Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1840-08-27
THE STANDARD.
REORGANIZATION OF THE MILlTI

RE-ORG GANlZATION OF THE MILITIA.
1t is proper to remind our readers, that
at the commencement of the last session
of Congress, the Secretary of War sug-
gested 10 Congress that the Militia of
the United States ought TO be divided
into classes, the younger class to be more
thoroughly drilled than at present; and
the older classes relieved from muster
ing altogether. He did not go into de-
tail; he gave no plan or scheme, by which
this system was to be carried out; in
fact, he said but few words on the sub
iect. II was in allusion to this sugges-
ton, that Mr.. Van Buren, said, in his
message, he could not too strongly rec
ommend the plan to the consideration of
Congress. In doing 50, he followed in
the footsteps of Washington, Jefferson,
Madison, Monroe and Jackson; all of
whom had recommended such a classih-
cation. Their reason for doing so is OBJ
vious. The present system is little bet
ter than a farce. What do men learn
under it, that would qualify them to de-
fend their country against foreign enc
my? Nothing. Some change then is
necessary; and as all military men de-
spair of efectually drilling all the militia
of the Union; they have unanimously
agreed that a part shall be drilled; and
the remainder relieved from the burden
and expense OF mastering. This is
Gen. Harrison's plan as presented 10
Congress in report and bill, at three
successive sessions Of Congress, in 1917,
is and'l9. Yet his supporters are now
brawIing against Mr.. Van Buren, and Mr..
Poinsett, from one end of the country to
tho other, for recommending the same
thing. Quere? As Gen. Harrison neu-
er changes, and as we are referred to his
former acts and declarations, for his pre-.
sent opinions; is he notstill in favor,of this
plan whilst all his friends are denouncing
lit? Will his Committee answer?
Some have objected to the expense OF
paying the 100000 men who would be
drilled Annually; for, it is one, and moi
two hundred thousand. who arc to mus.
ter certain number Of days, yearly, fol
four years; and then to q i back into the
Reserue Of 100000 men Tor another foul
years; after which they arc discharged
entirely, except in time of war. The ex-
pehse is estimated by the Secretary oI
War at $5OO,O0O yearly. We have about
two millions of militia men in the United
States; all Of whom are required TO mus.
ter two days in each year; and many o.
them, who belong to independent compa'
MES, muster as often as four, five or six
days each year. Let any man estimata
the cost Of this mastering, on the present
plan, to the peoploofth Union, for each
and every year. Count the time lost by
each man; count the money expended by
each man; consider the time and expense
of officer musters; include, also, the courts
of inquiry and courts of appeal held by
the officers for tho assessment of fines
add, also, the time and money lost in col
lecting the fines, &c.--and we venture
TO assert, that the loss to the nation is
not less than three millions Of dollars an
nualIy. Mr.. Poinsett's plan would cost
halt a million. Here, then, is two mil.
lions and half saved to the nation annu.
Tally. What is gained in point of militia
| ry knowledge, to the nation, by the pre-
sent system9 Nothing at all. What
would be gained by classification and
instruction such as has been recommend
by all our Republican Presidents, from
Washington TO Van Buren2 A we'll or
ganlzed force of two hundred thousand
freemen, ready, at noment's warning, ia
rally to the standard of their country and
defend us against allforeigu invaders, un-
til others could be brought out and in.
structed in their duty and prepared to
take their places in the line, for the pur.
pose Of relieving The ese Militia veterans
Let us hear no more Federal slang
about a standing Army Go and read the
facts as given in the public documents
and remember that in condemning Mr..
Van Buren, you are condemning the Faith
er OF his country and the best patriots of
the Revolution; nay, you are condemn
ing the great " certified Heron of Tippe-
canoe himself. He not only proposed
| the same ihinu. hut ,,,o,,t. 4 A.. - 4 a !