Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-12-24

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DC called on TO exert its power presume CIV would be
louno 10 advocate the maintenance OF standing militia
orce adequate TO all the purposes of peace and war-
when, therefore, these cxgencies arise from which no
nation can expect exemption: and which call for an
tension OF our pIys:ca! means must resort in
crease OF the army OF 10 the embdyIng of the militia
1t is obvious: from the extent of the country that
can never keep: Ut all the exposed points such perma-
nent force as circumstances may occasionally require
The natural and in fact the necessary dependence
be upon the mlltia and ii il be unorganized shall be
found without the means to epcl ore enemy, TO
repress nterna disturbances, should those evils
10 depend upon organizing a system when the cxigency
arises is to reject all the Of experience, aud
10 procrastlnae, Tor animation, what should then be
the subject Of action. Besides permanent plan Of
gan'zat!on should be devised in time OF leisure and
peace SO that may be introduced and thoroughly known
before the force provided by it s required to be exsrted
1t should, much possible, be grated upon the ha
bits Of the country, and become part OF institutions
The basis Of efficient organization Of the militia must
be selection for instruction and service of that part of
the population best qualified for these duties Age and
physical capacity present the proper considerations for
such selection The principle is stated with his usual
force BY Mr. Jefferson, in his message Congress Of
| December, lSOo, wherein he said:
! 'Whether it will be necessary to augment our land
orceS Will be decided by occurrences probably in the
course OF your session. In the meantime, YOU will
consider whether it would not be expcdicnt for /
state Of peace well OF War, organize class
the militia would enable U.s. sudden emergency
10 call for the service Of the younger Portions
numbered with the old and those having families | p
between the ages of eighteen and twenty-six years,
which the last census shows may now count WITH
III our limits will furnish competent number tor OIL
fence defence, any point where they may be want,
ed, aud will give time for raising regular forces ALTER
the necessity Of them shall become certain and the re-
ducng to the early period life all its active services
not but be desirable to younger citizens o the present
as well as the future times, inasnuch as It engages TO
tem IN more advanced age quiet and undlsurbed
pose in The bosom OF their families. cannot them but
earnestly recommend TO your early consideration the
expcdiency of 80 modifying militia SYSTEM as, by
separation OF the nore active part from that which less
SO: may draw from it, when necessary, AN efficient
corps fit for The real and active service, and to be called
in regular rotation"
Had the general principles her, recommended been
practically adopted, and corresponding system csa-
blshed, with the necessary Details first Tor instruction,
and then for active service cannot be doubted that the
course Of events which marked the commencement OF
the late war, would have been avoided and an immense
expenditure OF blood and treasure saved to the nation
The warning voice, which not needed then, may
perhaps be heard NOW, and Isl It may produce meal
culable benefits
board Of officers of tic Army and Militia was or
panZed some years since under the Instructions OF this
department., and by virtue of resolution OF Congress,
FOR the purpose of examining this subject, and OF ce'Is'
ing practicable plan for the organization, improvement,
and efficient acop Of sc p,a. Their report contains
the outline Of pTOct which, with some IodihcailoiS'
appears 10 to combine many advantages US any
other that can, probably, be adopted The basis was a
classification If The adult male population OF the Uni
above the aye Of wcntyoe years, should be neces
sary pcc the number required to be enrolled ana
organized ii all times for actual service oeSnhihSi
all with the yonTSest above the prescribed aSe-
Their report stopped al the number they deemed heces-
sary for constant equipment As regards instructor
and prcparation this Limitation Is no doubt proper oul
still would probably lie deemed advisable, so Tar TO or
game the whole body within certain ages, Us 10 pre-
duce classification, and to afford the requisite iaclrs
towards calling them into service in succession, should
! any contingency demand larger force than the hTSt
division cosld supply. This arrangement would EchoeF
available Tor the defence o the country lis whoe Py|F
cal force: not that any event could require II all 10 pe
embodied 1T the time, but because particular seC
ton might sometimes be peculiarly exposed ana eau
for the services of large proportion of lis population,
End the continuance OF tLs pressure might render II ne
ccssary 10 discharge in succession those who had per-
formed their prescribed teIms and 10 require the SET
| vices Of others.
mere organization would avail but little, unless in
ducemcnts were held for proper instructions and
equipment. And consider therefore, some provision
for elementary Instruction. and for such equipment as
may be necessary to excite proper emulation, lndis-
pensablc to any Improvement Of militia systenl-ir-
dspcnsahlc, may add, 10 its very existence An ar.
ran r those objects would embrace the first class
only. 1t would to be sure, involve expense Tor an
adequate compc Isa!iou MIST be allowed 20 The persons
required bc embodied ut these schools OF Instruc-
zion, for few days i'll the year. And 1t would pro-
badly be found cxpcdient to continue the present
plan of voluntary corps, with some changes ana 10
require them also to meet for Improvement II IS IN
vain to expect that the whole adult mule population OF inc
country ca or will furnish themselves with the articles
required by law or that their collection Tor any number
OF days thew ear afford devote TO this object, and UNI
der tic usual circumstances Of such assembaSes can
produce any beneficial effect to themseg or their coun-
try. Already in number Of the States the system mas
sunk under ,y .ht Of public opinion; and the Prncl-
cal aneston is, whether shall remain IN tact de-
enccless resort 10 large standing military loice III
tac Of peace, that just dread OF all tree governments
CT adopt efficient plan, which Will prepare Tor the pup
lie def nee tho greatest force at the eas! cost and with
out danger.
The Blessings we have inherited cannot be preserved
without excr,iuD without expense IL were ldlc 10
sit still and latter ourselves with The hope that war -
never 10 oycakc u.s. and it would be worse TO delay all
efficient organization Of our physical means, I'LL the tie
for its active employment arrives Nearly fifty years nave
elapsed suce the adoption Of the present constitution
During all that time essential change has pcen mace
in our militia 81 stem; and has gradually declined in utl-
ty and efficiency, and in public confidence and there
reason fear its entire Abandonment unless II under
goes important notifications In this long interval,
the value Of the system seems to have been spprecia-
ted BY all the Presidents of the United States as well
those who from the habits Of their lives could best es-
innate its value by personal observation, as by those
whose opinions MAJ have been well formed from the
course OF events having relation TO this natter and IN
their annual communications, commencing with the IN
augura address OF General Washington this subject has
been almost constantly pressed upon the attention oil
Congress. For the peIposs OF showing s Importance
in tie opinion of these eminent citizens, have caused
their communications TO be examined and find that the
subject has been presented to the Legislature and e ma
ton no less than thirty zone times in their official recon-
mendations. indulge the hope that the present state
of public affairs may lead TO REORGANIZATION OF Inc
SYSTEM and 10 such changes as may render 1t Perma-
ncntiy useful.
am graticd in being able to announce to you, tiat
the Indians residing east Of the Mississippi rVer appear
10 be yie.inr TO the conyctoa, that their removal "
the territory assigned for their residence IN Tie west
offers the only rational prospect Of any permanent MI
provcren: IN their condition. AID that this measure II
essential to their IN aSr Hof o a'u
matter are encouraging. and may ansici pate the full
establishment Of present policy, and with the tairess