Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-03-03


tlves by Mr.. Thompson, Chairman Of the
Military Committee, has favoured us with a
briefs abstract of its provisions-many of
which, he says, are founded on the sugges-
tions of the Militia Board, which sat at
Washington two years since and others
are in accordance with plan, which has
been long favourite of the advocates of the
militia system in several of the States. for
dividing the persons enrolled into classes.
Although the bill, in the opinion of MANY.
may be considered defective in some of it's
important details; yet, it must be apparent,
to the intelligent reader, that these NAV be
remedied by amendments, without interior
ing with its general principles. Taken in
conneXion with the able and liberal report
of the Chairman, (who seems to have clear
view of the different, and, it might almost
be said, dissonant powers of the National and
State Legislatures this Bill is the first,
which all the Committees in Congress have
produced, from the year 1892 to the present
time, for the amelioration of this great pre-
servative of a republican form Of govern
ment, that would probably be acceptable to
Congress or the Nation. It unites relief.
with efficiency, by substituting science for
numbers and imposes on the National trea-
sury the burden of arming the privates.
which is now required of the privates them
selves, and which the Committee Justly pro-
I test against as a t" Capitation tar Unequal
and ertremfly oppressive IN its operation.''
Another distinguishing feature of the bill,
in which it differs from all others euer report
ed, is, that it provides for classification of
the militia, Opening door of relief, to the
elder classes, from portion of the duty now
required, ,clile 1t requires but one organiza-
ton. 1t also provides for the encampment
ofthe officers, nom commissioned officers and
musicians, not exceeding ten nor less than
six days in the year, in those States, which
shall make suitable regulations for this pur-
pose, to be paid, and supplied scith rations
and camp utensils at the national expense.
1t likewise adopts the suggestion made by
the Adjutant General of this State, in an
elaborate report on that subject to the late
Secretary of War, which was published a.
mong the publick documents of the militia
board, two years since, and which that board
considered as absolutely necessary both for
the preservation of uniformity in the militia,
and also for supplying the President with all
the information needed to enable him to call
for the militia in time of publick emergency,
per Sc; and provides for the creation of a
Military Bureau at the seat of the National
Government. This important branch of the
subject, it seems, first engaged the attention
of the committee and Satisfied of the in
dispensabe necessity of the appointment of
such an officer, who should serve as point
of condensation of all reports, exhibits, re-
4, ~ e.. Il
to the whole militia of the United States,
they Recommend its creation" But to the
| Bill -
| Sections |, 2 and 3, provide for the APP
pointment of an officer by the title of Gener-
al Superintendent of the Militia-prescribes
his duties and fixes his compensation.
Sec. d. Provides for the enrolment of all
able bodied, &c. persons between 81 and 40.
| 5. Provides for the arrangement of the
militia into Divisions, &C., 100 men to each
Company,-and for the Staff of the General
and Field Officers, rank, &c.
6&7. Duty of Major Generals, &c. to
attend reviews each year, and of Brigade
Majors to inspect and make returns once a
year, according to the plan of blank forms
to be provided by the General Superintend-
ent of militia affairs.
3. Provides for the division of the militia
into two classes, to be called the junior and
senior. The junior to consist of all from 81
to 2S-Senor from % to 40-each class to
have 3 subalterns-1st subdivision of Junior
class, from 81 to 23-2d from % to 25--3d,
from 25 to 28-1st subdivision of senior
class, from % to 32-2d, from 80 to 36-3d,
from 26 to 40.
y. Two oldest companies to act as Light
Infantry in each regiment. "'There mag be
one company of Artillery and one of Cav
airy to each division" No provision made
for any other volunteer corps.
| 10. Questions of rank how settled.
II. Provides for the exception of GER
tain enumerated classes, and such others as
the Legislature of each State shall pre-
scribe: provided the same shall not ex-
tend in any one State to more than of the
whole number of the militia thereof"
IL. Directs how the militia shall be de-
tailed for service. The LIST subdivision of
the junior class shall be called upon first,
then the I'd, and so on through the whole,
and be subject to duty for IL months unless
sooner discharged Senior clsss is not obi
'ged to march out of its own State and ter
ritory.
ID &14. Militia to have same pay, cloth
ing and rations as the army,&c. Wound
ed officers and privates to be taken care of
at the publick expense.
Is. When the States make provision
for 1T, the officers, non-commissioned Off
GERS and musicians, shall be called out by
States and Territories, Divisions or Brig
AIDES, and encamped not less than 6 nor
more than 10 days each year for discipline
and instruction in the line of their duty"
Tents and camp kettles to be supplied by
U. s. to the several States once in 20 years
the officers, &c. to be paid per
day for their services.
l6. Adopts the abstracts of Infantry
Tactics, and the system of exercise and
instruction of the. field artillery, including
the maneuvres of horse artillery prepared
by the militia board of 1927.
II & Is. Appropriates dollars for