Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-04-28
ORGANIZATION OF THE MILITIA.
TIiUSe Of RsurfSsDtu,trsS juru Il


SIR; There several points IN your proposed re-
Organization of the militia OF the United States winch
present contrarIcty OF sentiment to the committee 10
whom the subject referred | have. therefore, ct
their request. taken the liberty 30 suggost the difficulty
10 and ascertain more fully your cTs, than those
gwen IN your prujct.
By the ih proposition OF The system, the tcrrsiofy
OF the L. :. divided INTO districts, and with the
exception Of New York, each district i composed o
tpo suites. Are we To understand, that the
President is empowered 10 call the whole iorcc al
any one of the districts al the same time and
| point he NAV designate:
The n,crpre tation Of the TERRITORY of the L. S. is
understood hv some TO mean the public lands, and the
District Of Columbia, and does embrace the limits
the several States othe Considerations idea which
would to be strengthened 10y the Constitution
which declares " well regulated militia necessary to
| the security Of a free State.
| By the 18th proposition, 'the power of the Prcs-
dent TO cal forth and assemble such numbers of the
active force of the militia he deem necessary,
and subject them to such regulations lie thnk
proper 10 adopt for their instruction. discipline and i'm
provement in military knowledge is organization
which may be inConsnnant with the cth section OF the
LIST article OF the Constitutions that provides for calling
forth the militia and TO the States respectively
the appointment of the officers, ana The authority If
training the militia, according to the pine prescri5
cd BY Congress.
With sincere desire to effect proper organization
of tine militia, the only defence Of free country you
the subject in the confidence that you always ready
to afford every information and aid in securing pro-
per system
have the honor to be, your obelient servant,
/ GEO. NJ. KEN.
Hon J. r. PolSsrTr, Secretary Of Var.
WAR DErARTuEar,
| April :, lc40.
SIR have the honor to acknowledge the receipt Of
your letter OF the 9th inst, stating the difficulties which
have suggested themselves TO the committee which
referred the plan for the reorganization Of the mill
tia of the L. States, and desiring ascertain my
more fully than they stated in the plan presented
to the House.
The details of the plan for recognizing the militia
having been called for by member Of the committee,
took it for granted that this would be pursued
and to avoid being tedious, did not enter into
mute explanations. therefore avail myself, with plea
sure, of the opportunity afforded me, TO reply 10
the objections which have presented themselves 10 the
COMMITTEE. The proposition TO divide the territory OF
the United States, by which is here meant the area en-
braced by the geographical boundaries OF the whole
Comfedcracy, intended for military purposes, order
that each district may be commanded by officer,
who would have the general direction of the regulars
ana militia within the district; but the plan conenpa-
rd that the power of the President to call out this
ia, should be restricted to assembling the militia Of
each State within its territorial limits.
With regard the 18th article, the same difficulty
which presented itself TO the committee occurred
me when considering this subject, viz that provision
of the Constitution which restricts the power of Con.
gress The militia TO organizing, nrming and disci-
plining item reserving to the States respectively The
appointment OF officers, aud The authority of training
the militia according 10 the discipline prescribed by
Congress. Although the word discipning is sIsce pit
ible ri different Interpretation from that ven To It
here III! subsequent reservation the States OF the
power Train the militia according TO the system Of
dictpjn, adopted by Congress, would seem define its
mean ny: md NJ we cannot be loo scrIpulnrs in our
Interpretation Of the Constitution, propose that, in
the Of lis becoming necessary 10 resort TO drafts
in order TO fill the ranks of the active class of mill.
tia to apply TO the States 10 place by law their contin-
gents at the disposition Of the General Government,
for period not than thirty days Of every year. for
the purpose Of their being trained in conjunction with
the regular troops and by veteran officers. Ii is pro-
babc that this cooperation will be withheld by any
State when the advantages presented, of possessing
body of we'll organized we'll armed, and we'll disc
pned militia, without any expense either TO the States
or to the citizens and when they made that
it is the intention Of the Government to assemble such
militia at convenient points within each State, and
IN the vicinity of depots arms which proposed to
establish part of The system.
am, however, led 10 believe, from the character Of
our feliowczens, and from circumstances which have
come to my knowledge that il will scarcely be neces-
sary to resort to militia drafts, order fill the ranks
of the active class The volunteer corps have gene
rally erinced so much eagerness to avail themselves OF
the advantages to be derived from association with
regulars, and much zeal and proper feeling BY prof
ferng their services on all occasions when they might
be useful that cannot doubt if the President were au-
thorzcd to receive them into the service of the T. s.
sufficient body Of volunteers, within the prescribed
age might be enrolled, and the necessity for drafts al
together avoided. proposed therefore, that this au.
thorty he granted, but restricted TO limit the Pc
rod even Of voluntary servce to period not exceeding
! 80 days in each year
Aware, however, Of the inporanes and oemprehsn.