords
day.
But setting aside the present necessity we feel for
| the militia and the dread We have of an immense
standing army, the study Of The military and The culti
vation o. military spirit and bearing is ennobling
every people, and is the pillar of fire light them
jclvcrance and glory in those times oi trial when the
liberties and the existence of nations put to peril.
In fine, we can say, that General McGowEN was as
happy and eloquent and forcible in his addresses at
the places aforementioned, he was at the previous
drills which have been reported, and that Is paying
him the very highest compliment we can bestow.
Whilst we ourselves, admit the necessity we fee for
some amelioraton and REFORM and amendment of the
military system, and Of the military organization OF
the State We allow that the remarks Of The Ma
jor-Genera were replele with wisdom and sound logic
and patriotism; and we ourselves, would be disposed
to handle the prunngknife, with great and mod
Grafton,
We are certain, that we were among the very first
persons in the State, if not the very frst TO
declare ourselves, private citizen, against the
militia as 1t is but advocate reform and Improve.
ment-not abolition and destruction The drills should
be less oten and the fines less onerous, but the system
as we would have 1t regulated should be enforced 10
the letter and the fines should be collected to the last
cent. The present SYSTEM in many paris of the Sta e,
is ridiculous farce and the most absurd Of all alb
surdilies.