Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1861-05-17
0ri0inal SNatter.
For the Yorkvllle Enquirer.

TO the Volunteers from York District.
GALLANT SIRs From the tenor Of the
last letter to you, you doubtless readily de-
duced the conclusion that the writer lnten-
ded to exhibit the possession of all the ele-
ments of q religious character, and the op-
erations of Christian mind and heart, as
constituting the spirit essential to the true
soldier. Before proceeding to establish
this by proofs, two or three preliminary re-
marks are here made, in order to prevent
mistakes, and also add force to the subse-
quent reasonings. 1t is not meant, by as
suming the point under consideration, that
none but religious man can be success
full, skillful and distinguished soldier. The
writer is too we'll aware that many of the
talents, requisite for being an adept in mil
itary tactics and the maneuvres of the bat
tie field, can be possessed in the absence of
religious character, because they are, to
considerable extent, Independent of the
state of the heart, and so, are outside Of the
domain of morals; and he is too familiar
with the exploits of such world-renowued
warriors as Cyrus. Alexander, the Ptolemys,
Caesar, scipio, Hannibal, Charles 5th, Ma
poleon and Wellington, and some Of our
own countrymen, to intimate that man
may not be great warrior and yet not a
Christian. But what simplied, is, that he,
who is distinguished in the art of war with
out religion, would have greater intrinsic
excellences, and add enduring qualities to
his soldierly character and new lustre to
his reputation, by having it.
Successful and noted as warrior, the ir-
religious man may be; but still there are
duties incumbent upon him, in his profess
sional character, for which he has no fitness
there are emergencies to which he is not
equal, and there are dangers for which he
is not prepared. This, which indicates the
bearing designed to be given to the subject,
will be clearly eviuced in the illustrations
of it. Your correspondent, gentlemen,
feels bound to protest against all those false
mazims-from whatever source they come
which announce wickedness and moral
degradation, and sinful recklessness, to be
necessary characteristics for che soldier
Such maxims originated with men who,
wishinga cover for their own moral obliqui-
ties and wretchedness, were speaking in
their own apology and praise; have had
too frequent illustrations of their seeming,
but still unreal truthfulness from the fact,
that because of alarming moral defects in
the military laws of almost every country,
good men have been to great extent con.
scientiously debarred from resorting to a
soldiers calling, except under the crisis of
impending war and the result has been,
that men who have been disposed to cher.
ish and practice their military tastes and
have filled the ranks of the standing army,
are such as either were already profigate
in habits, or those whose characters and
morals have yielded to the temptations and
vices to which they were subjected, without
: moral restraint and it is these notorious ex-
amples who have given apparent foundation
to the Infamous charge, that the "worse the
man the better the soldier" We have it
in our power, however, it will be done
at the proper time, to show that the adage
has been contradicted by living examples,
of meu who have been good and tar-famed
soldiers, and at the same time true and con-
sistent Christians.
Still further. In vindicat;ng and en-
forcing the point assumed, it will not be