The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-11-27
The Presidents Gall for Volunteers - The
Duty Of Young Men.

lne question Wnetner tno ffeSiueut Cuii
for volunteers shall be met within the period
to which 1t is limited, depends mainly upon
the public spirit Of the young men. They
are the class from which alone serviceable
soldiers can be obtained. "Young men for
war" is the accepted maxim in oil nations.
Their physical vigor and endurance, their
elasticity and dash, particularly tit them for
tho field. Tho loyal States arc very power.
ful in this class of population. Notwith.
standing all tho drain that has been made
upon them, they still contain over two mil.
lions Of men between the ages of eighteen
and thirty.fve. A sixth part of this mum.
Der, properly armed, drilled and disciplined,
and Incorporated with our armies already in
the field, might sweep OF oil that remains OF
this rebellion before next summer. There
never was moro sacred call. Every young
man who has spark Of manhood in his
breast ought to give heed to it. The coun-
try has right to tho service of its stouteSt
arms without compelling that service: and
it is far moro honorable to 80 to the field as
q volunteer than as conscript. Many OF
tho exemptions which tho present law oil
Congress grants, particularly the three hun
drcd dollar Communication, will probably be
repealed before the drafting process is again
applied; and there will be hereafter CON-
parativoly few chances Of es,aping the con-
sequences of tho lot when it is once drawn.
The government is determined to have the
personal services of just so many young
men as il requires-voluntarily If it can,
compulsorily II it must. 1t is not so much
a question to tho young men whether they
shall 60, as ho,o they shall go-by choice or
by coercion.
Never has there been in the history of this
country, and never probably will there be
again, such another opportunity for young
men who desire such noble career. War is
the most stirring of all human doings-thc
sphere of action which calls out tho great.
est energies of our nature. In It real supc.
rority tells tho quickest and tho surest. In
civil life nero circumstance has q great deal
to do in shaping q young mans destiny
If in business, no diligence or prudence can
secure him from tho common yicissitudcs OF
tho commercial world. II in profession,
his speedy advancement depends greatly up.
on fortunate connections and other influences
quite independent of his real merits. Agri-
culture and the mechanic arts, however res.
pectable in themselves, can hardly satisfy
him who aspircs to distinction. Politics, in
these days Of political dcgeneracy, present
little inducemont to the young man who re.
lies upon his manhood; the chances arc ten
to ono that chicanery would thwart him.
But war, in its stern necessities, brings the
young man surely to the fairest Of tests ; and
when It is once proved that no has the true
steel In him, there is no rank which ho may
not hope to reach. It is a matter OF COM
parativoly small consequence where he be-
gins. No young private, however fricndless
or unknown, can exhibit superior intelli.
gcncc and promptness in the camp, or supc-
rior gallantry in tho field, without attract
ing the notice Of his superiors. Promotion
is sure to come to him, because it is of vital
interest to the entire army that it should bo
officcred as efficiently as possible. Ho will
not have to wait long, inasmuch as yacan.
cles arc constantly occurring both from the
casualties Of battle and from the forced res
ignations of those whose unftncss has been
proved. From the day hc puts his foot into
the ranks, the road to honor opens before
him, broad and high; 1t is for him alone to
fix his mark. Many Of our best Colonels and
even Generals began their career as priyates.
The places thus won are far more yalable
than any obtained by personal favor. Wo
have known Of many young men who failed
to 90 into tho service simply because they
failed to get the commission they applied
for. Tho military Spirit-saying nothing of
the patriotic-that can thus DO dashed must
bo Of very poor sort. Tho very fact that
these young men have been thus influenced
to stay at homo is pretty good proof that
they deserve to be disappointed. Tho man
of real soldierly qualities would bc kept
back for no such reason. Every soldierly
fibre in him would be stimulated to make
good his claim to what he has asked, and
carve his way to commission with his own
good sword. So long rs the ranks are open
to him, he need rely upon no favors.
Not only military distinctions arc to be
won in the service to which the country now
calls, but the best chances for future civil
preierment. There Is no country in the world
in which galantry is more honored than in
this; and he who has onco proved himself
truo and faithful to the Gag Of tho Republic,
in the storm Of battle. has passport to the
popular confidence that nothing else can give.
Il is certain that for the present generation
the great majority Of our officers Of trust
from the Presidency down, will bo filled oy
men who have perilcd their lives Tor tho stars
and Stripes. The people will devolvo their
trusts upon the tried soldiers oo'n because
they will love to honor them, and because
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