The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-08-12

several States. into companies battalons, resi-
ments, brigades and divisions, upon principles
therein established, and in like manner oihcered
by them, according to the rules pfeseripe1 py
Congress for determining their number and re-
specfiye rank ID That the militia thus enroll
cd, shall be armed at their own expense. %
That thew shall be disciplined according to the
rules approved and established by Congress, on
the twenty-ninth of March, l779; and 4th. That
the rules for the government OF the militia when
called into the service OF the United States, Qhe
manner and occasions of doing which being
pointed out by law,) shall be the same rules and
articles Of war, as are provided for the govern
ment of the troops of the United States.
The provisions of the act of 1892, whicA obliges
every citizen duly enrolled to be Constantly pro-
vided with arms, accoutrements and ammunl-
tion.n was re-cnacted during the Administration
of Mr. Jefferson; and SO much of that act as es-
tablished the discipline and regulations OF Baron
Steuben was subsequently repealed, and the
system of discipline and exercises OF the Regular
Army was adopted for the Militia. These addi-
tional provisions, with occasional acts respecting
the appointment of the officers by the States, and
changing the regulations concerning the pay and
subsistence of the Militia, when in the actual
service of the U. States; and the PREPARATION and
distribution Of system of tactics, constitute
every material part of the Legislation of Congress
upon the subject of the Militia since the estab-
lishment of the Government
The organization of the militia thus establish
lished has been in force nearly fifty years. 1t
varies in many essential particulars from that
recommended by General Washington, ana has
been regarded since its adoption as defective
In an eminent degree, as well by the successive
Presidents of the U. s., as by all other persons,
whose habits Of life and opportunities of person
al observation have fitted them to form sound
opinions upon the subject. It's improvement was
therefore an object of unceasing and anxious
solicitude on the part of General Washington,
and almost every successive President commen-
ced his career with calling the attention of Con-
gress to the subject, and closed with expressions
of regret that these recommendations had proved
unavaiIing. Gen, Cass, when Secretary OF w ar,
stated in an official report, that this subject had
been presented for consideration no less imam
thi,tg-one times in official Executive commune
cations, commencing with the inaugural address
of President Washington.
The principal objections to the present system
appear to arise from the great and unnecessary
extent of the enrolment of the militia held to
actual service, and who required to muster
and do duty a certain number Of days in the
year, and from the want of adequate means or
inducements to secure proper instruction; By
reason of which this heavy tax is not only rem
dered in great degree useless. hat is also I'M
reasonably burdensome
BY the Fs1c..al Constitution, Congress has the
power to provide for calling forth the militia to
execute the laws of the Union, to suppress m
surrection and repel invasion. The militia force
provided for these purposes, by existing laws,
and which, to render it effective, is compelled TO
be at all times provided with arms, accoutrements
and ammunition, and to be mustered and drilled
at stated periods, and kept always ready for SER
vice comprises, with limited and enumerated
exemptions, the whole of the able-bodied male
white population of the United States, between
the ages of IS and 45. When 1T IS considered
that the number of these acc)rjing to official re-
turns exceed a million and a half Of men, and
probably at this period, amounts to two millions,
the immense and consequently oppressive exces
Of the existing preparatory enrolment, beyond
the possible wants Of the country, must be appa-
rent to all. How FAR the existing organization
and laws passed by the States IN pursuance
thereof have proved successful in accomplishing
the great object in view viz: the instruction and
Improvement Of the citizen soldiers in military
tactics, YOU are able to judge for yourselves
The results were a short time since summed up
by the officer before alluded to- in these emphatic
words: ssIt is vain to expect, that the whole
adult population of the country can, or Will r.
nish themselves with the articles required by
law; or that their collection, for any number OF
DAYS they can afford to devote to this object, and
under the usual circumstances of such assem-
blagcs can produce any beneficial effects to
themselves or their country. Already, in num-
Der of the States, the system has sunk under the
weight of public opinion, and the practical ques-
ton now is, whether we shall remain In fact,
deienceless, or resort to large standing military
force in time of peace, that just dread OF all tree
Governments, or adopt an efficient plan, which
will prepare for the public defence the greatest
force at the least cost, and without danger"
Te remedy the evils of the present system, 1t
has been repeatedly proposed to re-organize the
militia, in such manner, as to redace the number
of snen, who shall be fitted and always ready to
perform the service contemplated by the Consti-
tuition, say from the number of two millions to
two hundred Thousand, and to pay the latter
reasonable compensation out of the National
Treasury, in order to rcmunerate them for the
increased burtken thus imposed upon them. Sc
Yeral plans, to effect this purpose, have, from
time to time, been submitted to Congress, by
successive Secretaries of War, commencing with
General Knox's, in 1890, and ending with that
oil Mr. Poinset's, in 1910. That Mr.. Poinsett's
is in several respects, preferable to those which
have preceded it, AMI is calculated to effect a
more equitable disposition of the whole military
force of the country, than any heretofore pre-
sented. appears to have been the opinion OF the
Committees of both houses OF Congress. The
grounds of this preference are fully set forth IN
The able reports made by their respective chair
men. at the last session, which have been pub
aished, and extensively circulated, and are stated
as follows:
1st. 1t extends the pay, for the period occupied
in training, to p2ivateS well as to commits
stoned aud non-comnlissioned officers, to whom
it was limited in the plans of others. 2nd. 1t
introduces the principle of rotations by which the
period during which the citizens are engaged in
training, is diminished, and the instruction they
reeeive more directly impaired to the mass, and
| the burthcns as well benefits, more equally dis
| tr;buted among the people. 3rd. In excluding
from enrolment all between IS and 20 years oil
age. being the period of life in which young men
are employed in finishing their education, learn
| ing trade, or studying the profession By which
they hope to obtain livelihood In these pre-
| ierent plans are understood to be substantially
the sasne. They are with regard to TIE au-
thority of the officers over the prvates, and the
rules for this government of all when called out
for drill They all propose, that the rules should
be those established for the government OF the