American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1862-09-19

THE MILITIA.-In to-day's paper will be found a
call for public meeting The purpose is set forth
IN the call. We shall not say anything in advance
of the assembling Of this meeting that could be con
strued into disposition either to forestal or give
direction to public opinion. In the present exigen-
cies of the country the tread of a vengeful
vindictive and worse than Vandal foe still pollutes
the soil of our own beloved State, north and south
and his long, low, dark" despicable iron-cad
gunboats, with their cowardy and crayen-hearted
crews still intet rivers the Militia ought to be-
and We hope are, willing to make any pecuniary
sacrifice to surrender all comfort and ease in order
to expel the enemy from our borders and keeping
him cribbed, cabined and confined " within the
walls of his piratca craft, thus crpng his opera
tions. Ii the presence Of the Militia in the field is
necessary to hold the enemy in check at points
threatened by the enemy, or vulnerable to attack.
then they should remain in the field 'at all hazards
and to the last extremity" Let those-if there be
any-whO wish to see the Militia disbanded simplv
because the service IS dsagreeable and privations
and hardships have to be encountered and endured
reflect for one moment what would now be our
condition had il not been for the noble and heroic
stand made at Vicksburg. Our homes would now
in all probability, be in the handsof the hated Hes
htd-Stl'ili gotlS ueSecfdJeu ana ueSDOiled
our fair fields laid waste-our property of everv
description seized. eondscated and destroyed. and
ourselves the veriest slaves that ever groaned be-
meath tyrants yoke. Look at Arkansas and Mis-
souri,. where the Federas have had full sway
Like the locusts of Egypt, they have DESTROYED
every green thing in those once fourishng States
and their downtrodden people scarcely dare breathe
an aspiration to heaven for freedom. COP, and the
good right arms of her sres and sons protect proud
and peerless Mississippi from such miserable fate
this.
But there is another picture, worse-if anything
could be worse-than this to contemplate 1t is
not necessary to give it shape here by word paint
ing. 1t rises Ike the unbidden ghost of Banquo
to the mind of every one. 1t is in the mouth of
everybody-every mind comprehends every eye de-
tects, and every tongue repeats THE TRUTH that
the draft made upon our fighting population by
the Conscript law and the Militia law have left the
plantations in the county of Madison without suff
Gent male adults to ensure the cultivation of crops
or the protection of families. There is great and
to our minds, most culpable laxity in the govern
ment of the servile population, which grows out of
a feeling of Insecurity the part of the masters
Grimes have been committed in our county by
slaves, for which they should have been burnt at
the stake instantly yet, in one instance it was
week or two before the demoniac perpetrator was
arrested and in another the villain eluded his pur-
suers, and, so far, has escaped altogether. These
things are becoming more and more prevalent, and
must be checked speedily and in the most summary
manner.
On every plantation there should remain at least
one strong, resolute, courageous white man, capa-
bic of controlling the negroes, enforcing obedience
to his orders, giving protection to the family and
ensuring the cultivation of crops. The people
should demand this and if it is refused by our pres
ent rulers, military and civil, when the elections
roll round again, hurl them from power as unwise
and unfaithlul public servants.