Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1840-07-04

consideration Of Congress, the eKpediency Of nsi-
tulinR a system whieh shall. 10 The ffst instance,
call into The fed. a fhs public szpsnss. ana for
time, certain podons 1T tie commissioned and non
comm siOnrd oeicers. The instruction and discip-
line thus acquired would grsdusly difiise, through
the entire body Of the militia that practical knoW
edge and prOmputUde ior active service which are
the great ends to pursued"
! Ia 1912, when on the eve OF a war with Great
Britain, Mr.. Madison repeats the Recommendation
with great earnestness and al the close OF the war
he SAYS: cannot press too much on the alien-
ton Of Congress such Classification and Organza-
ton Of the militia az will most efcctually render il
the safeguard Of free State, If experience has
shown, IN the recent splendid achievements of iae
militia, the value Of tins resource Coz the pubic de-
lenee. has shown also the importance Of that skill
IN the use OF arms and Of familiarity with the es-
sential rules of discipline. which cannot be expect
ed from the regulations now 10 force.
In 1919, the Legislature Of Kentucky adopted res
| outons on this subject, and recOmrDended 10 Con
gress he Classification Of the militia by dividing u
into three ciasses-the first 10 be composed OF all
capable OF bearing arms from Is 10 Il years OF age
the second between II and 27-ihe third between
~ and 45 years. The principal object Of This class
would be, 10 acquire knowledge Of tactics and dis
cipline ofthe second, which might be denomnaied
the effective one, To be completely armed and equip
ped TO march wherever required Of the third, To
form reserve, which need not be compelled 10 at
tend musters unless when called upon to render ac-
| tual service
The progress Of oil capable Of bearing arms
through tne several classes promises greater per-
lection Of discipline than can be effected under the
present plan, oil would, in fact, have thus passed
through a school in which il would have been
taught, and perhaps more than million OF dollars be
annually saved to the community in The labor Of
those excused from useleSsly attending musteIs.-
But the greatest advantage which would result
from Il would be the keeping an effective, dispose.
bic, and competent military force at all tunes ready
| for service without the danger and inconvenience
resulting from a standing army.
The great solicItude felt by Mr.. Madison for n
more efficient organization OF the army, induced
him again TO call he attention OF Congress TO the
subject. In his last message Of December 80,
| 1915, he says "As a subject of the highest
| importance to The national welfare, must again
earnestly recommend TO the consideration Of Con-
gress u reorganization oClhe militia on plan,
which will form Il into classes according TO the
periods Of life more or less adapted to military
| services. An efficient militia IS authorized and
contemplated by the Constitution, and required
by the spItll and safety Of the Government. The
present organisation Of om militia is uairstsol'
" isgdrdsd as lass stieenl ihGn il ought 10 b
made; and no organization can be better calcu-
lated TO give 10 1t It's due force, than a classical.
/ ton which will assign the foremost place IN the
defence oflhe country to that portion Of lis ciii
gems, whose activity and animation best enable
them to rail-, to its standard"
| la conformity with these views. and conpll-
| ance with resolution Of the House OF Represen.
tatIves, requesting the Secretary Of War to report
a system for the organization and discipline Of the
mlh,la. best calculated IN hrs opinion. 10 promote
the efficiency Of that force when called into the
public service, plan vas submitted in 1917 by
that officer which divided the militia into three
classes, Those between Is and Il years Of
| age To be called the .ui.pr Class those between
/ III and I'll 10 be called the JNaicr Glass and
those over 81 and under IS wears OF age 70 be
cahed the SsH,er Class OF militla,"
The mlhtia Of tie two first classes &c be as.
sembled a, environments nc, more than twice
| year. and that While 50 assembled lhey shall be
subsisled and equipped a, the expense OF the Uni.
| ted States. One OF more arseusls and depots
/ ~ere TO he established IN each Stats or TeHao.
iy,
The committee al the House Ia whsch lnss r0r.
tea Of Mr. Madison's message, aud the plan Of
the Secretary Of War were referred. ard Of which
General William Hsnty HARRISON was Chairman.
sahmAttd an elaborate report, accompanied by a
bill adopting the principles recommended by the
Execuive, and engTaiied upon il a system or lhe
military instruction. OF all the youth IN The Unisd
States a, the paalc expense The report sets
forth, that ",o Instruct the present mtlaIs Of the
country 10 Sny useful exlsn,.~ould require larger
parton Q; IheU time lhAa they can possibly spare
iren the duty o' providing Tor Iher families unless
they are literally pa,d-to pay them would sbsorb
, all The resources oil the naiioS."
The alternative appears to he to direct she ei.
J iogts 1.-The Government 20 instruct such portion
! OF Toe mtl,ia as taeu means wd asg0u. and wh.ch
would produce tbs mos, beneficial result upon the
whole mass"
, The b,gl divided Toe ualh,A into three classes
! as proposed by he Secretary Of War; and Gene.
/ 81 Hsuisoa SAYS; the JUNIOR or middle clas.
w'll he eeHPeSsd af Easa ~ae hare small saaAl.s.
: ~ those who have noae, who are IN Eal sniov
y msRi ct bodily s,reag,h ami acsivlsy. and uhos,
minds are more easiy excited TO aebiasy srdau
/ and tAs leye q sseFy. Than tAose Of nose edssa
! eec Peuea az he. notwithstanding tbs classsh
= cation, 4 IS recommended that The officers anS
sergeerss 1t ,Ae hoe militia Sf tAe aissd Stale.
= be trained ies uns month IN every year. al Ia,
i pahic expense. The estimate. ep@a lhe svnro
ss1ton that the ossosrs and ssrgs1nts received ul
! paw teT one moagh, without tels0as q ca allow
: ance Of rA'lons or forage sxeSpt TO tse ssrseana
{ fey whon rasOas naigA, be necessary, amounts /,
: Sl,7SS500; aad eUe made upon tie ssppos,iicr
.hA1 he efcefs Fscs'se oaly haf pay ant tie ser
! sss0ts suA pay ass FasaRs, amounts 10 81 as,
GOO; iAst estimate, 17on he ssPPossgson laa 81
sAe ofncers receive shr.y dollars ineatA. o. lea
Vag iAsm 60 fsll pay sad 'slieSs, rssaasS 81.
! SSS,CC0 per UsoatA-"
: GA eorains VITO esscs. Me- MousOe eaasd th
snFssasted astenEsoa Ct CeagrsSs TO The etgans4a
too ard Gsscsasan% ofthe uaslta. and freSOer,l