Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-12-03
The Presidents Call for Volunteers
The Duty OF Young Men.
[ From the New York Timesl

! From the New York Timesl
! The question whether the Presidents call
! for volunteers shall be met within the period
to which it is limited, depends mainly upon
! the public spirit Of the young men. They are
the class from which alone seryiecabe sol
ders can be obtained young men for the
war" IS the accepted maxim in all nations
Their physical vigor aud endurance their
| elasticity and dash, particularly fit them for
the field. The loyal States are very power
fu in this class Of population. Notwithstand-
ing all the drain that has been made upon
them, they still contain over two millions Of
men between the ages of eighteen and thirty
five. 4 sixth part Of this number properiv
armed, drilled and disciplined, and incorDe-
might sweep off all that remains cf this
rebellion before next summer. There never
was more sacred call. Every voung man
who has Il spark Of manhood i'll his breast
ought to give heed to it. The country has
a right to the service of its st0utcst arms
without compelling that service; and it is far
more honorable to 90 to the field as a vOlun-
toer, than as a conscript. Many of the exemp+-
ions which the present law Of Congress grants,
particularly the three hundred dollar com
mutation, viii probably be repealed before
the drafting process is again applied: and
there will be hereafter, comparatively few
chances Of escaping consequences of the lot
when it is once drawn. The Government is
determined to have the Jey&0u1 service of
just so many young men as it requires; volun-
tarily if it can, compulsori!y if it requires
it is not so much question to the Young
men whether they stall go, as hog they shall
90; by choice or BY coercion.
N,,-nr L1- 4I,,,, L.,,,- a..
country, and never probably will there be
again such another opportunity for Young
men who desire noble career. War IS
the most stirring of all human doings-the
sphere Of action which calls out the greatest
energies Of our nature. In it real SUPERIORITY
tells the quickest and the surest In civil life
mere circumstances has a great deal to do in
shaping young mans destiny. If in busi-
ness, no diligence or prudence can secure him
from the common yicissitudes of the CONNER
cial world. If in q profession, his speedy
advancement depends greatly upon Fortunate
connections and other influences quite indie
pendent of his real merits. Agriculture and
the mechanic arts, however respectable in
themselves, can hardly satisfy him who as
pires to distinction. Politics. in these days of
political degencr&cy, present little inducement
TO the young man who relies upon his man
hood; the chances are ten to one that chicane-
~ would thwart him. But war, in its stern
necessities, brings the young man to the fairest
OF tests; and when it is once proved that he Il
has the true steel in him, there is no rank
which he may not hope to reach. 1t is a
matter Of comparatively small consequence
where he begins. No young private, howev-
er friendless or unknown, can exhibit suDe
rior intelligence and promptness in the camp,
or superior gailantry in the field, without at
tracing the notice Of his supcI;iors Pro
motion is sure to come to Him, because it is
OF vital interest to the entire army that it
should be olIicered Us efficiently as possible.
lie Will not have TO wait long, inasmucI as
vacancies are constantly occurring, both from
the casualties of battle and from the forced
designations Of those whose unfitnass has
been proved. From the day he puts his foot
into the ranks the road to honor opens before
him, broad and high; it is for him alone to
fix his mark. Many Of our best Colonies, and
even Generals, began their career as privatos
The places thus won are far more valuable
than any obtained by personal favor. We
have known Of n2ny young men WHO failed
to go into the service because they failed to
get the commission they applied for. The
military spirit-saying nothing Of the patri-
otic-that can thus be dashed must be
Of Il very poor sort. The very fact that
these young men have been thus influenced
to stay at home, is pretty good proof that
they deserved to be disappointed. The man
Of real soldierly qualities would be kept back
for no such reason. Every sodiery fiber in
bim would he stimulate! 10 make good his
claim to what he has asked, and carve his way
to a co..,ni5ion with his own good sword. SO
long rs the ranks are omen to him, he need
rely upon no favor.
Not only military distinctions are to be
won in the service to which the country now
calls, but the best chances for future civil pre-
| fcrmcnt. There is no country in the world
il which military gallantry is more honortd
! than in this; and lie who has once proved him
self true and faithful to the flag Of the Repub-
| lie, IN the storm Ct battle has passport to
! the popular confidence tlIat nothing else can
! give. 1t is certain that Tor the present gen
/ Grafton, the great majority Of our Offices Of
! trust from tbs Presidency down, viii be filed
| by men who have pcriled their lives for the
Stars and Stripes. The people will deyolve
| their trust upon the tried soldiers, both be
cause they viii love 10 honor them, ana be
| cause they are thoroughly tired of professional
politicians. No sordid, corrupt, faithless
nature can belong TO a true soldier, and the
people iuStinctively feel it.
Every young man who seeks an HONORABLE
future, who cares to figure III the grandes
drama of the century, who has spirit enough
to feel that
Gone crowded hour Of glorious life,
Is worth an age without name,"
who has soul enough to realize how sacred
thing is patriotism, should hasten to tht
help of his country in this its last decisive
grapple with the monster treason, now, a
never before, desperate. Duty and glor.
alike urge it.
Every effort should be made to meet tn
Presidents call by voluntary enlistment, am
not by the other alternative Of drafting
Public opinion should hold every State ant
county of the North strictly to its duty
should be deemed positive dishonor 70
any locality not to furnish its fair quota Q
men-a reproach analogous to that whic
would come from actual dislOyalty itself, L
times like these profession are of slight az
count unless backed up by substantial act;
, Every citizen everywhere, who has the slight
est influence, owes that influence now to hi
country; and he may be sure he can exert
f in no more effective shape than in stimula
t ing young men to respond to the call of til
] country for more soldiers.
i ------------s25s- - - -Iz.--------