Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-02-09
ORGANIZING MILITIA.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTAl1FEs JAW 80 'oSO
Mr.. ru.arses, of Gsorgia, from the Com
mi,,ee Of The Militia, made the following re-
port:
The Committee on the Militia, TO whom was
r.f.,red 90 much OF he Presidents Message as
rel.trs to the organization and discipline OF the
Militia Of the United States, have had tho sub
Zee, under laborious inves 'iga'ion; and, on ma
lure deIiberation. adopting The principal views
and leading principles submitted to the House
by the COMMITTEE on The Mii,is during the Sc.
cond session OF The Twentieth Congress, your
Committee ask leave 10 make that report, win
some alteration Of It's details, part OF this re,
port, with which they repor' bill
FRBRUARY 4. 1929
THE CounmiLse on the Militia 10 ,ohich ,DTs refer
red so much ofihe Presidents Message as relates
TO the organization and discipline Of The Militia
offhs United Siaiss respectfully submit The jol-
iotoing Report: =,
Irnuen, ed by a deep conviction that we'll
organ zea and ficient National Militia is not
only the most appropriate and Legitimate DE.
fence of a free, highminded, and enlightened
people. but that i, would therefore fern 'he
greatest military ornament and safeguard OF
these United STATES, The Committee, in the dts
charge Of the duty assigned them, have, win
unwearied diligence, sought TO avail themselves
Of all The light shed upon he impor'an' spoJeci
by The expressed opinions IT experienced and
Distinguished military men, aud reports OF m
telieent Committees Of bolh Houses OF Con
eress. In the progress Of their investigation
of this very important subjec', he Committee
have had 10 encounter much dftic"l y from the
great variety and contrarir,y OF projects and
o Unions reported upon and expressed in refer
ence 10 the subject. The division Of ron,'i:u.
,ional powers, too. which was made BY The fra
mers Of our great NATIONAL comEac', under the
Influence of providen, j. al"usy OF The peoples
rights was no, without lis embarrassing ef-
ftcts ln the enumeration OF powers granted
bv he Cousltuti"n 10 he Congress OF thr Uni
ted States, 10 reference TO the Militia, with the
power % provide for calling forth the militia
10 execute hr laws Of he Uui"n. suppress in
su,rtcuops, and rppri inv asions," the power " TO
provide Tor organizing, arming, and disciD'in-
ing he militia. and To- governing such part OF
tn IN as NAV be employed in the service OF The
Uni'ed Sta es,' as well as he power to pre-
scribe the system Of discipline 10 be observed
and Dractised by the Mill Ia is clearly includ-
ed; ressrvng 20 the Sta'es. respectively. the
righi 10 go,.rn the Militia, (except such par,
Of them as may at any ,i,nr br IN the service Of
the Unitrd S'a'es) with The power 10 appoint
the officers, aud To irain the militia according
to ,hc discipline prescribed Nv Congress. Stu
diousy avoiding any limo, alton upon the rights
so clearly reserved TO the States by he Consti-
tuition, the Committee have anxiously labored
10 give effect 10 the powers which are as clearly
g, anted To Congress ny that Instrument. The
first important hrabch Of the general subject
which engaged the a'ttu'ion and ref cton f
h. ia he pF
an Office serve as poinf Of concentration Of
all reports, exhiDi s, re urns, and other useful
information Glazing 20 he. whole Mili'ia Of the
United States. Sat, fed OF the lndisp. ms abIr
ne ce,si,y Of such an off e. III Committee re-,
spec fully recommend Is creation
H. relation 70 an Efficient organization Of
the militia. so much DESIRED, because il is SO
es.eri,l 10 thr safety o. this great aad gr w
ing r. public, the Comm e. are Of opinion
HI The system which is last complex in S
general character and 'chin.ry, he mos,
simple in IT'S details, and with which the mind
an brc"me with tn grraes easr mos hsbi .
uaIv fsmiliar >hou'd b. pr'fe'rrd, tanse i,
would ,errraly h, most # Give in It's oDria-
tins In the arr gemrnt Of III, h system
&c Commit zee propose To hold subject 10 mi
li,ia du,y b hodi i FIRE. white nal persons
between h- as~ OF why ne and fory wears
ola Adopting 'weHy ne years OF age as iht
commrrcemtn Of l. biliiy 20 enrolment, and
40 y ais nf ag- a. he termination Of service
will no, only Ieauce he Number f the mil i
of the Uriiet States, aiIeadv em"arrss inul,
numerous, but III lravr und,s urbed In. rtla,
ton which les a.lv exists between master AMI
apprentice, guardian AM W ri and parent and
chilG-a relation which oug mt 10 br disturb
ed on any but occasions Of pressing emergency.
Nor ought any person b. he'd 10 the perform
ance Of service TO the Government, bu, such
as are ,dmi,ed 10 d full participation Of all
It's benefs and immuni,irs. Intimately con-
nec,ed with such system Of organ zaIion.
should be considered classic alton Of he
militia, which by ils operation. would annually
exhibit detailed for actual service, portions Of
the militia competent in number 10 meet prob
able x,gencie,, and whosr service in the field
would be most tfi tent, while their absence
from he bosom OF society. and from the pur-
suits Of hushsndry, would be leas INJURIOUS to
their immediate relations and ,heir country in
general. AS harmony "f action md unlformi-
" of prac ice, among the several corps which