The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-06-14
Duty of Every Man to Put Himself Under
Military Discipline.

y
our institutions so violently threatened that we
are called upon to think fast and determine
quickly what course to pursue in the emergen-
cy There is no time for long theories or nu-
merous experiments, but every man must strike
at once at his own personal duty. Many have
decided from noble impulse to take up arms
Immediately, and meet the first onset OF the
danger But it is manifest that the other in
terosts of the Country, and even its best sue
cess in the war, demand that not all should
thus leave their regular business to engage IN
this And yet it is equally manifest that it is
every man s duty to make some demonstration
of his feeling. We are not in times of peace,
and need something besides acts of peace; we
are in times of war, and need acts Of war. In
word, every man is called upon in the pres
ent state of affairs to put himself in position
to acquire military discipline. No man is ex-
cepted from this unless it be by somo natural
disability.
The fact that man occupies an influential
position, Or is doing great good in his sphere,
Or is deeply involved in business, or cares, or
will make great sacrifices, should not excuse
him from this obligation. These considera-
tons might excuse him from entering into &C
tual service in the war, but not from the obi
CATION to fit himself for q soldier. We are
under obligation to fit ourselves for soldiers,
to acquire military discipline as a thing of
duty.
1t is not necessary to dwell upon the general
duty of a man to serve his Country, from the
fact that he is a natural constituent of that
Country, or On the ground of the great benefits
it has bestowed upon hia, Or the g'eat burgers
to which he exposes himself and all connected
with hila, il he nrglects to 60 SO. This duty is
perfectly obvious Nor is it necessary to dwell
upon the popularity of our duty 10 serve our
Country, because each man is so peculiarly
constituent Of it, or from the peculiar benefits
VIC have from it, or the peculiar dangers to US
if it be destroyed. Every one, too, recognizes
the particular duty to serve his Country at
this critical .juncture. An error may spring up
here from mans supposing 1t the same thing
to serve his Country in time of war as in time
of peace. In time of peace he may do this by
doing nothing for the State simply obeyng its
laws, meeting its legitimate requirements, and
devotlng himself to whatever honorable pursuit
he pleases. But in time of war something more
decisive is demanded. Personal sacrifice, dis
tinct labor for the State are necessary to good
service. Every one does not acknowledge this
necessity, and certainly, not the obligation to
put himself in the position we propose.
1t is the duty of q man, in whatever good
work he undertakes, to do it in the best manner
possible. Whatsoever thy hand find to do,
do it with thy might We recognize the liza
bility of every able man to be called upon to
fight for his Country, and that man is nothing
short of reereant to his duty, who, knowing
this liability, and seeing the emergency before
him, yet neglects to prepare himself for it,
Us if one on the field might sleep when
the enemy is within hailing distance, as if it
were allowable for any one to re-enact the PAL
} of indifference from the tragedy of Philip and
Ath ems. In order to fit himself for the best
service in IL case which is not only possible but
!, likely to arise, it becomes every man to acquire
the rudiments, at least, of military training.
But perhaps some think it impossible that
every man should be called upon to fight, and
they may be the EXCEPTIONS. They are too
learned to fight or too rich, or too refined oen-
gage in war. Describing such unmanly thong hts
there is another consideration fit to influence
every man, and that is, by pursuing this course
he may express his highest appreciation of the
course of our Government and his readiness by
all means in his power to sustain it. Nor should
this be deemed slight consideration. There is
no doubt the present Administration felt no lit
tie uncertainty as to how far it would be upheld
y by the voluntary support of the people, in Wig
orous action against the rebellion. The response
to its acquisitions has no doubt fully encouraged
it. Still u more hearty assurance might be Civ
en- it. Let it be known that not only all the Coy
ernment's wants shall be supplied, but that every
: man from the Capital to the frontier is not only
Q ready to get ready for war, if called on but is
actually of his own accord fitting himself, wheth-
er called on or not, and how would it stay the
T hearts and encourage the purposes and quicken
t the movements of those in authority. This is a
Government of the people then let the people
to man put their shoulders to the burden and
s by their united might bear forward their minis
# ,ers. Let there SO up one common voice from
the stores, the shops, the farms, the offices, the
schools, and the studies, all over the land, saw