Year: 1861

The vast number OF steamers navlga-
ting our interior waters are filled with
men fitted to make sailors and man q
navy, or at once to constitute an effect
i've army. We say, without the fear Of
successful contradiction, that the peo-
pie of the United States do not know
their strength. Altogether we are a
warlike people, the like of which can
not be found elsewhereupon the globe; !;
and this arises from the fact that the
situation of the country has made every
man familiar with arms-even boys
being accustomed to their use from
their earliest years-and from our pop
ulation having been forced into every
manner of pursuit.


Such variety of pursuits, we say,
has raised up population prepared for
war, without years of drilling. In
proof of proficiency in the use of arms,
and endurance, we may cite Walker
and his men, mere handful, who
were able to make a stand against
twenty, yea fifty-fold their numbers,
even in a tropical region, where they
had to contend with fevers, a more for
midable antagonist than the men they
met in battle. Both North and South
have the elements to which we refer in
an eminent degree; but everyone must
be struck with the great disparity in
favor of the North in this respect. One
has population of but little more than
one-third of the other. That other has
nearly all the shipping and far the lar
ger portion of wealth. 1t has popu-
lation which can and does labor. 1t
has endurance which the other can
scarcely claim, which is an element
essential in an army. But admitting
that both sections Of the country are
equal in military prowess, one has
nearly three times the population of
the other, saying nothing Ola popula-
ton of four millions which must be held
in check.


The President has called for seventy
five thousand soldiers, andadvices come
scarcely ten days thereafter, that this
number can be doubled in thirty days.
Indeed, the news received renders it al
together probable that halt million of
men can be thrown into the field in
ninety days. Is not this marvel
where no standing army is kept? And
does it not show that the country has
military capacity of which its citizens
have not dreamed!


The South in the present emergency
is not united. There is very large
number of persons in the Border slave
States who do not desire to sccede.
Let the Administration throw body
of troops into Maryland to form nu-
cleus FOR the discomfort to gathcraround,
and it would be very hazardous to say
where the State would be. So of Mis-
souri,, and of Virginia-Western Vir-
ginia particularly. An army might be
sent down the Mississippi to New Or
leans, which would meet with similar
success. We are convinced that the
North can, if it so determines, crush
out rebellion in all the Southern
States. 1t could, by means of its feet,
and an army from above, keep open the
Mississippi in spite ofall opposition.


1t may be said that France or Eng
land will interfere to keep open South
crn ports. But even this could not be
done if the North determines to the
contrary, for we could send from our
ports such fleets of war-vessels and pri-
vateers as would sweep from the ocean
all commerce. Every bay and inlet
would furnish shelter for vessels which
could go forth to prey upon the mer-
chant ships of our enemies. The South
has but few men suitable to man sea-
going vessels. The North has them in
great abundance. Ourlakes and rivers
furnish the raw material in great num-
bers, which, added to those persons
who man our merchant vessels upon
the ocean, would give Us strong mar
inc force.


The disparity between the North and
South, in point of war capacities, is far
greater than has been generally sup
posed. The one has everything need
full, and can meet any land force which
could be sent against her, upon short
notice. The other has capacities, but
she has moro citizens in proportion
who would form brave officers than she
has of the material for the body of an
army. The South lacks in this respect
greatly, when compared with the North.


A few days since, as We have said,
the National Administration called for
Is, 200 volunteers, and our last advices
brought the intelligence that every
whore troops were Offering in numbers
greatly beyond those required. Indeed,
everything Indicates that in less than
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