Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-03-29
REPORT ON THE MILITIA.
IN SENATE or THE UNITED
STATES.
FEBRUARY 2sth. /.


port
The committee of he Senate on military
affairs, understanding that serious differen-
ces OF opinion existed between the execu-
tive authority of the United States, and the
authorities of some of the individual states,
respecting the relative powers of the gene.
raj and state governments, over the militia
deemed it an incumbent duty on them 10
call for reformation upon that highly inter-
esting subj ect with view of interpreting if
found practicable, some legislative provis
ions tor the natural accommodation of such
differences. For this purpose, on the 9TH
OF January last, in virtue of instructions
from the committee, letter was address
sed to the honorable secretary for the dc
partment of war, a copy of which accom-,
panies this report and in reply thereto,
the committee received from him the let.
ter and documents which also accompany
this report.
Although the return of peace has, for the
present, relieved the committee from the
necessity OF providing legislative remedy
tor these unfortunate differences, vet The
committee conceive that the points in uues
non are OF vital Importance to the essential
rights and powers of the government of the
United otates, and that the pretensions of
the authorities of the states of Massachu
sets, Co necticut, and Rhode Island. set IN
In opposition thereto, If now acquiesced in
might be resumed by the state authorities
In the event OF future war. and thus de-
prlve the government of the United States
OF some o. its most efficient legitimate means
OF prosecuting such war with vigor and eff,
iect the committee have therefore though,
proper to present the papers concerning
this subJectto the senate for consideration.
Whilst the nil
entering in arguments to fortify the
srcunos taken by the executive eovernue,,t
on this subject, and exp aimed in the letter
OF the secretary for the department of war.
they feel themselves impe ed by sense of
justice to express decided appreciation of
rs ccnduc, IN supporting and preserving
the constitution of the United Stat against
the effects of the pretensions of the state
authorities aforesaid, which, after full con
sider1tIon, the committee believe not war.
ranied by the con- titu,ion, nor deduc ;ble
rom any fair and jest interpre alton of its
principles and objects. The direct and in
evitabie tenden ces of those pretensions. in
the opinion of the committee, would be, to
deprive the government of the United States
t powers essentially necessary to insure
the common defence, one of the great OBJ
Jects Committed TO its Charge to introduce
discordant and contradictory councils into
the national deliberations, upon pcint, too
OF all others, most requiring union of thought
g OF action the change of the fundamental
character OF the constitution itself, and thus
eventually to produce It's destruction, by de
oilltatipg the government, and rendering
1t incompetent to the great objects of its
Institution aud 10 substitute in its stead
the dismemberment of these United States,
with all the horrible consequences respec
lively resulting from disunion.
DOCUMENTS.
Committee Chamber, JanHdyy r, 1915
SIR--The committee of the senate on
military affairs, having observed that differ.
ences exist between the authorities of the
United States, x OF some of the individual
states, respecting the relative command of
the officers OF the regular army, and of the
militia, when called to act together in cer>
tain cases, has instructed me 10 ask for such
information upon that subject, as may be in
possessions of your department and to in.
quire, whether, in your judgment, some
legislative provisions might not be adopted,
which would tend to heal such differences,
to prevent the recurrence of others from
the same cause, and to facilitate the ope-
rations OF your department in that respect !
BE pleased sir. to accept assurances of
my high consideration, &c.
WIN. e. GILES, chairman.
The honorable James Monroe.
Secretary of the department Of war.
Defarfment of Var, FEB. II, 1915.
SIR have had the honor to receive your
letter of the 9TH ultimo, stating that the
military committee of the Senate had OBJ
served that difficulties had arisen between
the authorities of the United States, and
some of the individual states, respecting the
relative command Of the officers of the re-
gular army and of the militia, when called
to act together, and were DESTROYS of such
Information on the subject as this depart.
ment might possess, and of it's opinion, whe.
Their legislative provisions might not be a.
dopted which would tend to heal such diff
| fereDces, to prevent the recurrence Of the
| like from the same causes, aud to facilitate
the operations of the department in Other
| respects.
| My late indispoSition will, I trust, ex
| plain satisfactorily to the committee, tn,
cause of the delay of my answer, which
have much regretted.
Ia complying with the request Of the CON
mittee, it has appeared to me advisable Il
communicate all the documents in this de
partment relating to the objects of its en-
quiry. BY detailed view of the severa
measures which have been adopted by Tn,
president, since the war, for the defence o
the couatry, in discharge of, the duties im