[M8] “Parties—The Military,” The Citizen Soldier, June 28, 1843

PARTIES—THE MILITARY.—Some of our readers may be of the opinion that it does not behoove us, as conductors of a military paper, to be meddling with matters which belong exclusively to the members of party, and which is considered hallowed ground, that should not be trespassed upon by any distinct and separate portion of our fellow citizens, no matter what claim they may have to recommend themselves to those who claim the prerogative of guiding the leading strings of this or that party, or no matter what great interest they may have at stake, in the great game that is to be played off in October next.  This principle of sacrificing every sacred right, every constitutional privilege, every wish, desire, object and interest under the wheels of the great Juggernaut of party, will, we are fearful, if carried to a much greater extent, or even persisted in to as great an extent as it has been within the last few years, will be the means of offering upon this same polluted altar, the liberties of our country, and of striking a death blow at the freedom of our institutions.  We do not discountenance parties or partizans, for with a proper degree of moderation in the one, and self-respect in the other, they are the very foundation, aye, the corner-stone upon which the pillars of our government rest, but when we see a monument, although the foundations be as solid as the rock of adamant itself, whose top far exceeds itn circumference its base, both human nature, and common sense teach us that it must fall, and that great will be the fall thereof.

How far this figure will apply to parties of the present day, we will leave to others to determine, merely observing, by way of taking leave of this portion of our subject, that the bursting point, the crowning act may be hid far, far, in the mysterious depths of the future, or it may be the first scene that will present itself to the startled and terrified gaze of the American public at the lifting of the curtain.  God grant the first may be the case, and that no free-born son of our land, may ever have his eyes dimmed by the spectacle of the mad spirit of party, riding triumphant upon the wings of destruction, and trampling beneath its feet the liberties, freedom and happiness of this great, glorious and independent people.

We present ourselves, therefore, to the people of this State, and of the United States, as the advocates of no party, but as the humble organ of every man who is proud of, and delights in the name of SOLDIER, of every man who looks upon each foot of soil as consecrated ground, who would re-hallow it with his blood, rather than it should be polluted; of every man who not only delights in the appellation of freeman, but who desires to remain so by being always prepared to defend his name and country from disgrace; we say, we present ourselves before the people of this state backed by thirty-five thousand of her citizens, and we respectfully ask, nay we demand, that we shall have something to do in the coming contest, we are not anxious to enter the lists blindfolded as heretofore, we wish to know our foes from our friends, and we therefore order our trumpeter to proclaim this, our solemn summons, to all members of Congress, or the Legislature, and to all applicants for the same; that we, the military of this State, (and we solicit the co-operation of the volunteers and militia of the Union,) will support no man for either office, who comes into the field masked, but on the contrary, will give our sole and undivided support to those who will pledge themselves to faithfully adhere to, and well and truly use every fair and honourable means in their power, towards the advancement and encouragement of the volunteer and militia system.  This is the only means fellow soldiers by which we may ever hope to succeed in the glorious undertaking so favorably begun, of placing the system upon the broad, conspicuous and liberal platform, erected for it by the wise and patriotic framers of our constitution.  We have the material, let us also show the members of all parties that we have the power to insist upon our rights.  Unless some decisive step is taken, we may tarry at Jericho until our beards grow.  The militia law not only of our own state, but of the United States, requires a thorough revision, and to ensure this desirable, and much to be wished for consummation, is our only object in thus calling upon the volunteers and militia to be up and doing, and to lose no time in making known their objects and intentions with regard to this heretofore too much neglected portion of the laws that are intended for their exclusive guidance and protection.