Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-08-03

bility. and by his own energy, afforded them the
means of obtaining an education sufficient TO place
hem in the first ranks Of society and adherIng through
life 70 the trade he learned from his faher.ln-la"'
JOHN ABsEY, Esq, and pursuing it with diligence and
attention, he also secured an independence Tor him.
self and family, and was able TO leave his widow and
children at his death, the most ample means oi sup
port.
In his death, the District has lost one OF her most
useful uprgh, and fearless citizens and his family,
kind and noble benefacor.
The military Reviews at Richardson's
and tho Old Wells.
WE have seldom had occasion 10 attend any drills
or uarades of the Militia Of South Carolina which
have given us as much pleasure as those OF the Two
Repimcnts-lhe 10th and the 7lh-that muster at The
abovenamed places.
The parade at Richardson's was on Monday and
Tuesday, and at the Old Wells Julius DAYS. on
Friday and Saturday. The turn out al both places
was about the same, according 10 their respective
numbers and although there not as many in ranks
as we'haye scen there was as much order, good be.
havor good spirit and military spirit manifested as
We ever witnessed ON any occasions of the kind.
The two Regiments performed handsomely, and
their commanders, Lieut.. COL HOLLOWAY and Col.
STEWART HARRISON, went through the evoluiions OF
the day with as much GOODNESS, promptness and preci
sion, though they both young officers, and one OF
them only Lieut. Colonel (Col. DEAN having but
recently resgned) as if they had been in command Of
their fine looking Corps for many years
II would be invidious for us TO endeavor to diSin-
rnish between thcm either account OF the appear
ance of their commands, or their performance, or
their dscipline or their numbers. 1t seemed 10 us
that the Majors, Captains, Subordinate ohcels' 1"
.-.------,.s,,,a.s~ sd .,ISir uruuous du-
ties, under oppressive sun, with as much pride,
aacrlty and high spirit as any men we have ever seen.
We were proud Of the Officers and men of both Regi-
mens-for we Were born IN one, and in one we live,
and our affections ALMOST equally divided between
them Ii is strange and unusual to be able 10 record,
that we did no, detect pure mistake in the perform.
ance of either of the commanders Of either of The
Corps, or of the commanders Of Companies and su-
bordina,e Officers of either Corps-and what is stran-
ger still, we were unable solitary instance Of
disorder or drunkenness in either Regiment
Every thing wen, on we'll and spiritedly at both
places Their drill, the spirit OF the men, their cheer.
fulness, prompude and obedience to command re.
nected the highest honor not only on their comHian-
ders but upon every officer and man Of these gallant
militia Regiments.
Muior General McGowEN and Staff were out at
both parades, and Gen. VIEWER and Staff also were
ou, at the Old Wells The Generals, both of them,
appeared in elegant rim and expressed much gratil-
cation ut the conduct of men md officers.
Gen. McGowEN, after the drills were over, ad-
dressed both Regiments in lofty strains of eloquence
in defence of that system, of which he is one of the
acknowledged heads lie boldly spoke for the mill
tary system, and vndica,ed is claims TO the affections
of the people and to the protection of the Government
Without expressing any opinion ourselves as TO the
advantages of the system, or without making any
issues with those of our District, who entertain views
contrary 10 those OF the chvalrous General, we are
compelled to bear testimony TO the force and elegance
of his remarks 1t was one the best military speech
es it was ever our pleasure to hear and would have
done no dscredit to the most eloquent OF Gen. Nc
GowEN's predecessors.
He maintained that nothing go kept alive the love
of liberty in people rs military tone and military
spirit, and that its decline was always amongst The
first evidences Of the decline of national greatness
lie urged that a military population never was and
never could be conquered or wresed Of their Liberties
by any power on earth, and that when nations have
sunk down into degradation and purilanimty, 1t has
been when the ruling classses when the men OF posi-
ton and responsibility have ceased to devote Them
selves 10 the use of arms and TO the study and prac-
tice of the science of war
The General remarked that the Constitution made
it our bounden duty TO keep up wel-organIzed mill
fla and vet he had seen from the papers, that office
seekers in different parts of The State and popularity
loving Editors were openly procaiming their opposi-
ton 10 our military system, and were urging lis total
abolition.
Such moves are ominous Of change in the cohdi-
ton of the American people, John Randolph Oh
Roanoke, the eccentric and prophetic, and perhaps
wises Statesman of Virginia. delivered one Of the
nohlest vindcalions Of the citizen soldery oil the
United States, that electrified the Halls OF Con-
gress When the administration OF Adams attempted
TO change the theory of our Government from Demo-
cratic Repubc to Consolidated Federalism, their
first moves were to destroy the freedom oil the PRESS
and to abolish the military system of the country ana
in its pIace, establish an overwhelming and glsantc
standing army which has been the instrument Of des
putism in all ages Of. the world
It seems that we are 10 aoahooh anu eNo "p "
militia system on account Of the little loss OF time and
money it occasions us-a paltry consideration "hen
WEIGHED in ,hs balance with those liberties for which
our fathers poured out their blood, and for which they
pered all that was sacred to them on earth.
One of the most dscourogng signs Of The time, and
something like an indication OF the downward 'ehuen-
cy of our afars and of the corruption oil our hepuo
lie is the strong irrational appreciation of wealth and
pxury which has seized upon the minds OF our people,
Il hears testimony TO a melancholy state OF the body
no,ic. and TO very low ebb of the national scntl-
men, and points us the period of the decline OF the
great nations Of antiquity.
II, is our riches that is working our ruin'-it has
been their wealth and luxury and their consequent
ina,ten,on 10 the means of defence that have des'
royed all the great nations of the earh In The days
of Regulus, who offered himself up TO TRUTH and as