Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-02-13

subject which engaged the attention and ection Of
the Committee is the suggested necessity of an oni,e
to point OF concentration of all reports ex
hibs. returns aud other useful information relating 10
the whole Militia oil the United States Sl sied OF the
Indispensable necessity Of such an Office the Commit
tee respectfully recommend ts creation.
In relation 10 icent organic Of The n,iliio
50 tueh uetd, because II Is 80 essential ID the safety
OF his great and growing Republic the Committee are
oil ophon that ihe system when il least complex in
general cha act and machinery. he most simple in il
d-tah. and Win which he mind can scome ~ ith TIE
greatest most hdbituAlly familiar should b..
red bee use would generally he effective in i,s
opei atoas In the arrangement of such system, the
committee propose to hold subject to militia duty abIs-
h'ded tree white male persons, between the aye OF
twenty and forty years oil. Adopt twenty.on.
years OF age as the OF liability to enrol
m NJ aud forty years OF as the termination OF r.
wee, VIII no, oaly reduce the number the mill ia OF
me onited Sates, already embarrassngly numerous
but will leave unds usbed the relation which legal,
eAe,s between master aud apprentice, guardian and
wlfd aud parent and chd-a relation which oug ht not
10 he disturbed any hut occasions Of pressing emcr
gency Nor ought any person be held the peroria.
ance service 10 the Government but such as are adj
W'ted 10 lu participation OF all its benss and i'm
munes. Ultimately connected with such a system of
org ani cation should be considered of The
mhia' which, by ITS opera ion. would annually exhh.
III detailed Tor actual service, por tons OF the militia
competent in number to meet probable exigcncies and
whose service in The field would be most iic.pt hill.
her absence IRON the bosom of society, and from the
pursuits oil husbandy would be least injurious TO their
immediate relations ard the country in general. As
nrmony oil action and uniformity Of practice among
ole several corps which forms an army, will b.
essential TO lis security in the presence of an enemy
anu us success on tn field OF battle the plan or sy.Ien
OF organization which may be adopted should tho refore
ne "npicaOie TO Territories, well the States of
ne Union. The District Of Columbia, which is an a.
ninaly IN our form If Government, may be permitted
10 maintain it, un que character, by the aplcaiion 10
S "'h''a OF mode or plan OF organiz ,tion adapted
III pecuNari es, aud therefore, necessarily some what
variant from the system OF organizations properly appI
'"oie 10 me STATES anu Terrific les. ndp enable
requisite in forming efficient militia is knowledge
rartice nf ia q e..
arms as well as the certain me ans Of acquiring
ne oohIhuee' however, respectfully protest against
thr policy OF comre ling individuals enrolled for nil,
service 10 furnish arms as such cohpul,ion woald in
effect amount TO capitation tax; unequal and often
extremely oppressive in its operation ii would be I'M
constitutional They suggest that q number OF arms
equal 10 The whole number OF the militia of the United
States, between twenty and thirty years of are (oi
which the first or nnor class is proposed to be compo
ed) should be furnished by the United States f. the
use OF that class as'early practicable leaving the
expediency OF so furnishing the other senior class to
the decision o tins and future experience An increa,e
OF the annual appropriation Tor Srminy the militia il
Therefore, respectfully recommended. To cariy nto
successful effect the grant of constitutional power ch
anltoizss Congress 10 provide for discipning the mi
ii Ia, e commit ee propose 10 hold out inducements
10 The several States and Territories Of the Union, TO
auihorz- and require, by legislative ctmrn,s of the
legislatures of the Safes and Territories respectively
AN annual convocation of commissioned officers and
sergeants to he encanped in their respective States
and Territories, specified length time for the pur
pose oil being trained by proper instructors, with view
n
rncion 10 the militia under their command. when
training them under the dir otions of the Legislatures
OF heir respective States and Territories. Uniformity
OF pracuce ana oil action among the several corps o
which an army is formed universally acknowle
by military men TO be essential TO effective m ltarv
opera ION, can be attained alone by strict obsetva.ce
and di'gtnt practice OF the system of tactics
The Committee are, therefore, OF opinion that in all
militia exercises and trainings implicit Observance
and practice oil the syem of tactics precr by Con-
gress Tor the use OF the militia of the U. States should
be impcraively required.
In The course OF experiments made upon the interest
my ana important subject submitted for the considera-
non OF th committee, disastrous and whitening par.
simoEy seems to have characterized the action OF the
National Legislature. While countless million. have
neen avShed upon the Army, the Navy, For iiica |
ions and Objects OF Internal Improvement the Militia
which should BIZ made the strong arm of defence of
his great Republic. and considered The most essential
TO the preservation of the rights and liberties Of the A.
meIcan people, are le to degenerate into deficiency
and inSignhcance, TO he sustained by, and derive
cha accr irom the exerOns OF public spirited militsry
men, occasional and partial contributions OF pa riotc
States or other accidental circumstance To prepare
nm army Tor actual service and for effective operation
IN The leld the military chest must he thrown open TO
supply hs wants The object Of an organization OF the
militia Of the United States should be 10 make each in
vidual thereof liable enromen,-a citizen soldier
and TO give TO tbs Whole the character and efficiency
oi an army. 10 accomplish tlls great object liberal
disbursements must be made from the Treasury of the
United States. That the system proposed is but an
experiment TO test which will cost the United States
million and bali or two millions of dollars is an argu-
ment which ought 10 be permit ed 10 counterVaiI
s proposed adopoG especially il the system prop lsed
ShaH seem TO promise success. The committee ak
that ii may be permitted TO take its course with the
ie oil experiments ow in progress, and proposed 10
be made by the United Safes, other and less iinpor-
taht projects. The present period wi its attendant
circumstances, seems peculiarly propeus To the pro
posed organization. Already have propositions novel
and experimental in their character 10 dispose of an
Anticipated burleusome surplus in the Treasury of the
United STATES been presented 10 Congress for conside
ration. If such nicpAions are well founded H. G
claim Fl tie militia Of The United States 10 liberal
share OF such surplus irresistible Should the results
prove those icpsoDs TO have been falacious and
speculative in their character, il would abate nothing
oil the force of The claim Of the militia The patronage
OF the Treasury Of the United States which would sill
remain unimpaired and a,perisus With a view to
give 10 the proposed organization of the militia OF the
United aes, the est Of experience, the committee
herewith report bill.
NEW TARIFF.
New YORK Feb 6 We have received letters from
Washington of the Sd instant, stating that the Commit
tee on Ways and Means would probably report tariH
bill on the next day What its precise provisions
we are not Informed, but from the known opinions of
the committee, there he doubt that il will con
tain important and beneficial reductions of the present
oppressive mposts
The indications OF decline in the tariff excitement
are pretty evident, and among these is the fact that the
present IL the OF plans for reducing the duties az
Tie last ten years have been the of plans for in
creating them. Even the warmest advocates Of high
tariff dare not mend any open direct augnen-
alion. They only 10 do II by stealth and cir
cumvenien, "a in the of Mr.. Maary's bill Tor
changing the mode Of appaisng imported woollans-l
The recoil has already begun and in hopes that
the time is not lar distant when the only inquiry wil
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