New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-04-06
4.rzr MILITARY SPIRIT.

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II has become . trite remark that our hiliilasy
displays at present fall very Tar short IN poiht Vi
ardor and numbers ehgageu, o. lios9
which characterized this city when IL haa NOT per
Aaps. more than half its present popuianon. lhers
has evidently been decline IN mintary spl,is
among us of late years. This may De que paruy
to the character Of the population which mas noMeu
in upon the city since those times, ana parMy ~
the more active competition that now exists ~
business to the greater preoccupation OF .l'ae.
Whatever, though, may be the cause, the eneo's
are to be deplored. In country like ours, Wnefe
we Justly look with distrust on large s1andihg
army as a constant source of heavy expense ana
ready instrument of tyranny and injustice, we mus'
depend for national defense upon the niutary
spirit Of the people.
This is better in every point OF view. me ne
cessity Of self-defense in people or Individual IN
duces habits of manliness and self-rehanee; winnie
persons accustomed to being defended by a hlreo
soldiery can make but little resistance, no matter
how courageous, if that soldiery should pc turned
against themselves. Men who undertake seit-gov-
eminent should be capable of self-defense when-
ever called upon, and that liberty which must pe
defended by hirelngs is at the mercy OF the longest
purse. We are opposed, then, to standing army,
as an enormous drain upon the treasury and as
productive Of efeminacy among the people.
But what guarantee have we that ours Will be
nation Of soldiers? That such is the case at pres
emit there can be no doubt. The Mississippi and
Kentucky regiments at Buena Vista, the Palmetto
and other regiments elsewhere in the Mexican
war. show Of what our volunteer arm is capable.
Thew consisted of the gentry of the eountry-men
accustomed from infancy to the use of arms, in
durated to exertion and exposure by familiarity
with the chase, and melted to deeds of gallantry
BY the social distinction and political elevation
sure to follow them. It would be difficult to show
where else the world has ever seen such soldiers.
And it is very reasonable that this should be the
case at present; circumstances natural and arti-
fetal combine to make it SO. The chase is always
the best school for war, and hunters are natural
soldiers. In this country all citizens are entitled
to the possession and use Of arms, and IN this re-
spect we have the advantage over those eommunl-
ties where Jealous Government deprives all ex-.
cept the favored classes Of this privilege Then,
again, the abundance of game, the vast extent OF
| uncultivated country, where each one can roam at
his pleasure, afford inducements which are hardly
| to be found in any other civilized country The
| Kentucky rifeman is famed throughout the world,
and the decided superiority Of Western deer hunt
ers and bear fighters at the battle OF New Orleans
has run European nations nearly crazy on the
"Rife !" question. II has to great extent changed
their whole system Of warfare, and 50 boastful are
they now Of their proficiency IN ths line, that w
hardly dare claim our national weapon any longer
as peculiar institution.
| 1t must be. admitted that the physical cifeum-
stances, which now tell go strongly IN our fagor,
will graually disappear with the increase OF popu
| lation. By degrees game will become as scarce
among us in other countries. But. other things
being equal, there will always be greater famili-
arity with arms where there is less restraint upon
their use, and this, combined with the freedom Of
institutions which necessarily fosters spirit OF
manhood and independence, will always make us
| prominently military people.
| But there will be certain localities where the
Influences will be less favorable to the develop
ment of martial spirit than others. Commercial
people generally averse to war to certain ex-
| tent Their interests and their ambition lie in a
| have hut little taste for military display and
,.roaa Nav or,eans easent;aIIv# a commarc;a,
pa'a1 49,, .' !.
piaee, 10 iae' peooii'S e ee -. poA'' Gnu
though the spirit of freemen NAV continue to glow
as brightly here as elsewhere, other conditions of
4 n warlike capacity seem to be disappearing
II oraer 10 ran,adu tb;s II might be veil h have
II 4. ~, e. - -. u ! -,
oui Jopns , ~ So A-e ee' py
instructed III hltary sciehce anu tactcs u ~oulo