The Van Buren press., 1861-10-16
our conA3aion.

story, said, " She wasn't bora, ahe spec she ies'
growed." but military asi3or i nIike HGpsy, Sar
it It IL . bora" Born in - heat of people by
the influence Of enthusiasm, working upon patri-
oti.m. Pstiotism is not, necessarily, an active
principle in ITSELF in minds and hearts it may
be passive. and may not manifest its existence to
the world, although it may be present in the
heart Of tlsa nation. La oecasiom Offer let en-
thusiasm national excitement come, and at once
patriotism becomes active principle, motive
power, and the result of the two forces is what is
popularity known by the term " military ardor."
As TO the entire correctness of this the4 need not
be discussed in this place. When this srdar (as
We will continue to term it, - by this name all
understand our meaning) has been arossed. it
needs sustenanee to maintain its life. It retains
its vital principle BY contact and commsuioa with
its kind. ons individual in large audience be-
comes more excited because If the prevalent ex-
citement Throughout the assembly-opposition
tends TO crush this ardor. Just a. the humping of
Little urehins viii spoil the eject Of the finest I'D
dresss Cannot We find in this solution TO the
mysterious lethargy that has seized upon the
minds of our people. They evinced all the mill
tary ardor that could have been found in patriot
|ic people, few months ago. Who then is to be
censured for sitting the noble spirit which 80
promptly rose among them at their eountry's call
Let ns Investigate and rsasoa little We have
started out upon the correct principle that the ar
smiar feeling in sthsss has It been true in our
casef We are sorry to be forced from facts TO tbe
admission that it has not. From many palpable
facts this humiiating confession is extorted from
all thinking patriots. First we turn our attention
to the conduct OF the impotent war-engine. pre.
pared by th. Convention and yelep& the military
board. The official conduct of this trie of wise
Tacreshas rendered the name 90 obnoxious to the
people Of Arkansas that really feel that we owe
fOp ~sr~ f,~~s-
unfortunate fruits of this most unfortunate execu-
tive bodyis proceedings, and would be truly glad,
for the sake Of State to be able to convince the
people that all the multifarious blunders were the
result q ignorance But ala: common sense
would shrewdly enquire, why they never did right
by mistake, sometimes, and thus nos pIss US. 1t
would be useless consumption of ink, paper and
time 70 enumerate these blunders. Every man.
woman and child in the State, is a. familiar with
the doings and misdOings Of this body, they are
with the rsings and settings of the sun. With the
exception Of one very material fact to which the
attention of the people has not been particularly
called to-we refer to the paying off Of soldiers.
with War Bonds. We unhesitatingly assume the
position that the State, under the act of the Con
vention, has no right 70 issue those bonds to SOL
diers, in payment for services in the army
SDc: s. The bonds hereinbefore provided for
shall be offered for sale by the treasurer, and he
shall publish proposals. for the sale Of said bonds.
to be made at his Office, and such other places as
he may designate in such proposals.: and aA funds
ensuing from the sale Of said bonds shall cOnsti-
tute part Of the revenue Of the State, for military
and other State purposes"
These are the words Of the section in that act
which more particularly refers to the manner of
dispOsing of those war bonds. Has the Treasure
ever issued the proposals e. have the autbo.; TO
at Little Rock, called the " military bonrJ y .,'
tended To the offering for sale of these nonds We
nave iear OF no such action on tie part Of either
Of the officers above mentioned Still. II !. ex
Pressiy made the duty of the Treasurer of the
state to have the said bonds sold, the proceeds
should thea be applied to the payment of military
expresses Of the State. Hence, we contend there
c;in be no escaping from the conclusion which we
have announced at the outset and as a consequences
the soloier would be fully justified in refusing to
accept the bonds in payment of the amount due
them for services In the field. In avaiiny them
selves OF this right. they would be instrumental in
preventing the deplorable spectacle Of people at
tempting to dcpreciate the rewards of the soldier
who has fought for the liberty and property of the
very man who would render those rewards almost
yaiueiess- That the attempt to thus depreciate
TINS representative currency has been but too sue
cessfui, we can easily be convinced by beholdinp
the penniless soldier vainly attempting to pro.
cure neeessaries for the par value Of his moiety
Many object to this currency because they cannot
purchase goods Herewith. True, it may be thev
cannot, but is there enough of this money in cir
culation to endanger any one Of considerable prop
erty in obliging the soldier enough to give him
goods for his money. Besides if all will take the
money, then, of course, by relation it becomes as
good as gold. This il the only way to render the
currency OF any value. and it is by the contrary
course that it is rendered worthless These Re.
marks are OF course not intended for those Shi-
locks and Spectators who buy up these bonds at
an enormous discount. For them no language can
should be held by all good and true men and %,
Tiots-~Aany even refuse to take the Confederate
Scrip at par. and yet they may be heard to boast
loudly OF their government. Shame on such in
consistency! If the government is of such an ex
ceiient character. why do you refuse its means of
sustaining itself 1t is for the protection of your
property by this government that the bsttie Of
Manassas and Oak Hills have been fought, and Ger
tainly you can care but little for the protection a
forded you and yours, if you will not bear nor.
tion Of the burden and sustain some of the losses
| and Privations incident to the struggle for the
maintenance OF this government Some give to
support the causea but give drudgingiy Such do
rally nothing towards keeping up the military ar
dor OF country. These should be put in the
same category with those who do nothing
There is some talk of drafting men for the ser.
vice II this is to be resorted to 20 soon then in
deed, may We begin to trembe for the fate of our
government, It's truly in danger, and its bright
career, thus far. may turn out to have been but
feverish dream Of glory. hereafter to haunt the
brain Of the visionary. But such certainly can
not be the case as many who cheerfully VOLUNTEERED
have not yet been paid. even in bonds. Again,
some profess to be perfectly willing to let those
who are fitting themselves for the service, have
anything they wish for the par value OF their
scrip 1t is false and peltry spirit which prompts
TO such professions. 1t is, or should be well
known to all, that many Of the soldiers who have
been IN service, have depended upon their pay to
support them and their families, and to save them
harmless from the time lost from their crops, dc.
Then, II they must lose twenty five and fifty per
cent upon the proceeds of their military labor.
they must suf!er. for the pay is but small to the
men who are least able, pecuniarly, to suffer the
loss OF time. Hence the willingness merely to
take the scrip at par Of those who are refttng for
the army, is but poor encouragement. Suppose,
regardiess 0 the direct opposition to the cause the
men do 80 into.sefuiee for twelve months or three
years, what assurance have they that their families
can procure the necessaries Of life for the speces
Of currency sent them-bonds or scrip ior instance
And, however, much man may love his country
and desire TO defend her from the assaults of an IN
vading and blood Thirsty foe still he has duty
imposed upon him by the sacred ties of religion
and humanity. to discharge ct home These are
some OF the reasons why We find so little military
asdor existing among our countrymen. They find
too little encouragement from those Who are or
should be most deeply interested in the present
struggle. Our citizens are too apt to consider
themselves secure from the inroads of the foe who
now ensages rs. merely beeanse our forces have
been successful at Oak HiIls," and othee places
IN Missouri. Let them not aatter themselye thus
they may awaken, and find themselves forever ru-
lned Let them consider the tardiness with which
the calls OF xcCulloch answered let them then
reflect upon the consequence Of defeat Of our
army at Washington, Of the defeat Of Gen. Prices
command by the tyrant Fremont The deleterious
eneet Of the one, indirectly upon rs and our troops