Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-05-06

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R,nsiiia Russia @ lsSSSSSS SSCSCS s5sSSS sIsSSS &
From this table, which is taken from the
most accurate sources, it will be seen that
the lowest ratio-that of Russia-is one SOL
dier to ninety inhabitants, and the highest
that of Prussia-one soldier to forty eight
inhabitants. r--
In 1873, during the war with the Allies,
Napoleon | had in arms in France, Italy,
Spain, Germany and the Netherlands, to-
tai force of four hundred and ninety.six
thousand men. The Empire at that period
had a population of forty. three millions,
He had, therefore, one soldier to eighty-six
inhabitants. But of these forces eighty
thousand were in garrison in France, fifty
thousand in garrison in the Netherlands,
and fifty thousand in garrison in Germany
leaving three hundred and sixteen thousand
for active service. At the same period Great
Britain had in arms the largest force ever
by voluntary enlistment in modern
times, amounting, exclusive of the mere
militia and the East India troops, to three
hundred thousand men. As the population
of the British Islands at that time was only
twelve millions, this gives the average of
one soldier to forty inhabitants. Only the
immense wealth and resources of England
could have endured such burden as this.
In one year of the war with Napoleon, her
ldlsSu ny lOdu anu IdAhJlOu
the enormous sum of one thousand millions
of dollars, and when the contest ended her
debt amounted to four thousand millions.
Expenditures on this scale are, of course.
totally out of the question in poor and
thinly- peopled country like the South.
1t must always be borne in mind, that to
raise and equip an army for the field de-
mands not merely men but money. War in
modern times is the most costly of all pur-
suits. And it is far more costly in this
country than in any other. Arms and mu-
nitions of war are higher. priced here than in
Europe, the pay of the soldiers is very much
higher, and their subsistence, equipment, and
in short, all expenses connected with them
are greater. 1t has been estimated, not with
out reason, that if the total cost of an Amer
ican army in active service be divided by the
number Of the men, each soldier will repre-
sent an annual average expense of athousand
men will cost $50, 100000.
Gas by the census report of 1850, which
was prepared under the superintendence of
a native of South Carolina, the cash value of
chneTy in ErsRRs Wag Regs3SPs SHy ssJ s9a
it may be safely assumed that the expense
alone will prevent South Carolina from
bringing into the field the eighty thousand
men of the Charleston Courier. We have,
however, other evidence of the impossiblity
of such an array. The census of 1860 shows
that the total free population of the State is
only three hundred and eight thousand one
hundred and eighty.six, including the free
negroes, who in 1850 amounted to eight
thousand nine hundred and sixty. The num-
Der of this last class by the census of 1860 is
not yet known, but it can not materially
differ from that of 1850.
Itappears, therefore, that the white popu-
| IatSn Of inn
children, is about three hundred thousand,
and of these, as the census reports, there are
just fifty seven thousand adult males. Now,
| of these, of course many are sged, mauy
are sick, infrm, lame, short-sighted, hard of
hearing and in various ways disqualified for
military service. We might even venture to
assume, of any other people than the South
Carolinians, that some were cowardly, or
| lukewarm, or even hostile to the cause oil
"Southern Rights" But admitting that
every man of them is ready to fight if able,
1t must be remembered that besides the phys
ically incapable there are many who can not
be spared from the business of the country.
For example, there were in the State in 1859,
twenty nine thousand nine hundred and
sixty'seven farms or plantations.
By law there must be at least one white
man on each plantation, to oversee the ne
groes, and we may be sure that in the pres
|
be safely omitted. This, at one swoop, de-
ducts about thirty thousand from the fifty
seven thousand white adults in the State
How much the twenty-seven thousand thai
remain will be reduced by the numbers
necessary to carry on the town and city
work of the State we will not undertake to
say. But let us consider the military re-
sources of South Carolina in the light of the
averages we have given above of the pro-
portions of European armies to the popula'
tion. We will assume, though we think the
average rather high, that as Prussia brings
into the field one in forty-eight, and Austria
one in fifty five of her population, South
Carolina can raise, equip and maintain one
in fifty.
Now, as her whole population, by the cen
sus of 1860, including four hundred and sever
thousand slaves, amounts to seven hunderC
and fifteen thousand, it follows at this ratl
that South Carolina can be expected to raisI
for military service just fourteen Thousand
three hundred. In making this calculation
however, we suppose her wealth and credi
to be proportionally equal to those of Austrii
and Prussia, or rather, we should say, create
in proportion TO the greater expensiVeness o
military undertakings in this country. Ol
the estimate we have referred to, of 81, 900
year for each man, such an army would cos
$l4, 900, ,000-a sum many times exceeding
anythingin the power Of South Carolina Il
raise for war purposes.
The forces which, by the same aVerag
scale, the other slave States could raise
emitting the little State Of Delaware as prae
tieally free, will be seen at a glance by tn
following table, We give only round mum