The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-07-22
WRITTEN FOR THE INErESDESr PRESS.

amount OIL Sales. anu sometimes Oh The amount
OF stock employed.
WRITTEN FOR THE INErESpEST PRESS.
"A RETIRED PRIVATE" VS.. OUR MILITIA.
Mr. EDITOR: w e had indulg lged the hope that
We had run ngast t"the rery man. who perfectly"
understood the rope.. "nnd would expose the
evils and nutility Of the military system: hut
no, 3D." for "A Retired Private" raises his
"voire' second time, only show how success
ful he ID in accomplishing beautiful evasion
We are truly sorry for this, for we feel again
doomed to have our tympanum annoyed by the
same old song Of ''the military aystem ought
to he abolished" when no, one of twenty, even
OF those under the antimilitary instructions of
A Retired Private, either can, or will
assign the simplest valid reason for it's abulish.
Inrut.
lie. however reem. disposed to excuse himself f
on the ground of "dHrespect to the understand
ing of onr fellow citizens" who, in his opinion,
having examined the matter ''caImly and fair
~ fur themselves, disapprove Oft Now we
will not question his m desty; but think he
need not entertain fears Of wonnting the feel
ing of ""ur fellow citizens for men rarely object
to heng cxiricated from dilemma. Indeed,
they might be placed under lasting gratitude
to him for m idea or two OH the subject, aince
our legislature has had it under considcra.
tion, and not being favored with the ..vision"
of some, has failed To perceive the magn nude
OF the evils go long and 80 often chnntrd. The
matter WAS even referred to special commit
tee hut after careful senrcl, they also fnied 10
get glimpse Of the "Black Crow" We beg
leave to suggest to our legislature the propr1e-
~ of selecting committee oflese contracted us
ton hereafter. or if enough can be had, VIII" had
the exquisite pleasure Of riding that beautiful
iHte animal "antimilitary." they ,ciH do.
But. rs "A Retired Private's'' position is now
pretty clear, We will dismiss his '.Irse d,xit"
and for once, violate to a limited extent. tho
rules of controversy. by stating few of the
reasons for continuing the militia. We do
not, however, feel ourself under obligation to
to do co. since we acting on the defensive,
and are OILY expected to meet arguments in.
stead Of advancing them.
And first we take it for granted that those
who originated and established the military
law. were wise and good men, and if wiee and
good. they must have been intellectually and
upon their constituents. hence. they evidently
saw the very best Of reasons for setting on foot
and enucting law both inconvenient and ex-
pensive.
Again, the law being established. it would
be rejecting greatly upon the wisdom and
character spf our sage statesmens to say, that
they had, for more than half a century. sus-
tanned law which required unmerited service
at the hands Of their fellow citizens.
Had this heen the case with the immortal
Calhoun. McDnffis. Butler and Others aud they
had known that they ere sustaining CALLING
law. how could wsasay tosthsir ashes Requeis.
cat in pace.
We would rather say aye knew your duty but
did it not" Bnt there is again, no ground
upon which to predicate the belief that cir
cumstances have SO altered in the affairs of our
government, as 20 render, once useful militia.
ry law. now worthless If SO. why has not
"A Retired Private" so informed the public,
and set about devising some plan. by
which. his fellow citizens. for whom he sp-
pears to havo unusual sympathy, might be
saved from such An Improbable dutyi In .
put-shsll, we conclude. according to the fact
that if the system is now, sa it is said to be.
worthless. it must have been always 30. and
those who established it, together with tI,nse
who.have sirce sustained It. were either knaves
| or fdsts: but we are far from beIissing them to
have been either; ;'bu. wise aud good men. just
the very men who should make laws for friend.
"Prisate" snd ourself The only error which
We conceive they committed. was too uusi'
isnieney, or want of stringency in the law.
Which allows too many persona the liberty of
becoming Retired" bisihowever. may be
attributed TO the amount of oopiidshce which
they were disposed 10 place 10 thsir sons, and
which the latter hsve failed t., merit. The
fact is dur fathers lived before the days Of such
rapid. fsshihg progression and true. genuine
fsss and fsatksss. sud we're se1ate anil patsi-
otic men. Having purchased by their own
eo's' tpeir& libertiss they handed them
down N t., US with q Law masking every man
2 citizen soldier. ready At any and ali times IA
defend his blood bought inheritance. Bus no $s
having 'growo tosbs ii gFesspsopis. TOO dsiiss.e
and aics to parade on IAN old Geld "und.r A
hroiHag ,nnS must lsy aside: old, 10 sssilsd,
Efasgisns. noasssser what good may os,,oAn, lbs
seeepta'sasa BY T. ..--+ =. s;,.. ,....,.,,.s !
Bakeue psoplesa are fssessly Indebted ia ,sbe
militia fos many, q the @slaursls won. The
bones Of gone u odr byavest psoh,,
noy lie blssshios On many sslf' fought 6as-
as Asth The Dag ths faaSSao stAts~ val
tsas M fto kassovsr tlfs sisy. Df' 'siss Sf66iss
sandss saasis tbs nossp psaions Sisddssoh aid