Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-09-04
TaE ARMY NEW 10 TUE POST OF
laONOR AND Duty.

end Of the war, but since Lineon's last call tC
volunteers ! had rather die than give mp tt
struggle Now is the time for every one who
able to shoulder his gun, and help thrash OF
/ tho mighty army OF twelve hundred thousan
srreyed against US and any sbls-bodied youn
man who viii not help his country in this, he
hour Of trial, must 30 tainted with treason G
eowardice and if you see any such shirkin
their duty, tell them l say So"
Such, Mr. Editor, is the language ard sent
nent Gin private letter. of a youth who ha
not yet attained the age of aconscript, although
he has spent twelve months in the army withOu
the loss Of a day By absence or sickness. How
strangely do such patriotic, outspoken word
contrast with the aickly, apologesic tone 0
many, who yet, in spite of any appeal of thei
bleeding country, cling to the ease and indul
gence Of the peaceful walks of life When ",
contemplate the condition of our country snC
see tie dangers with which she is enTironed
and hear the calls fsr help pesling from hill anC
dale, village and hamlet, n0untain and valley
and view afar of the stdp endous preparation.
for our suhjugs ton aud ruin, we are amazed tc
see. young men quietly stalking the streets
lounging about hotels, or otherwise taking theil
ease, as if they hsd no interest in the issues in
volved and cannot resist the conclusion thal
treason or cowardice has something to do with
such cases" The censcript law designed to take
every able bodied man between eighteen and
thirty-fve years Of life, and yet, how many
hundreds have managed to elude its exsctions
They nay be divided into several classes, the
tirst OF which, are those who dodge cut Of the
way Of the conseript officer, by going from place
to place in the couatry or fabriesse All sorts of
excuses, such as sickness, physical disability,
employment on railroads, etc.
We have heard OF some who have rendered
their services TO railroads gratuitously Yes,
even in the humble cspaciry Of brskesmen for
40 other purpose than to get out, or rather keep
out Of the army. We have seen others fLunt-
ing their discharges, given by & board of exam
ining surgeons, who, at the same time, were
pursuing ends involving more labor, toll and
bardships than the most active campaign. These
men are unable TO go to the army and do the
duties OF q soldier, bat they find themselves
qualified to labor from night tiH morning in the
departments OF trade and speculation They
can ride twenty miles TO swap horses, and drive
hacks al day, they can roll barrels or boxes
with the energy Of a StevedoTe and never COM
plain, bat say army 10 them and then they are
forthwith eonsuptive windbroken, ruptured
crippled, malformed and otherwise unfit for ser
vice. There is something inconsistent with their
certificates OF disability, and the activity of tleir
every day life, that every considerate man is
compelled to believe they are afflicted more with
faint hearts than diseased bodies or in the
language used above, tainted with treason or
coHadice.7 Everybody knows that sick or
diseased man is capable of but littls physical ex
ertion, whether in peace or war, at home or In
camp, when therefore we see men able to under
60 ell sorts of piigatiOns and fatigue in pursuit
Of gain or pleasure, but too sick to fight in de-
tense Of their country, we conclude, aud so do
others, that pluck or patriotism is wanting, more
than sny hing else. Thsre is another class Of
sTsmpts, whom We think, should bs ousted, and
sent to places, where they could serve their
country better, and they are the office holders.
Visit any Of our towns where even q regiment
is stationed, aud the streets are alive with stout
sblebodied young men employed in the commits
sary department. almost Is many TO measure out
the bread and meat as there are to eat it. I'M
military as the thick headed public may be, they
esnnothelp thinking that large psrcentum of
these brave fellows who march and couutermarch
around heaps Of ii5ur and piles Of bacon are IN
and if the truth was known, they are
ugien more solieifous TO preserve the bacon of
their own precious persons from collision with
minnie and. musket balls, than they are to pro-
tect the ratons of our soldiers from waste.
But to keep out Of the dangers Of the battle
field, many Of these subordinate cOmmisssries,
would be iBgulted ct the tender of such humble
positions. II these officers are necessary for the
benefit of the government, why not put III the
crippled soldiers, who are found in numbers ell
through the country and would be glad Of an
opportunity to DO something for their own, az
well as their cOuntry's gOodl These wounded
men deserve help at the hands Of the govern
ment-and there are enough to I'll every little
sinecure position in the Confedersey, and turn
loose stout sblebodied men who use them as
mere scspeways from the army in the field
Again, Mr.. Editor, can you tell me why it is that
50 many stout young men are allowed to I'll
the railroad offices, mail agencies, etc, while
Of mon who have passed the cOnscript
age, would be glad to get thema With the ex-
ceplion Of engineers and mechanics we know
noUe, that might not be as honorably aud cred
itabiy filed by old men, as the young ones now
occupying them. The country is full of men be-
yond the age Of thirty five or even forty Of the
highest business qualifications, who would from
real patriotic motives, release these young men
Of their positions, and let them 90 to the army.
Sir we believe the time has now come, when
every Railroad and other corporation in the
Confederate States, should say to the young
men IN their employ, yOnr country nolo needs
yoNr seroiees tie field Of battle and for tie time
loo aoW dispense with your services, gigiag your
places for a period to old men. Go now and light
for her Independence and when the war IS ousr,
each of g0u tsat Nay surpiUe, shall ha0e his plaoe
again.
This thing is occurring daily at the North
among ell sorts of corporations, as well as
among individuals who have young men in
their employ Are our railroad presidents less
public spirited than tbo-e in the North, and are
the Young men IN their employ less patriotic
than Yankee youths Yes sir, il is but just
and proper, when considered with reference to
the interest Of railroads. banks, corporations and
the country, that this should be done. If there
were not old men who could as well FL these
places as they are now filed, the case would be
difsrenti bus SO long as there are, the public
viii think 1t unjust, unpatriotic, aad unwlse-
tnst one set Of young men should be occupying
posts Of honor aad profit, surrounded with ease
and comfort while others are working for
eleven dollars per month-surrounded with
dangers end privations, and risking their lives
upon the fortunes Of battle. If presidents and
others controlling such affairs have not public
spirit enough TO do this, the public should demand
it Of them and If the young men have not pat
rioiisln to prompt them to take up arms, they
should be expelled from their places, and driven
into the ranks Of our army. Let them 60 to the
army and fglh for their offices, and then they
VIII show themselves worthy to hold them when
they return. Sir, when we see what strenuous
efforts the North IS making for oar subjugation,
and examine the critical condition of our coun-
try, we are at loss to understand the feelings
OF auy young man, who can consent to remain
at home.
Our young men, as far as possible, should be
placed on q level, and We bRt speak the senti-
ment Of thousands, when we say eeery one that
can be dispensed with, should be sent to the
army. If they win not 20 volunt irily, commu-
mites should unite and exile them, until they
would ind at last, the army sn asylum of safe
ty from the execrations OF their indignant ceun-
nymen. Young men may think that their petty
excuses justify them before the public, but fhey
are widely mistaken; and while no indignities
are offered them, they must not suppose on that
account, that their conduct is not subject OF Sc
we're animadverson. There are few men Of age
in any portion Of our country, who have not
son OF sons in the army. and when one Of these
fathers casts his eye upon healthy looking
y Al.