Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-08-14
OUR HOME CORRESPONDENCE.
Letter frsm MiSaIetown,


last week who heads his communication
"The Pluck of Middletown," and says the
valor and patriotism of her people have been
too much eulogzed from time to time by
correspondent of the Herald from that town
who calls himself Nicholas" and then goes
on TO relate what he has recently seen and
heard in Mddletown. He says he saw
" large numbers beseging the physicians
quarters for certificates of some physical all
ment or disability !" that the listers had notl'
fed the "sick m and cripples that they
might do so, and " hence the stampede to the
doctors"
Well now, nelghbor Louis, it is no time for
you and to have controversy about the
"valor or patriotism of Middletown or Ira
We have each of us much more important
business on hand which admits Of no delay. |
claim that the people of Middletown are as
patriotic as the people of other towns, and
no more so, nor no less. If it is Of any I'M
portance, we will compare notes with Ira or
any other town. Under the last call OF the
President for volunteers We have furnished
nineteen or ;wentyas hardy fellows as ever
shouldered musket, and they make about
one-ffth of Captain Sheldon's company. We
have raised by subscription from our citizens
Ill
have sent some fifteen to the wars before
Our population is but little over seven hum
bred. Such is our record, and | have no
eulogies to pronounce upon Mddletown or
her citizens simply claim that Mlddletown
will average with other towns thus far in the
discharge of her duties in this terrible conflict
In relation to the " certificate business OF
which Louis sneers at us, have this to say /:
1t is true that either the listers or selectmen
of Miadletown posted up notices, and thai
thereupon some of her citizens sought for and
obtained certificates of disability from our
physicians and it is also true in my opinion
that it will avail nothing,-and if Louis or
any other man in Ira can inform us as to the
| rules and regulations which are to govern in
| this ordeal of drafting which we are to pass
through in few days, we shall receive the
information very kindly. But suppose we
have some men in our town who, through ex,
cessive timidity or caution ignorantly sought
an avenue of escape which will not lead them
beyond the Dire AIDED danger, or through sell
fshness have vainly attempted to throw re
sponsibility upon others which belongs to
themselves, what then All | have 10 say
in answer is, do not condemn US as town
but as to the individuals, "cry aloud anG
spare not" There are doubtless some suci
in Middletowa, in Ira, in Rutland, in every
town in Vermont, and mistake very much i
Louis would not find work enough to attend
to in the stable and patriotic town of Ira tc
take care of this class of men, though | wisl
it distinctly understood that we ask no mere
at the hands of any patriot. live where he
will, upon any of our citizens who shall man
ifestany disposition to avoid any duty, respon.
sibllity or danger which belongs to himsel
alone. Vermont expects every man to d.
his duty" The time has come when it is idle
to talk about patriotism or the blessings o
civil liberty and free government. The
time has come for action. Our institutions
are in danger, and rhetoric or hollow preten
sions will not save them. But the real genu
inc patriotism which is evinced by disinteres
ted and determined action will carry u
through, provided it has place in the hearts
of the people generally. Let every man fee
as though the issue depended upon bis owl
individual action, and put forth the efforts
which he would if his own life or his owr
farm was at stake, and rebellion under oul
government would soon be only matter Of
history And further, we should not be dis
couraged, although we experience reverse
now and then one of the essential elements
of true patriotism is pluck" and the wan
of it we see manifested in various ways, such
! as fearful forebodings of the result in future
growing about the administration and its
officers in the field, advertising among our
neighbors our helplessness Or pecuniary ina
bility, with other manifestations too numerous
to mention. Now then, Mr. Louis, (if that
is your name) | have given you as full an
4 f" explanation of the certificate business
as am able to do, and have added my own
| views as TO what are the duties of us all IN
this trying hour, and respectfully suggest that
you and | go to work with all our might to
put down this accursed rebellion, and when
that is done if you are not satisfied | will
meet you at your own appointed place, and