Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-10-20
From the N Y. Tribune, Oct II, 1861.
Arm and Drill.


This country is involved in a great and ter
rible war-the most momentous of the Nine.
teentb Century. 1t is one calculated to tax to
the utmost the resources of the loyal States
aud probably to test their power of endur-
ance. One Hundred Thousand trained SOL
diers, led by competent officers, might have
made short work of it three or four months
ago; noW, IL Wil require longer time loah Hall
a Million. As yet, the loyal States have not
been half in earnest, while the rebels, iuspir-
ed by despotism, have put forth their whole
strength. Every bank within their dominion
has been required to suspend specie payment
and receive Confederate bonds as so much
money, which is in effect confscation of all
the moneyed capital in the South (much OF
it the property of loyal Northern citiZens) to
the support of the Rebellion. Two or Three
Hundred Millions of Dollars were due from
Southern traders and planters to Northern
merchants aud bankers whom they had pa
tronized %. aud this, too, is confiscated and
applied to the downfall of the Union. Even
a. Ii. Stephens scouts the idea of paying
debts TO the North and urges the lending of
every dollar TO the Rebel Confederacy. All
the crops now gathered or ripening are to be
exchanged for Confederate bonds. aud APP
piled. so far as may be, to equip, clothe, and
feed armies to war on the Nation. A mer-
CHESS CONSUMPTION bias been inauguraied, by
which thousands of Union men are compelled
to fight the battles of loathed and Infamous
Rebellion. Such are some OF the means en-
ployed to strike the Americ an Republic from
among the Great Powers, and reproduce on
her soil the wretched annals of the South
American States.
We have said that the loyal Safes have
not yet appreciated the magnitude nor the
importance of the contest forced upon them
Individuals, nigbborhoods, townships, have
done their whole duty; the North as whole
has not There are to-day townships of five
Thousand inhabitants each in more than one
of the Free States which have not yet sent a
man to the war; there are counties of fifty
thousand inhabitants which have not sent
more than company. This must not con-
tinue
Our armies are filling up, but there is great
need of the cultivation OF martial spirit,
the diffusion of military skill among those
who stay at home. We must be prepared for
further reverses, and fortified against posi-
BILE dangers. If, for example, we should lose
a great battle on the Potomac-Qor we
should be prepared for every possible con-
tingency)-it will be necessary to call out
the Militia of the Middle and Eastern States,
or at least part of it. What is the present
state of that Militia? Is il snch as BELTS a
uation which has been for six months at war
LOT IT'S GAlStcuCe. W ueIe are It's w nat
is its discipline? Who are It's officerss Sup
pose the Empire State were to day summoned
to send One Hundred Thousand of her Mill
tia within week Il dispute the passage of
the Susquehanna, and save Philadelphia and
the rich granaries of Eastern Pennsylvania
from spoliation, how soon and with what eff
ficiency could she respond to the call? She
ought TO be able to do it within a week, but
it is more likely that she would require a
month to send that number in condition to
face cold rain-storm followed by a frosty
night, to say nothing of enemies. And that
month might bring the enemy to the Hudson.
The Militia Of the loyal States must be en-
rolled, mustered, organized and disciplined.
Now that the harvest is secured one day in
each week should be given to this necessary
work But suppose an evening per week
were given to drilling in squads within doors
when the weather is inclement, with one day
10 each month for drill by companies and re-
siments, we should soon have great force
ready to take the field at days notice.
Arms, uniforms, equipments, would gradu-
ally be procured or put in order, so that, by
he 1st of March, New-YOrk would have at
east Two Hundred Thousand Militia at home
-eady to support the One Hundred Thousand
hat she will have sent into the field, and
prompt to retrieve any disaster that the ac-
,idents of war may have inflicted upon the
National cause.
Patriotsi Americans! your country needs
IN effective Militia at the back of her gallant
Armies Shall she not have it, and soon?