not a propitious one, and if, from that or any other cause, this force cannot be raised by volunteering in time to meet the present pressing emergencies of the government, I can see no good reason why a draft should not at once be made. [Loud and general expression of approbation.] Our enemies have resorted to it, and it is now the chief source of their strength. The government of Europe which most nearly resembles our own the republic of Switzerland was placed a few years ago in a situation exactly like ours. The southern cantons undertook to break off and establish a confederate government by themselves. The northern cantons^ constituting, as we do, the majority of the population, raised an army and crushed the rebellion. The plan which they resorted to, and which proved eminently successful, was to draft the whole of the requisite force in the very beginning. It brought into the army men of all ranks and conditions, making it a high-toned, intelligent and patriotic body. While our system of volunteering is enormously expensive, the measure adopted by the republic of Switzerland was economical and brought together a devoted, disinterested and patriotic body of men. It is at least fair and just in its operation, as it casts the duty of defending the government equally upon all classes [cheers] and if the necessity should exist I do not see why we should hesitate to resort to it. The man who is not willing to defend a free and liberal government like this, when the lot is cast upon him, is unfit to live under it and enjoy its blessings. [Loud applause.] Our national existence, then, depends upon our obtaining the three hundred thousand men. To that every other consideration is subordinate. Like Aaron's rod, it swallows up every other, and the whole energies of the people and of the Government must be devoted to it. But the men now called to come forth to the rescue of the nation, have a right to demand that they shall be led by generals, and not by politicians in uniform ; and we, men of all parties assembled here to-day in this mighty gathering of the intelligence and patriotism of the masses of this great metropolis, have a right to call upon our temporary rulers at Washington to imitate the example which is here set them of unity, of public spirit and patriotism, [cheers] ; to leave off the discussion of measures upon which we are a divided people, and think only of the preservation of the country in this pressing crisis. Let them bear in mind that they are not as great men as they suppose themselves to be, and learn something of that fine element of character humility. Let them remember that more than two thirds of the men composing the army of the Union are opposed to them politically, and, above all, let the civilians in Washington give up directing and controlling the operations of generals in the field. [Loud cheers.] The Archduke Charles was but little inferior in military genius to Napoleon, and with the superior numbers at his command might have been more than a match for his great adversary, had not his operations in the field been controlled by the Aulic Council sitting at Vienna. To this body every unemployed general and intrusive civilian, as at Washington, had access, and, ignorant of the changes and vicissitudes which attend a campaign, this Council baffled the best laid plans of the Archduke by controlling his opinion and prescribing beforehand what the movement of the armies should be ; and had not Wellington, in the war of the Peninsula, openly disregarded the suggestions, and even orders, that came to him from London, the British arms would never have triumphed over 7
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