Year: 1861




The New York World, of September IA,
says:


Enlisting has received some impulse of
late, but its rate is still far short of what it
ought to be. The State of New York has
ffty.eight regiments in the field it ought to
have a hundred. The State contains one
fifth of the loyal population of the country,
and should furnish one. fifth of the five hum
dred thousand men voted by Congress. No
State has greater interest in the Union; none
is more thoroughly pervaded with patriotic
sentiment; none has a greater variety of
people from which to reinforce the Govern
ment without delay or embarrassment. tits
true that her aggregate contribution of men
exceeds that of any other State, but not so as
to tally with her relative superiority in pop
ulation. Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois,
Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, if regard be
had to their resources, have each Outdone
New York. So far as our own city is con-
cerned, none in the North has done so we'll
probably none half so well. Three fourths
of all the regiments of the State hail from
this city; and, making all allowance for the
recruits in them from the rural districts, the
city has unquestionably furnished more than
half of the State troops now enrolled, though
it has only fifth of the population of the
State.


1t is the country particularly which has
proved deficient. Had our agricultural coun-
ties done as well as the metropolis, or as the
agricultural region of the West, the Empire
State would still maintain the same proud
precedence in this dark time of war that it
has ever done in the bright days of peace.


But it is invidious to make these distiuc-
tions when no part of the State, and in fact
no part of the North, has yet fulfilled its
duty. There needs to be everywhere more
vigorous effort to augment our volunteer
4n ctr 9TH ipIi 30 4bo
speedy crushing out of the rebellion. Too
much is left to the exertions of officers whose
commissions depend on their success in rais-
ing men. The great body of our citizens
take no part whatever in inducing young
men to join the army, though they are glad
enough to see them there. They do not
seem to realize that they have any duty to
perform in the matter. 1t seems to be taken
for granted that $l3 q month, with good
rstions, is sufficient stimulus for the poor
young man, and chance for stirring adven-
ture and advantageous distinction sufficient
motive for the young man in better circum-
stances. Nobody thinks of appealing per-
sonally to his sense of patriotic duty.


Were any such personal effort made in
this direction as we sometimes see in great
election canvass-such arguments enforced,
such sentiments. impressed, such passions
kindled-our young men would rally to the
flag of their country in numbers such as
now we hardly dream Of Instead of simply
thinking it well enough to go, as they do
now, they would consider it positive dis
honor to stay at home.


Why is it that young men of the South are
so universally enlisted under the Confederate
flag2 Why talk of impressment, but the
truth is, there is very little of any such con-
straint. The pressure comes from public
opinion. Every young man who is able is
aXneptnd n take his nnnokat and ha 10 in 6iq-
grace if he shrinks from it. Doubtless this
force Of opinion, as it exists there, is not what
would suit as. 1t has in it great deal of
tyranny. But it has wrought out wonder
full effect. 1t has enabled the rebel states,
with a white population only one third as
large as ours, to raise an army fully equal
in numbers to ours. Though we can not
initiate its extreme form-can not take after
its stern intolerance-yet we can not do
without it if we expect largely to increase
our army. We must have decided, strong,
and active public opinion bearing directly
upon this duty of enlisting-one which shall
serve as positive incentive, a constant
stimulus.


Moreover, we must have individual effort
to prevail upon young men to enter the
service. Every citizen who can not go to
the war should consider himself personally
obligated to influence somebody else to go.



country that can be fitly discharged only in
that way.


This stimulation of enlistments should be
the chief concern Of the day. We must have
more men, OF submit to an indefinite pro-
longation of the war. We have no right to
presume upon our ability to vanquish the
Southern army upon its own soil, and duly
reinstate the Federal authority, except by
dint of superior force. If we do not get
such a force by enlistment, it will, sooner or
later, have to come by draft. But drafting
should not be thought of until all other
means fail. Compulsory service would rob
the cause of half its glory. Let every loyal
citizen do his duty in melting young men to
rally to, the flag, and we shall have no oc-
casion for any such injurious resort. The
rebellion will be overcome, as it ought to be,
by the unconstrained faithfulness of men
who know how to prize their Government.
PRoMPTITUDE. The Washington CORE