The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-05-22
Politicians and the Provost MarshaIs.

IL is difficult to see for What good reason
SO large pOpor,ion of politicians are sp-
p0in'e' TO the marshalships. There was
every pro2riety in giving these places to
soldiers disabled from active service in III.
field. There might have been found enough
of these, or many certainly, fit for the post.
The office is one directly pertaining to mill
tary organization and therefore proper to
be filled by military men. Experience in the
army would be valuable in it. And this
would be found true, especially if difficulties
should anywhere arise in carrying out the
act of conscription. III armed resistance is
attempted in any localities, soldiers viii best
know how 10 deal with it. But there would
be much less likely to be any such resistance.
Here is capital consideration, that seems TO
nave been strangely overlooked or sighted.
People Will bear some degree of compulsion
20 bring them into the war from men who
have gone there voluntarily themselves. 1t
will not be the same thing to be ordered into
the ranks by man " ho has lost a hand or
an eve in battle, as by one who has cheered
on others. and kept himself away from pow
der, and stuck by the Offices. 1t is in human
nature TO have some choice by whom it shall
be driven. And there is nothing scarcely
that would do more TO heal any bad temper
that might exist in the public mind than
sustem of judieious appointments to these
places from the army.
Besides, If is due TO the soldiers. If there
are any positions of profit or honor to be
occufed in connection with this war, they
belong TO the men who have taken Its risks
and borne its tolls. There is already feel
ing, too, quite widely enough to spread, and
with quite enough of foundation in fact, that
our politicians are rather too eagerly intent
just now upon the securing of office and pat
ronage for themselves. 1t does mischief Ii
damps the ardor of the people in carrying
on the war. We do not wish to feel that We
are struggling for a government, one of
whose main concerns is TO feed its office hold
ers. The action that is being taken as to
these marshslships is likely to aggrivate the
sentiment of disgust. Here are men wait
ing, eager to leap into every place of profit
that opens BY all means they ought to be
disappointed. As a class they must be re-
garded as the most worthless creatures to
whom, in His infcrutsble wisdcm,the Divine
Being has ever given an existence. As far
as possible they ought TO be left TO starva-
ton.
1t is pleasant to reflect that by and by, as
the war ends, and the people themselves
come 70 choose, the soldiers viii have their
full share of public honors. Sometimes, in
the past, We have regretted the tendency TO
put military meu in civil stations; and there
may often be evil in If. Yet our soldier gov
ernors and Presidents have been fully up TO
the average of merit The soldier is at least
man of action, and is content TO earn his
place. This is more than can generally be
said of the politicians. AT any rate, If the
civilian gets the military places now, he must
not complain presently when the tables are
turned upon him--!SpringtfeId Republicans.