Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-08-14
The People to the Rescue !


The example Of Governor Lecher 10 calling the Leg
iIasuro tOS, .her, to devise general and eeCuA
means for the public defence is worthy Of imitation by
She Executives of al the other States. Our armies have
done nobly but there no necessity why they should
be solely relied The people can do great DEAL not
ooy indirectly in aid aud support Of the armies, but
directly towards their defence. Governor Letcher
well says: The large leviss Of additional troops by
the enemy for the devastation Of our lands aad the
"subugatOn of people, requires extraordinary eI-
ertion part end every State in the Couedera
ey must brace itself the impending encounter With
fearless fOrttude and untiriDg energy. The people
must prepare for the magnitude Of the emergency,
" and each must feel that his is necessary TO
aid in VindicsiDg the justice Of our cause, and thai
come what nav be is prepared to meet the foe with
"a calm defiance that acknowledges no alternative Tut
an unqualified recognition Of our independence. No
people can be conquered who feel thus and act up TO
that feeling with abiding confidence in the justice
of Heaven"
he invites the Legislature of Virginia TO set e1-
ample which we trust is not needed, 10 Southern
sisters "by exhibiting mistaken confidence in cur
- Government and undiminshed sIdOr in our common
cause and to invoke their united aid once more In
meeting the emergency as becomes people engaged
" in a righteous eause-,O display not only endurance
under losses and reverses, but graphing With
" adversely, to exhibit at moment of anticipated
weakness, power from moral example and physical
exertioo"
This the true spirit and the true policy. COnstau-
CT courage and perseverance viii infaibly carry tri
Hnphantly through this great struggle. The man who
doaots (. is a coward at heart The enemy have nun
bsrs and resources only rely on aud these in nothing
Ike the excess over our own that many believe. But
numbers and resources exhausted in var while
olUrage and endurance and greatness of soul mex
haustible and unconQueraole The observAnt and judi
cous Nontesqueu remarks in speaking Of the grandeur
Of the Roman character that when Carthage made
with her opulence against the Roman poverty her great
disadvantage from what she esteemed her greatest
strength, and on which she placed her chief Deepen
dencs." The reason, be observes, is evident Gold
aud silver may be easily e1hAussd but public virtue
o1nstancy and rmnoss Of mind forttude and poverty
are inexhaustblen The Carthaginians in their wars,
Ike the Yankees, employed foreign msrcenAries. The
Roman armies, Ike our own, we're composed Of
tives Carthage resembling the Yankees again, had
trained militia a. home, aud when :ts army de-
feGted It had reserve Of Sighting men to fall back
on The citizens Of Rome, the other hand without
distinction, composed regular body Of disciplined MI
hdl Therefore, il tina. the Romans after receiving
four successive defeats from Hannibal, the last o:
which was the fatal battle Of Gamma where they lost
nsSry every officer OF vaus, and all their veteran
troops, would hearken to no terms Of accommodation,
aud were even able TO send renrcsments Spain and
Oher places, though Hannibal vas at their gates.
Nature and habit have made our people, more gener
ally, perhaps, than any other soldiers. But it Is
sary that they should supsradd the advantages of mil
llary organization and discipline Then, whatever fu
sure may befan oar brave armies shall still be able
% make resistance TO those who would ensaVe U.s. No
Opls as rssOluse ours skilled in the Of
OI and aided By extent OF territory and immune
rable natural defence could if properly organized and
led be conquered by any number Of armies that could
Be brought against them.
To prepare then for any contingency, bus especially
10 enable the people Of every sata county and neigh
bOrhoOd deiead themselves against raids and foys,
- vel as TO assist the Confederate authorities in getting
out oonscrps and arresng deSertsrS and Strsgglsrs
and 70 perform the important services Of home guard
and general police in all matters affecting the safety of
perso and property and the preservation Of tranquil
Hy, We hope the Legislatures Of al the States p be
called together for the purpose Of embOdyDg, under
stringent law as military force all who capable Of
bearing arms and requiring them to be drilled not less
than once q week.