Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-07-10
FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.

Joy MS Slnmoer with one eye open. /.
Ilarrellsville, n. G. !
FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE Age.
If self the ruling balance shake. 9
It's rarely right adjusted-BURNs
The vast and extensive preparations that ;
are now making throughout our beloved sun ]
ny South, to defend her from the hand / of vio- E,
lence and flnatic sm which her enemies
would lay upon her, furnishes an excellent :
opportunity to observ We who are true patriots,
and who are not: who are truly brave, and
who are only clustering p~retendcrs. At a
crisis IN our very homes and
firesides are threatened with desolation. sure
ly every man should lay aside all sel6shness
and rush disinerestedly to the rescue. But
we are sorry to- say, that the result of our
own observations conyinces US that it is far
otherwise In many instances. We have new
er seen more mean, selfish, narrow minded,
little, low ~puSilanimity manifested on any
occasion than during the present time. The
history OF the Old Republics, Greece and
Rome, reveals to us some of the noblest,
brightest examples of pure, unauthorized
patriotism. The self devotion of Deeius, Cur
thus and. Cadmus, is read with admiration
by all true patriots. Who will ever forget
Veturia and Volumnia, the wife and mother
of the stern warrior, Coriolanus or the Car
thagenian women, who freely gave all their
trinkets of gold and silver to aid in the cause
of their country, and finally their long, how-
ing tresSes to make strings for the use OF their
bowmen? Ali these are examples worthy OF
imitation. All these are names that will be
handed down to p~osterity and cherished as
long as a spark of patriotism burns in the
bosom of man.
Whu aannat tho Sons of tha South and
the daughters too, be likewise patriotic? No
nation on earth possesses so goodly a heri-
tage to defend. And many of them are as
truly patriotic and charitable as persons
could be but, alas many who should be,
are not. The thought too at such a crisis is
painful. History, so far as we know, does
not furnish a parallel in which a powerful
and prosperous country was so quickly con-
verted into a military encampment, as ours.
The wars of Charles the First and his par
lament, or the desolating wars of the Roses
were nothing like 1t. In our country the
passions of avarice and ambition seem to de-
velop themselves as rapidly as the revolution.
The thirst for office and the love Of money,
increase as the demand for armies increases.
There is no little selfshneSs connected With
the formation Of volunteer companies. A
few days ago we happened to be present at
the organization of a company, and we can
say that we never saw so much election
eeflng any where. as was there, for the few
offices at thgcUmAny's disposal. Such push
ing ~ot-votes upon people would be considered
dI>graceful to a New York lawyer. One OF
the prime causes of this may be attributed
to a grand defect in the pay system of volun
teer companies. We see no reason why off
GERS, especially until we arrive at those of 9
high grade, such as of regiments, brigades
and divisions, should receive at furthes
more than twice as much as p~rlvates. Ii
the formation of a government army, there
are the best OF reasons why a wide differenc,
should be made between the pay of officer
and p~rivates. The officers there are men VIII
have spent all their lives preparing for tina
business hence, they must be well paid
But the case is far different now. The pres
ent emergency calls alike upon e0erg citiZe
: to do something for his country. These ar
by no means ordinary war times. We hay
: yet to see the volunteer company (there ma
: be some EXCEPTIONS in which there are not pr
7 Yates decidedly superior in every respect, es
!, cept perhapaSy parrot-like military con
: mands, and frequently not in these, to som
n of the officers. Those privates have equal
j sacrificed as much as the officers in ieavin
h their homes and business, and they recei,
uCltilCI liz IL llOI CiAO1ui1cIilS# GI Ol1tC
r while the latter receive both. We protes
that there is injustice in this. Not that v
: would have the p~rivates receive more, bl
IS the officers less. This would not only be ju
If tice, and a source of economy to the countr
IL the expenses of which are now enormou
h but it would also p%reventa great deal of tn
4 little, petty, disgraceful electioneering for o
le fees now SO prevalent.
e A man, who is a patriot, and anxious
n serve his country, will do it, whether he
Q promoted or not. He will not Join a comp
ny, and, If he be not elected 10 some otfie
j. withdraw from 1t, as some have been know
: to do. 1t is a misfortune with our peop
n that nothing can be long used without bel
re abused. Ii a good thing can be made prot
of able by abusing it, there are not wantl
le sharpers in every country, who are ready
he convert it into. q specalating machine.
In manypf TIN volunteer companies, t
men who ~ elected know nothing Inc
=, about what Mey have to do than the prlvat
:" but must trust to time and circumstances
to render them skillful in their business. Aga
there are thousands of men amongst US, W
IN are totally unfit to be entrusted with offi'
cir of any kind. They know not how to dep
lie, themselves irresponsible positions. Asso
,rs as they can exercise a little authority til
81. begin 10 assume dictaliorial airs, and h
i've themselves aloof from some whom they W,
b. FORMERLY accustomed on look on as superio
m But the selishness which the present
Ii. sis has. DEVELOPED, is not confined alone
MS the military OPERATIONS going On amongst
ian 1t is quite visible in other places. As
of before said, this is a time when every citi
of should do his utmost for his country. Tn
ma who cannot give their personal aid, sho
nj. contribute liDtfally of the abundance "