The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-06-05

| REORGANIZATION OF THE MILITIA. In these
days Of riots at home, Indian wars, and frequen,
revolutionary movements in contentious States
and petty Provinces, some sort of militia system
seems indispensable-one too, less burdensome to
the people, yet still efficient than the present
State Legislatures have attempted to modify and
improve the system in many of the States, till the
system, the laws regulating the system are dis
similar and inconsistent, and instead of there hav-
ing been any actual improvement, the militia in
nearly every State has fallen into contempt. Leg
slation has not come from the right quarter Con-
gress alone give to the system that uniformity
and efficiency which will render the duties of the
citizen soldier honorable IL less arduous. With this
belief glad to peceive that bill has been
reported 10 the House of Representatives for the
better regulation of the militia system of the coun-
try. The following is abstract of the report as
find it in the Worcester Egis:
The first section ofthe bill prescribes the liability
and period OF SERVICE which is required of all free,
able bodied, white, male citizens between the ages
of 81 and 40
The second and fourth sections contain the i'm
porlant principles of the bill 1t proposes TO divide
the whole body of enrolled citizens into the two
classes Of actiUo and general militia the former class
to be composed of tenth ofthe whole, to be
regulated, arranged, and selected by the States in
such manner as 10 them may proper the
latter class include the residue Of all citizens re-
Quired TO be enrolled.
The active militia, for their education and i'm
provement In military science, are to be encamped
and dsc pned for period of six successive DAYS
in each year, in accordance with the system which
may be in force for the government of the regular
army, and under the commanding officer of the
camp. Whenever the country may REQUIRE the
service oil any portion of its militia the active class
is to be first called upon. Should the emergency
demand greater force than this class contains, the
additional number is 10 be detailed from the gener-
al militia, who will be subject to a term of nine
months, when they are to be relieved by other
detachments from the same class, and SO on
I'LL each number has performed the like amount of
duty.
Tents and camp equpage for the active militia
are to bs provided by the Secretary of War, when.
ever required by the States, whose isatures will
provide for their security and preservation.
When called into the service ofthe United States.
the militia are to be subject to the same regulations.
and entitled to the same compensation as the MEM
bers of the regular army, and if disabled, when in
actual SERVICE will be provided for at the EXPENSE
ofthe nation.
The seventh section provides for differing and
arranging into divisions and subdivisions the mill
TIA, following generally the system now prevailing
the regulation Of which, under the general nIan
prescribed by Congress- is to be left to the Iegisa.
lures of the respective States.
Each State Is to appoint an AdIutant General
whose duties, as the immediate SUPERINTENDENT of
The interests and condition of the militia ofhis State
and as the agent for the transmission of orders and
returns relating to the service are accurately de-
fined.
by the ninth section, each officer non -commis.
oned officer, musician, and private, is to receive
rom the United States, one dollar and fifty cents
per day, for each day he may be called out and en-
,amped