Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-06-19
OUR HOME CORRESPONDENCE.
Editor Herald.

Editor Herald.
learn from friend 'Over the Mountain
that l am perplexed with doubling pa
triotism'-though, whether it exists in my
self, or in others, ne does not tell. Now, if
by i" doubling patriotism" is meant dispo-
sition to know what " our enlisted men are
to do"-what, in fine, are to be the result
and fruits of the present struggle, then, truly,
l am doubling patriot, and, thank God, l
am only one among thousands. 1t is our
right and duty to think and talk of the
policy OF the Government In the manage
ment OF the war; ior the people must fight
the battles, bear the burdens and reap the
rewards, if there are any ; and any people
that would engage in so great a conflict
thoughtlessly and with no good end in view,
are fit subjects for despotism.
1t is true, as we are told, that out soldiers
are I" to shoot and to be shot at; but is that
all? If so, we (tbis side Of the mountain)
" don't see it." We think there is something
above and beyond that but We may be
wrong. ........ ...a#
Again am told that, in recruiting,
must not stop to think, much less to talk,
about what the war is for; but We must
arouse al the call of our leaders, 90 in with
rush-yes, " 20 it blind" | admit that Yer
morters should respond promptly, as they
do and always WILL 20 the cali Tor more men,
but they s0iu think, as they do so, for they
have got into bad way of reading daily
papers, and almost every one at times re-
alizes that he is part of this great Republic,
and that upon his shoulders rest great re-
sponsibIlities And so it ls 1t is not the
sayings and dongs OF Presidents and Cabi-
nets that mould the Nations destiny, but
the myriad-tongued utterances OF its thinking
| men and women and every one who thinks
and talks to-day, may be g making History
though it may not be written for many
year.
We are thinking and talking people,
and il | should ask some halt-blind old lady
to let her grandson 60 with me, simply to
{" shoot and be shot at" she would coolly lay
ASIDE her "spees," q suppose for the purpose
OF taking me at "long range that l might
not be annihilated at the first fre,) and
would open upon me upon our national pros
poets, and If l prolonged my stay in that
vicinity, should have to think and talk too
|
posed to be posted on all war and govern
mentalpolicy questions. In this thinking
age, the ding dong -bell-Hannah Adams"
style Of business, will not get recruits where
tew or none are ready to 90.
Again: thinking being makes better
soldier than does a mere machine of flesh
and blood, though the latter may do as well
"to be shot at as the former; but when the
fate of the Nation is at stake, give me the
thinking soldier--who knows for what be is
contending, and his exultant shout, heard
above the roar of battle, as he rushes on to
UictOry or death, will avail more than the
bayonets of half dozen of those who 90 in
for "good pay, strawberries and cream, and
sweet potatoes" Give me, for a true SOL
der, man who has home and loved ones
and dares to leave them-who has heard oi
bloody fields" and lingering deaths, and
cruel imprisonments, and famine, and fevers
and dares to meet them, and all for the sake
of the nation of which he is only one think
ing, living atom.
hope my friend 4" Over the Mounta in,
when he goes into battle, as he doubtless
will, for l trust he will agree with me tina
the government must be sustained at al
hazards, even though it is a slow coach, anC
1 seems to be afraid of hurting the patient,
/ trust he will not go with down-cast eyes
, as if looking for that sweet potatoe, but will
head erect and thoughtful; and may ht
think and feel that every stroke OF the Ions
lancet" is striking the chains from the limb
of fellow-being that every whizzing bul
I let is bearing message of deliverance t.
! many slave, and that he himself is on,
noble workman upon National edifc,
4 which shall be the admiration of counties
ages ..
1t is evident that my friend is right on tn
great question of the day. In fact, do no
e see that he oilers from the people this side
S but he evidently wanted chance to "tro
: out his pony" and has found it, and ar
, glad of it--for every word spoken, ever
letter written, every booming gun and burs,
ing shell, every shrek of agony and dyin
7. groan, every home draped in mourning, an
-. every heart left desolate, are means in tn
u hands of God for educating our people up t
that level where Destiny awaits them, an
where with united voices they will say
g /" Not the Union as it was, but as it shoul
d be; not the old forms in which was en-
: bodied the noble spirit of '76, but new an
a better ones, which may be the fitting embod
q ment of that nobler, holier spirit of univel
sal freedom, which seems to be stamping il
impress upon the age in which we live"
Yours, &c., A. C. b.
b Pawlet, VT, June IA.
L Cbarloston ;s 80 a <err,hIa o.o ota oc await.