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In his late report of the military events of the last year of the war, General Grant sets forth his estimate of the relative warlike capacities of the soldiers from the eastern and western sections of the country. Having seen both of them fighting battles, he gives it as the result of his observation that there is no difference in their fighting qualities, while, elsewhere, in the same paragraph, he gives the South credit for the most herculean deeds of valor on the field of battle. The judgment of General Grant in this matter will no doubt be confirmed by the people of all parts of the United States.

It is strange that any opinion should ever have been entertained in any section of the United States derogatory to the valor of any part of its people. The original settlers of all the States were mostly from the same English stock, and the emigration which has since so largely blended with the population was supplied by some of the most warlike nations of Europe. The colonial and revolutionary battles ought to have demonstrated the fact that, while chivalry was to some extent peculiar to the South, courage is peculiar to no section, and the last war with England and the Mexican war furnished still more striking and abundant illustrations of the same truth. But it was never brought home to the convictions of the American people till the mighty struggle in which North and South grappled with each other, and each tested for itself the mettle of its adversary. Henceforth, whatever else the two sections may think of one another, neither will question that pluck and manhood are the common attributes of both.

We have never heard of any nation which could be justly described as a nation of cowards. All male animals will fight, cowardice being exceptional, like physical deformity and the result of defective constitutional organization. Of all nations, the last to deserve in any of its branches the imputation of a lack of combativeness is that pugnacious and belligerent race which, from the earliest record that exists of its history, has been always in the ring, and never so happy as when delivering a "succession of facers" to the rest of mankind.

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