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

uu 20 advocate the maintenance of standing militia
ce adequate to all the purposes of peace and GEAR
When, therefore, these exigencies ar;sp S,on ah; no
nation can expect exemption, which call for an ex-
,on o. our physical means resort to an in
aS 0, t'e army, or TO the embodyno of the militia
IL 10 obvious, from the of the country that we
Gun never Keep, at all the exposed points such nerma
meot orce us circumstances may occasonaIv
lie natura and in fact the necessary depe ndencs met
De upon the mta and if il be unorcanized we sajlhe
ouhd wnnout the means repel fore;yn enemy mr. 20
epess internal disturbances should those evil. occur
arise; upon organizing system when the exgency
70 procrasnate for examinations what should then he
gss;za,yeu o. acton BESIDES permanent plan of
sss11auon should be devised in u time of leisure and
peace SO that may be introduced and nown
~ e force provided by it is required to be exered
g OF tne country and become part fou, institutions
ne oas's OF an efficient organization of the militia must
ihe population best qualified for these duties Ace and
physical capacity present the proper considerations for
sucn selection The principle is stated with his usual
force by MIR. Jefferson in his MESSAGE 10 c,on r
december, 1905, wherein he said
"hctner II will be necessary, AUGMENT our land
iorces will be decided by occurrences nrobahl =; ,h
course oil your session In the me ntime YOU will
s,n,s oc wnether IT woald not be expedent for
~ peace as well as of war; organize or class
ne militia as would enable u.s. on sudden emergency
cub do Inc service of the younger portions unen
ouhperea with the old and those having families I'm
waios OF three hundred thousand able bodied men
bo the ages of eighteen and twenty six years
wnch ihe last census shows we may now count with
IN our limits, will furnish a competent number for Of
ce OF Defence in any point where they may be want
u dnu VIII give time for raising regular forces after
Tue necessity of them shall become certaip and The re-
ucing TO me early all active services can
not but be desirable younaer rs I'm. $780,,
as well as the future times inSsmuch as it ENGAGES 10
mem, In more advanoedage, quiet and undistuIbed re-
pose in the bosom of their families connoi then h,
earnestly recommend to your early constellation the
eApeuiency OF so modifying militia system as bv a,
~, " uii"irom 1t; whom necessary, an efficient
Uop nj Tor the real and active service and to be called
In regular rotation"
Had the general PRINCIPLES here recomn,ondod to
iaGucdNy ADOPTED, andi corresponding
win the necessary Details first for instruction
@ men or acuVe service, it cannot be doubted that the
course OF events which marked the commencement Of
.ne ate war; would have been ayoded and an Immense
expenditure OF blood and saved TO tho
I msIi'ns voice, which was not needed them, may
P%p De heard now, andifit is, may
board of officers of the Army and Militia ,v,s or
some years SINCE under the instructions of this
S eh', andy virtue of resolution. OF. Congress-
30 VIC Pupse Oh examining this subject, ard deyis--
ing practicable plan for the organization
anu encent action of the militia. Their report contains
no "a pT0)et which, with some notifications
appears 10 me to combine many ADVANTAGES as anv
amer mat cam probably, be adoptedn The basis was n
cIassihcaton fhe adult male population of the ITni
eo oiaies and selection of so many persons from n
ABOVE me aye of twenyone years as should be neces
sary to complete the number required 10 he
ny all times for actual service; beginnnpinl
al caseswiti the youngest above the prescribed
lner report stopped at the number they deemed neces
safy Tor constant equipment As regards instruction,
ana PREPARATION this Limitation is no doubt proper but
"eH'd probably be deemed advisable SO far 10 orr
game tne whole body, within certain yes as TO pro-
ouee classification and TO afford the REQUESTS facilities
oWapds calling theun'ino service in successon should
first.
DIVISION could supply. This Arrangement would render
available Tor the defence Of thecountry its whole physi
en,bod;ed ~ .at any event could require it all to be
oou;eS at the same time but because particular sec
eoh might sometimes be peculiarly exposed, and call
s services Oh large proportion of its population
o inc of The pressure Sat render il ne
cessary to discharge in succession those who had per
vices of others. f" ~ SGT
"A mere organization would avail but little unless in.
oucenehs' Were held out for proper instructions and
Equipment And consider, theIefore some provision
Tor elementary instruction, and for such couiumen ns
may pe necessary to excite proper emulation indis
PensabIe to any Improvement of our militia system
dispensabie, may add 10 its very existence An mr.
rangemen Tor those objects would embrace the retcass
only. II would, to be sure involve evnemse, c. -
adequate compensation must be allowed to the persons
required to be embodied these schools of instrlc-
nGn, Tor tew.days in the year. And would pro
OdDy De found exPedicnt TO continue the present
plan OF voluntary corps, with semc changes and to-
require them also TO meet for Improvement Itis in,
VAN 10 expect that the whole adult male population of tho
country can will furnish themselves with the articles
required by aw that their collection for any number
Oh Gays they can afford to devote this object and
wi the usuai circumstances OF such assemblages, can
produce any beneficial effect themselves or their
yt ALeady ia number OF the States the system has
SUNK uhder the weight OF public opnion and the pac-
cal question now 10, whether shall remain in fact de-
ehceess or resort to large standing military force in
e OF peace that just dread Of all free governmental
or adopt an efficient pan which will prepare for the p
lie defence the greatest force the least cost and within
outdanger $3.50 ~
The blessings have inherited earhos. be preserved
W'nout e&erton, nor without xpense II were Idle to
S'. ana latter ourselves with 4te hope that war is
emcleh organization of ont'physica means till the lime
LOT Its active employmenfdfrv Nearly fifty years have
eaPseu since The adoptfom0f the present constitution =
1crng Az that time, essential change has been made
m our initia SYSTEM and AZ has gradually declined in ut
ny ana eciency, and in public confdence and there is
leason 10 rear It's entire abandonment unless il under
goes Important notifications. In. this long interval
sne Vhue oil ne system Va have been apprecia
ted by all the Presidents of the United States ~ vi
hose who from the habits of their lives could best cs
tate It's value by personal observations as bv those
Whoser olRf9ns maS have been we'll formed from tho
course OF events having relation to this matter, and In
enell annual communications, commencing with the in
Sogura address OF General Washington this subject has
neeh almost constantly pressed upon the attention ~
congress FOR the purpose Of showing it's inportanco
I'D the opinion oil these eminent citizens have caused
tDeir communcaons to be examined and fnd chat The
ect mas osen presented to the legislature and the ma
uon no less than thiftyone times in their official
mendatons indulge the hope that the present state
ol pubic affairs may lead 70 rc.examination Of be
system, and to such changes may render II perma
nenly useful. - f""--
am gratifcd in being able 10 announce 10 Won ,bo,
e nagns residing east Of the Mississippi river appear
TO be yiel1ing TO the conviction that their ren,ovI f.
'eIofy assigned for their residence in the West
oIets 1he o0y RATIONAL prospect Of any permanent r,
PIoVeneht IN their conditions aud that this measure 10
essential TO their prosperity Both in the North and
south The reports Of the officers hayjnr charge of tb
matter are encouraging, and may antiopae the Gi
tsabshment OF our present policy, and with the ai-et
prospect Of success # the visiting preudices which
nave Oong peraicd to etard efforts can be reovod
me considerations which render this chance of rcs;
dcnoe necessary, sufficiently Obvious and are found
Ed upon the results that have heretofore attended o H.
I tN IL.