Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-08-08
Character Of cur Cause.

The present war for the constitution
and the union has a character which is
easily read by the masses of our people
a. home, and by every civii5ed nation
abroad. lis object shows at once the
character of the ugly contest. The
maintenance of tue union OF the states
is an end that at once stamps an indei-
bic impress on the present conflict. The
preservation Of the social bonds Of soci-
ETY. against anarchy and confusion; the
keeping intact every nicely adjusted or-
gan Of community government, from the
rural school meeting 10 the legislative as
.embly; the preserving inviolate every
tie of home and kindred, consecrated by
parental solicitude and flial affection,
slows an object which gives a character
TO the war more grand and more lofty
than ever was displayed by any nation il
the world Our struggle is to guard or
free institutions from tho dissertations Of
traitors, who are striving with terrible
energy to cover with the polIutions Of
slavery everything free, noble and gen
erous, and sap the foundations O. every
soul-stlrring impulse in the land. We
are lighting that our farmers may SOW
and gather their harvest in freedom
that the mechanic may fashion from his
model undisturbed and that the teacher
and the minister may promulGate their
rsths without the fear Of the gibbet or
the inquisitosial rack.
As far as our national struggle is con-
cerned we have given it a character that
stands out boldly, and commanding the
respect of every enlightened nation in
the world, and rendering our soldiers
proud Of fighting in such a cause.
Another mode by which the character
Of our cause will be read by the people
al home and abroad, will be by observing
the kind of men that compose our army,
the men that are daily cnlisting. In this
light we fear that the character Of our
cause suffers-uot that every man of
them is not a brave, whole-souled patriot,
for they are all true and daring soldiers
but as general thing they are men with
out property, while those who possess
large means, own large estates, aud to
whom the upholding OF the government
is their very life, are not found in the
ranks. There 10 a great wrong Lere-a
wrong that operates most injuriously TO
the cause nj the present time. What
makes our new companies fill up SO slow
ly when our country is in so great dan
ger, and when we need six hundred thou
sand more men in the field Immediately? |
Why is it that scores Of brave and hardy
men are not focking to the recruiting
office daily, when the government which
has cherished and projected every citizen
calls for assistance? 1t is because the .
men of wealth and influence, the proper |
~ holders will not come forward and don .
the uniform. How can you, a large land
holder, expect that your poorer neighbor
who has little that needs the protection oil
the government, will leave bis humble
cot his wife and children, his only solace
in bis poverty, to bare bis breast to the
storm, when you refuse to endure the
same hardships with him? Is not the
maintenance of the government of as
much value TO you as it is TO him ?
Should you no, make far greater sacri-
fees?
Farmers aud mechanics, merchants and
professional m en- Of Orleans county
Does your property need the protection
of the government? II it does, come
forward and enlist in the army Of noble
soldiers that is pledged to uphold and de-
fend the constitution that has made you
all you are. Enlist yourselves. 1t is
far better than it is to hire some one to
co in your place, for thus we gsin the in
suence OF your example. Trust your
6rns and your shops for brief season