Year: 1861

!
THOUSAND MEN.


! This immense force, in the aggregate, is de-
manded by the President to sustain the Consti-
| tuition and Laws of the country and crush out
rebellion. The whole number is to be drawn
from about twenty loyal States and nineteen mil
lions of people.


The mind is lost in admiration at the grandeur
of such an army; and still more, in contempla-
ton of the fact that it can and will be raised
without resort to conscription. This blessed
Government of ours has been so benefcent in its
operations-so impartial in its benefits-so mu-
Hihcent in its favors-so nourishing and cherish
ing IN all respects to its own citizens and the
down-trodden immigrant population of the Old
World-that all loyalhearts are animated by one
common impulse of affection, of gratitude and
devotion. From this honorable sentiment arises
her independence, her strength and her glory.


SIX hundred thousand men under arms! The
armies of the Allies, which decided the fate of
Europe at Waterloo-drawn from England,
Russia, Austria, Prussia and Switzerland-at
no time exceeded seven hundred and fifty thous-
and. Napoleon did all his hard fighting on that
famous field. with less than eighty thousand
troops. He invaded Russia with only four hun
dred and twenty thousand men; and yet, since
the occurrence of those two sublime spectacles-
those two magnificent armies-the world has not
ceased to think of them and speak of them with
awe, mingled with veneration, for the genius and
resources and energy which could summon forth
such mighty squadrons. The task, doubtless,
was an arduous one. France, nation of war
riors, furnished most of her troops under the
stringent law of coercion. Other European Pow
ers did the same. But our Government, founded
on the principle of forbearance, cultivating terms
of amity with all nations, with hardly the nucle-
us OF a regular force, utters magic word, and
the tramp of volunteers, the sound of bugles,
and the roll of drums, are heard from the farth-
est western extremity to the utmost eastern boun-
dairy OF the Republic. The flash of arms and
CLEAN of banners, show that the loyal heart of
patriotic people has been touched. The arts of
peace are abandoned for the grim realities of
war. Six hundred thousand men say to their
Chief Executive oficer-'You have called for us,
and we are here. If the battle of Liberty is
again to be fought, we prepared to meet its
IL
no matter how how expensive or bloody"


We speak of this force as if now actually in
the field. 1t soon will be there-before the arms
and munitions are provided with which it is to
to strike down the foe-and half million more
Will as readily obey the summons, when the
proper time arrives for putting their courage to
the proof.


"But, asks the apprehensive sympathiser with
secession, "how shall this immense army be dis
banded, after the war is over! Will it not, un-
der some ambitious leader, establish military
despotism, and destroy the very liberties which
they fought to rescue and maintain? -


No fear of any such result. A great majority
OF the rank and file are men with visible occu-
pations, which languish in their absence, and
which it is their interest at the earliest day pos
sible to resume. Many are small property hold
ers, and some of them men of great wealth.
Thousands have wives and families, with homes
that are dear to them, and to which they will be
longing to return. Besides, the Government is
generous to its defenders 1t has lands to bestow
upon those who fight its battles. 1t has honors
in store for the brave. Peace will bring with it
an increased demand for labor, and the workshop
now deserted and idle, again receive its occupant
and resound with its wonted hum of industry.


There is still another argument opposed to
these croakings of the disuaionists. In this
country armies are composed mainly of men of
education and intelligence, who regard war as
great evil, and take part in it only as matter of
the direst necessity, to vindcate point of honor
and maintain their priceless freedom. They
have no desire to protract it congenial pur-
suit, since to be relieved from the ranks is to Sc
cure the blessing of higher enjoyments in the
peaceful walks of life.


The few obscure adventures who might seek
to make the army perpetual, would have no pow
er to accomplish their design. Fortunately this
! class of men, to whom robbery, rapine, fllibus-
tering. piracy, anything would be preferable to
the tolls of honest labor, belong on the other
side. Let the Southern Confederacy look to it.
self-sce have nothing to fear.


An army of six hundred thousand men! On
ward be the march of the six hundred thousand