Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1862-04-04

NOrln DeIOre the war DeBan, anu WHICH
was confined to classes and sections
then, has ripencd and deepened into fe-
rocious luminosity now, and has become
general and all but unanimous. The
South will never yield except under
compulson; and this compulsion the
North cannot apply. Therein lies the
whole kernel of the question,
The South has two marked advantages
over the North, one of which we have
alleady referred to. 1t is standing on
its defence, and the connposition of its
army is decidedly superior. The size of
the Northern army is injurious to it in
other ways besides its enormous cost. It
is impossible. 10 should be even dcccrslS
Offered. to begin with. 1t is nearly
impossible that it should become so till
after long years of warfare. The origi-
nal standing army of the United States
was, as we all know, very small one
But the officers commanding it, who were
educated at the Military Academy at
West Point, were, as rule, very com :
petent and scientific men. The majority
of these, however, were of Southern ex-
traction, and when the severance came,
east in their lot with their native States
The consequence is, not only that she
Confederate army is incomparably the
best Offered of the two, but that the
Northern army is scarcely differed at all.
With few exceptions, its generals, its
colonies, and its captains, are men who
have seen no service, who have received
no training, who deserve no commands,
and who have obtained their appoint
ments either by the election Of their own
volunteer troops or from political or So
cial considerations. In addition TO this,
the army is essentially mercenary, hete-
rogeneous, and only to limited extent
national. We do not mean that thousands
ofthe troops, perhaps a majority, are not
Jealous Unionists, hearty in the cause,
and not averse to the adventures and eX-
element of campaign. But only 9
portion Of them are native Americans
and of American descent; the rest-And
among them some Of the best soldiers
are Irish and Germans, whose patriotic
sentiments cannot be either very deep
very consistent, or very strong. All o
them, too, require to be paid, and to b.
well paid. Lastly, few of them are &C
customed, or are inclined, to discipline
or obedience. They are free citizens
and do not choose to be coerced. The.
have never been either drilled at hom'
or logged at school. They cannot &c
out of their heads that, as enlightened
Republicans, and as volunteers, although
paid they have a right to have theii
own way, and to hold their own opinions
even against their commanding officer
The demoralizing effects Of pure De
mocracy is telling fearfully against tn
efficiency Of the Federal army. Proba
bis the rawest recruits 10 the Old Worl,
never gave their officers so much trouble
or reduced them to such absolute despair
as these intelligent and independent pa
triots
The constitution Of the Southern arm,
| is superior upon all these points. TIN
men are better Offered, and much NOR
inclined to obey their officers, who are
for the most part, men Of social rank an
position, as well as Of military knowledg
aud experience The privatcs are usu
ally men trained to field sports and to th
use Of arms, nearly all native Americans
ardent aud patriotic citizens, according
to their own notions, and in great pro
portion gentlemen of Independent means
who either do not receive pay, or ar
nearly Indifferent whether they rccciy,
it or not. Some entire companie
are composed Of personal friends, es
pecally in the artillery corps. On
regiment marched out Of New Or
leans, of which the leading troop wa
worth in the aggregate, two million
Of dollars. A very common arrangcmen
is for men Of substance to agree to fur
nsh 10 the Government, and to keep il
the field as long as the war lasts. six Of
ten men fully armed, equipped, and paid
and To provide substitutes for any wht
may fall, desert, or become invalid.
An army thus formed, fighting on it,
own territory, and fighting for its OWL
cities and plantations, It's own families
It's own institutions, its own passions and
preju1ices, if you will, is scarcely sus-
ccptble of defeat in war, whatever
may be its fate in single campaign.