The Ohio Democrat and Dover advertiser. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1839-1840, 1840-07-24

Iect, so intimately connected with our national
safety, since the proposed amendnentto The
Constitution which has just been mentioned; but
they will conhne III niselvesto to the notice oi one
ITther to reform the sopposed defects of the OK &.
sting system. They allude to that made by the
Secretary Of War in the year 1926 lewhom
had been assigned, by resolution Of Congress
the duty of having prepared a system Of cayal
ry tactics and system ofirstruction for artille>
ry, for the Use of cavalry and artillery Of the
militia.
To aid him in the performance Of that duty,
.he Honorable james Barbour, then Secretary
of War thought proper 10 convene a "board.
composed of officers of the militia and of The
rmy.' In his report to the President of the u
States. which was submitted 10 Congress a, the
ensuing session, the Secretary remarks.
The occasion was too favorable to be lost.
and was, therefore eagerly seized, of profting
by this collection of talent and experience to re-
view our present defective militia system, and il
possible, by an entirely new organization, to
pLaceil on footing which would realize the
expectations and wishes Of every patriot in rela
ton TO this great arm of national Defence The
Secretary further says:
"Important changes in tho present system are
indispensable, TO make the militia any way equal
to the standard assigned 1t by the wishes of the
patriot. To the end that every source from
which information might becolected should be
approached, addressed circular letter to the
Governor of every State and Territory, and to
many citizens distinguished alike by their intel
ligence and experience, asking for Information
upon this interesting subject
To the interrogatories propounded in this cir
cular many OF the distinguished officers and IN
dividuals responded minutely and elaborately.
The board of officers assembled took those
communications, and the various other matters
submitted, into grave consideration; and report
ed "a plan for the enrolment and organization of
the militia of the United States, involving ma.
nv alterations in the S, stem. The whole of this
voluminous correspondence, and the report Of
the board Of officers were submitted to lie coa-
sidera,ion Congress: hut Wha, was the resultl
No definitive legislative action took place upon
the alterations proposed the law was permitted
to remain as it beiIre existed. Indeed, as often
as the sub ject has been recommended, and urg-
ed, IN the message of our several Chief Mags-
trates, and agtated in both Houses of Congress
no law has been passed, materially changing the
F p DIVISIONS of those already noticed, during a
period of more than thiry-seven years.
With so many instances of fruitess attempts
to change our militia system, before them, your
committee are not prepared to adopt the plan
recommended by the Secretary of War, nor To
make any other material change in the OrganiZa
f ton and discipline of the militia, at present.
If 1t be desirable TO cause those who constitute
the militia TO arm themselves, the acts Of 1892
and 1903, passed during The administrations of
General Washington aud Mr., Jefferson, already
require them to do so. If they should be train
/ ed and disciplined a system for that purpose has
, already been prescribed and furnished; and il
t onl, remains for the State Governments. To
l which the Constitution very properly reserves
that authority. to enforce it. But the committee
are almost constrained 10 believe that no 8, stem,
0 which can be devised, will ever render tie mass
J of citizons engaged in The ordinary avocations
4 of life, to which they are stimulated by the i'm.
/ pulses of duty and interest, well-irained and
h disciplined soldiery. In lime of profound
peace, when they do moi perceive any probable
r. necessity for their services in the fel3, they
= nOe appreciate the importance Of such attain
= msnts, as can only he acquired by considerable
\ expense, labor, and sacrifice of time. Yet, We
a are assured, by the the experience Of the past
that, however reluctant our feow-c citizens may
be to undergo the drudgery of militia discipline
= in times of peace and security, they are ever
ready to rally in the defence Of their country,
when assaiIed BY enemies, Gnrcign or domestic.
When so called out, or rather coming forth on
such occasions S; oDtaneousy Us they dc, they IA
garG no prlvatiOn nor exposure, no severity Of
. discipline nor dangef no sacrifice Of ease, com
fort, interest, nor even life itself, if demanded
by the honor, safety or welfare, of their coun.
try With such feelings and love Of country,
predominant oven all selfish considerations, the
proudest citizen becomes at once soldier in
courage, and very soon, in discipline and sub,r
dnation.
We the committee disposed to suggest any
new legislation on this occasion, it would be
that more liberal and efficient measures should
he taken to arm and equip the whole body Of
the militia. The act passed on the 23d ofApriI
l808, appropriated tire annual sum of two hun
dred thousand dollars for the purpose Of provi.
ding arms and military equipments for the whole
body of militia Of the United States, either bv
purchase or manufacture. by and on account Of
the United Statos' Your committee concur in
opinion with the board Of officers, aysembed
IN 1926, as hereinbefore mentioned, that this
sum is inadequate f6f'the object contemplated,
for they state;sbo doubt on due consideration,
that according 10 The present rate of appropria-
iion by Congress for that purpose, it would re-
quire, even supposing the population 10 be- sta
tionary, about seventy five years MI re to accom-.
| pllsh measure so congeRial TO The whole the
, ory of our lnstitutions.' The act has now
been 10 operation period of thirty.two years.
and the whole number of smnll.arms, and
field artillery distributed among all tho States,
!, since IFS passage would perhaps, not be morn
than sufficient to supply the militia of the State
, of New York. This is sufficient to prove Il o
total inadequacy of the existing law to supply
= the wants of the whole body of the militia
j throughout the Union. within any reasonable
time. Without arms it is impossible to train
D men TO the use of them; and for the men TO nro
, cure them, of that uniform and proper quality.
which Is almost essential 10 the purposes Of diss
Cipline, would involve individual burdens, rec
garded as oppressive by those who constitute
, the mass of the militia.