Year: 1862




We are glad to see that the energy Of General
Tupper and his bTigediers in the organization oi
She militia of this State is giving promise of rich
| fruits. The Minute Men now in camp are rapid
| " becoming skilled in the drill, and when the
time comes for them to meet the foe, we have no
fears but that they win give good account Of
themselves.


An impression prevails in some minds that
these Minute Men should be disbanded. Those
who clafhor for dishandment certainly do not
look at the real condition Of the country, or II
they do, their views are not dictated by that
Sterling patriotism which in a time Of great peril
should mako every other consideration bend to
the one important object of keeping the insolent
foe from cur soil. Look at New Orleans, lock at
Tennessee, and ask yourselves, ye Minute Men
who desire to return TO your homes, II you had
not rather stay in camp for years, and endure It's
worst privstons, than knuckle one hour TO the
most tasteful and tyrannicsl foe that ever desc
Grated the soil of any country.


It is much easier TO prevent the ingress OF an
army thanit is to drive it out when once it has
secured firm foothold. New Orleans lies at the
mercy Of 250O New Englsnders and her people
are ground ia the dust OF humiliation and tyrsn-
ny By that insignificant band. Kentucky with
nearly two hundred thousand f citing men-the
best fighting men eff any country-is prosTated
under tbs heel of despOtsm. Her people are not
even allowed to utter a word against their op-
pressors. And how many men, think you, hold
Kentucky IN bondsge7 Probably less than ten
thousand armed Heesans. BY allowing her
territory to be overrun. by the ruthless invader,
and her people to be stripped Of their arms, she
has permitted the chains of the tyrant to tighten
around her and her condition IS one OF utter help
lessness


New Orleans presents the example of 10000
souls, whose every instinct is, or has been, as
free and manly as those which animate your
ovyn bosorns, lying under the complete subjec-
ton of 1900 or 2000 Yankees Kentucky, with
population Of something near a million, IS
made to bow to the behesss Of hated tyrant.
This would be the case in Mississippi II we al
lowed the enemy to oveTrun and occupy our
soil Those Of our citizens who are not already
prepared with arms and sufficient knowledge
of the drill would be pinioned as soon as the
Federals obtained possession OF the soil. Ii
would be too lato 70 talk about defense then.
Those who desired to Join the army would not
be eble 10 do 50.


Ia view of the threatened invasion Of the
State we think the calling out Of the Minute
Men, and preparing them for soldiers, was q
wise measure. To ask the Governor to disbsnd
these troops now would be to ask him to throw
away al the fruits promised by this strong arm
OF cur defense, and to open the road TO the mva-
IelSs IL WDLlU 10 al dCl "a t4lo AAiosh
folly. and tbe Governor has displayed too keen
an appreciation of the consequences of invasion
to consider the proposition for moment
Every able bodied man in the State should be
a soldier Minute man-driIed and ready to
do efficient service when occasion required,
We do not presume it is the object Of the gov
eminent TO keep the Minute men in camp, after
the danger which nenzcss as shall have passed,
but that danger is so Palpsbly imminent a
present, and likely to remain SO for some time
| that no one should think about disbandment
While It is true that there should be left upon
| The plantations enough Of men to keep the ne
| groes under proper discipline and useiully EN-
ployed, yet it is clearly our duty to keep the
| enemy cut Of the country at all hazards ano
/ sacrifices.


We are happy to learn the most favorable ae.
counts Of the comfort and efficiency of the
Minute men now in camp.


We commend the foregoing which we copy
from the MississiPpian to the perusal of every
patriot. whether citizen or sojourner, now IL
Mississippi Dc your duty, Minute men and
the vile abolition hests viii never again attempt
to invade your soil.