Year: 1861

"sIiOOT FOLLY"


DEAR READERS There are q great va
riety of opinions relative to editors; their
duties, "use and end" but all seem to ar
rive at ore very important point, viz: that
they are public servants, and many endeav
or to use them as private or individual
servants, as you will see by the tone of a
few Of the many letters received at this
Office.


FELICITY HILL, Ohio.


EDITOR BLUNDERBuss Il profess to be
as good patriot as any other man. 1 am
in favor of sustaining the government in
the present war. l attend all the Union
meetings, and shout when our armies gain
victory over the rebels, but to ask me to
send my sons to the war. as some of my
neighbors have had the imprudence to do,
is going a little too far, for | have enough
to keep them comfortably at home, and
leave them all handsome property when
/ am done with it.


Besides it is dangerous luxury, and it
would almost kill their mother, for she says
she would as soon follow her son to his
grave as to have him volunteer.


Now, whilst there are so many DOOR,
young men who have no property to look
after 1T home, and who have to work for
living, and even get nearly as much in the
army as they can make here, l think they
are the ones who should volunteer, as it
cannot make much difference with them
rchere they earn their money, as they have
to work for it anyhow


L wish you would, in your next paper,
set the public right on this subject, and
thereby greatly relieve many anxious moth
ers, as, also, Your Friend,


j. SELFISH.


Yes, Mr.. Selfish, I will lay your case be-
fore the public. You think because you
are rich, your sons should be excused from
fighting for their country, and that impOr-
tant business should be done by the poor.
Your logic is wrong end foremost; the rea-
son you assign why your sons should not
go to war, is the strongest one why they
should CO. This war is to decide whether
We have a government or not. If not,
what are all the possessions worth Of which
you boast so much? You hold it by the
of the government, nothing else.
and if the government caunot maintain its
own authority, it cannot protect you nor
your property.


Thus you will zee that in pecuniary
sens0.- -kA-i-tirus seems 70 be your strongest
ooint,) your sons are the first ones who
should volunteer, even if they we're as des-
itute of real patriotism as their father ap-
'ears to be. 1t is your property that re
Iuires protection, not the poor mans.


Again. you say if your son volunteers, it
Rill kill his mother. Permit me to place
llOng side Of this the noble reply 1 heard a
patriotic woman make, few days since,
when asked how she could consent to have
Ter only son join the army, "Why, sir"
aid she, whilst the big tears stood in her
fright eyes, II think my affection for my
ion is as strong and as ardent as that of
my other mother, bu, l saw the country
n danger, heard the government calling
or help, my whole heart was in my coun-
ry's cause. could not urge my neigh
,ors to send their sons, whilst Withheld
nine, and as some persons sons ought to
o, | could see no reason why mine should
ot. So / thanked God that l had son
o help his country in this its darkest hour,
nd trust, yea, know, he will do his
uty as soldier; and l fOndly hope both
C and may long live to enjoy united,
apPy, and prosperous country, and liberty
nd humanity, both, be benefited by the
aerifce, if he never returns"
There, Mr.. Selfish, how do you like the
one of that, compared with the notions of
Irs. s.?


That rings like the true metal; that's
&c stuff our Revolutionary grandmOthers G
ere made Of q
But, this was poor woman, and that
lay account for her greater patriotism.
No, Mr.. Selfish, you cannot screen your
If thus, it is your duty to know your duty, a
nd your duty is to send every son you
ave that is able to shoulder musket,
Immediately, to defend your government t
this its hour of peril.