Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-06-12
Secretary ofthe Central Dem. Com. Of y"
To J r. PoiSsErr, Esq,
MIR. POINSETT'S REPLY.


WASHINGTON, June 9TH, 1910
Dear Sr:--I have the honor to acknowledge the re-
cept of your letter, OF the 18th ultimo, stating your
belief that the cause of Democracy in Virginia had
been seriously prejudced by the extraordinary use
which has been made Of my late report concerning the
militia, bringing to my view the substance OF the Oh
iections made my plan, and asking me 10 explain
the character OF the proposition as to enable the
Central Democratic Committee, OF Virginia, 10 set TINS
matter in its true light before the public.
avail myself, with great pleasure, of the oppoFtunl'
ty thus afforded me of stating through you 10 my TEL
citizens of Virginia, and to the people OF the NJ
ted States, the motives which induced me to present
plan for the reorganization OF the militia at TINS part
cuar junctre, of explaining the principles on when
it is founded, and Of correcting we'll the errors o.
some who have opposed II fairly, as the msTepresenta
tons Of others who have sought only TO deceive ana
| mlslead the people
1t must be fresh in your recollection that Congress-
very shortly before the close of the last session, by
vote unanimous in house and very nearly in the
other, expressed opinion that the country was ex
posed to the hazard Of being involved in war; and re-
posing trust and confidence in the patriotism and
wisdom of the President unparalleled in the history OF
our Republic adjourned after investing him with full
powers to avert 10 meet the danger. Immediately
after the passage of that act, which defined the descrp
ton of force which the defence OF the country
10 be trusted in the Of war; the Committee the
/ Militia of the House of Representatives required me,
through their Chairman to prepare plan for the bet
ter organization of the militia o The United States and
no had Congress dourned than the President
sensible Of the responsibilities imposed upon ham by
this act, and anxious alike to Justify the confidence OF
Congress and 10 discharge his duty TO the nation, called
upon the War and Navy departments TO furnish Inn with
statements showing the condition OF the deiences OF the
country. The subject carefully examined, the
state Of Notifications and military preparations and
of our regular and militia forces accurately asceaned
and at,cntvely idered THIS examination proved
that the maxim bequeathed to US by the Father oil his
country, "S PEACE PREPARE FOR mAE, had been
utterly reelected The avenues 10 our great CONNER.
cal capitals and to most important naval dcpdtS
were unprotected, and there existed means OF man
ming the forts that were condition To receive their
armament. a few regiments oi the army were con
: centrated in Florida from whence they could not be
withdrawn without rlsklng the safety OF that Territory
and the remainder dispersed along the extensive
lines Of the Northern and Western frontiers IT, there
FORE the which appeared to be apprchcnded by Con
grcss, should have occurred the defence OF the country
must have rested chiefly upon the militia OF the United
States From these circumstances no less than iron
the tenor of the act By which the only additional force
provided FOR the occasion and placed by Congress AT
the disposal of the Executive of this description
lis condition became then object OF earnest solIc
iuGc and the result OF my inquiries was most unsats
factory. lu ct the States the citizens, liable &c
militia duty turn the SUBJECT into rldculc and instead
of being armed and equipped according 10 law, appear
II in masque rade in Others when mustered, majority
Of them are armed with walking canes iowng. pieces
or unscrvlceable muskets-whe III all the training
produces little else than the abstraction of millions
nuay from the productive industry of the country. In
some Of the States training the militia has been aban
doned in despair, and the law of Congress the sub
cct become dead letter There found in the chief
towns companies handsomely uniformed and well drill
ed but their number insufficient to the works OF
guard the approaches 10 their respective cites. Will
this only to depend upon the danger to which the
country would be exposed on the occurrence OF the
contingency contemplated by Congress, could not be
disguised | shuddercd. when contemplated the scene
of confusion that would attend the appearance of hos
tile fleet beto any OF our principal scaports The forts
manned sudde My with troops unaccuStuncd 10 the
of great guns contrasting their slow and uncertain FIRE
through which the enemy would pass unframed unit
they noorcd their floating batteries opposite the city
with the rapid fire and unerrng ann OF the practlseC
gunner by which an enemy would probably be destroy
ed, crippled he compelled to "tnd"r the at
tack or surprising force TO land on our shores, fore
saw the useless slaughter Of our best ana brarcst cit
zens, who for want OF instruction. would IN all human
probability, be outnanGuvrcd and defeated, and the
amtous scene of the last in The capture of Wash
ington be acted again. The result OF the actor
in which militia brought suddenly togeihe
and opposed 10 regular forces in the open field, com
, pared with that of New Orleans, where the same de
scrption of troops assembled some days before
and stationed behind rampars, teaches impressive
lesson. On the one hand, we gallant but untraIn
ed army of militia waverng before the steady manGu
vres Of regular troops breaking their line and pan
struck, flying from the field leaving the enemy IN pos
session OF the city, to burn and destroy IT. while on h
ohHu imposed OF rev regulars HIIIIl'd
who had the benefit of being brought together sho.
e time in advance, and posted advan tageously behln'
hastily lines achieved OF the most bril-
liant and glorious victories recorded in history, save
the city which was the object of the enterprise an
I drove the enemy with disgrace from soil.
Called by the voice of Congress prepare TO de!en
the country, taught by the events of the last %ha
might be expected from enerprzIng and great IA
val power, and warned by the English press of the pos
sbty in case Of war with that country, of black regi
being landed within the territory of the South
States and tina, the horrors Of serve instruction
might be added to the ordinary calamtes of be
the duty of the Executive to seek TO organize ant
render efficient the only Of defence at hand
The President concurrcd with me in opinion wit!
regard to the importance of organizng the militia
this time; but had agency in preparing the plan re
ported to Congress and previous knowledge OF IT
details 1t was prepared, has already been stated
at the request of Committee of the House OF Repre-
senatves expressed the close of last session, and re
ported to this Congress upon call of the House, mad
directly upon the Secretary of War, and, as IS usual
all such cases. sent to that body without being Prev