Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-05-07

"oSehce vi SUCH dn organization VIII requlr
regular army of fifty thousand men. A
present, the militia cannot be rendered i'm
mediately available against surprise; where
as under the proposed organization, thew
would repair to their stations at the first a.
larm, and would be efficient soldiers when
there. Incase of war, those stations would
become permanent, and the arrangements
might easily be made SO as to render the ser.
vice as little burdensome as possible to the
artisan and mechanic.
Every precaution has been taken to avoid
all interference with the rights of the States,
or to lessen their means Of defence. The mi
lltla will be called out in the manner at pre-
sent provided for by law, and no change is
contemplated in the mode of differing the
several corps of which the active class will
be composed.
1t will not abstract single man from the
| defence of the State where he resides, nor
separate him from the class of Citizens to
which he belongs. 1t will, on the contrary,
strengthen the defences of each State, by
furnishing 1t with well-organized and we'll
disciplined force, taken from the People, and
making part of the People equally interested
with their fellow-citiZens in the preservation
OF Tree institutions, and ready at all times to
guard the territory and the liberty of their
country. Neither does it interfere, in any
manner, with the constitutional rights of the
States to train their own militia according to
thesdiscipline prescribed by Congress, be-
cause the active militia will be employed by
the President during the period they are pre-
pairing for war-like service in garrison and i'm
the field. And while the States have all the
advantages which may result from we'll
organized and disciplined militia, they will.
at the same time, be exempt from the losses,
expenses, and evils which follow, necessarily,
from the assemblage of large muititudes for
merely nominal military instruction. 1t is
TO be considered, also, that portion of the
militia are provided with opportunities for the
attainment of the essentials of military know
ledge; and at the same time that they relieve
the remainder from an onerous and useless
burden, they themselves will not be oppres-
sed by an undue amount of military service
being required of them; but, on the contrary.
by comparing the time which, under the pre-
sent system, is devoted to that object. it will
be found that there is but very little addition
al service, If any, required, and for that time
they VIII he sufficiently compensated. The
compensation contemplated is adequate under
a good administration of the laws proposed,
which are to be made uniform in their applica-
ton, byregulations to be issued by the Presi-
dent, as toprevent any expense to the citizen
WHO'S thus called out; though it may not rise,
In umount, to the sum which his pursuits in So
clal life might afford. The total amount re-
CURED to recompense the militia to be called
out Tor exercise will be trifiing, when COM
pared with the loss of time experienced by
our fellow-citizens under the present imper-
feet organization, and of the serious evils to
which the youth of the country are exposed
by the frequent attempts now made to impart
TO them very imperfect knowledge of the
duties of the soldier. The subioined plan
Will, 1t is believed, tend to diminish, if not
entirely remove, such evils, and will also, by
engenderlng an esprit du corps throughout the
militia OF the several districts, elevate in the
mind of every citizen the character of the du-
ties which he is required to perform, and thus
make more certain the results which are hop
ed Tor by this system of military precaution
ana defence. In preparing the details of the
proposed reorganization Oft the militia of the
United States, have been governed by an
earnest desire to place the country in an atti-
tude OF defence; and, at the same time, to Sc
cure 1t from the necessity of maintaining at
any period large standing army; to render
the militia effective, without Withdrawing too
large number of our fellow citizens from
their occupations at any one time, and to diff
1use throughout the community generally
some knowledge of military service, without
taxing the Treasury too heavily. All this, it
appears to me, will be effected by drilling.
during four years, one hundred thousand men.
for period not exceeding thirty nor less than
ten days in each and every year, at such times
as may least interfere with their ordinary oc
equations; and, for an equal term, keeping
that force so organized that it may serve as a
reserve, ready to act in cases of emergency
doing, In the meanwhile, ordinary militia du,
ty, such as is now required by law in the sew
eral States. The expenses of the system.
which, If carried out, would place the United
States in an impregnable state of defence,
Will not exceed 81 1862 ,O93 yearly, ifthe max
lmun number of days for drill be adopted by
Congress; and, as it is believed that ten DAYS
In each and every year viii prove sufficient,
the annual expense will be less than $780,
600.
Details Of tie proposed system.
1t should be provided
LIST. That each and every free able bodied
Whlte male citizen of the respective States,
resident therein, who is or shall be of the aoe
OF twenty and under that Of forty-fve years,
with the exceptions hereinafter stated, shall,
severally and respectively, be enrolled in the
militia by the captain or commanding officer
oil the company within whose bounds such
cluzens shall reside; and that it shall be the
duty, at ali times, of every such captain or
commanding officer of company TO enrol ev-
cry such citizen as aforesaid, and also those
who shall from time to time, arrive at the
age OF twenty years, or who, being of that
age and under that of forty-live years, with
the exceptions hereafter namcd) shall come
to reside within his bounds: and that he
I without do. eff of