The Ohio Democrat and Dover advertiser. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1839-1840, 1840-07-03

OtlNU ANN 1, DO L n RE~Oh>
GANlZAFlON OF THE MILL.
TIA.
Correspondence Of TIE NJ Y Posi-
Washington City, June l2h, 1910.
The project submitted to the AmerI-
can Congress BY Mr. POinselt, of the
q WarsDsPartmeut, in cbediencetoa cali
fion the Essse7of Representatives, for
plan for the Reorganization ofthe Ar
my, has since il has, been SO grossly anO
unfairly missepreseaied by the wings,
for partizan purposes, that il has been
deemed necessary and proper, to sub
init the Srhole matter, to the Committee
'eoa Militia. The duty, was delegated
TO Gen. George Keim of Pennsylvania,
%aud he has dIscharg ID the duty assign
ed him with distinguished ability. HIS
report, was made the day before yester-
day, hut, 1 have no, had the pleasure of
sesipg a copy of it before to-dsy.
In the Introductory passage to the re-
port, Mr.. Keim, in the Committee, BY
way OF elucidalion Of Mr.. Poinsett's
scheme, holds the following language,
which is essential TO clear understan-
ding Of the matter:
'|That, on due consideration Of tho
subject TO them, they find it 10 cores .
pond, in its essential particulars, with
the plans and suggestions recommended
20 Congress by General Washington,
Mr., Jefferson, Mr.. Madison, and Gem
al jackson, and to differ in some OF its
details only from those heretofore pre-
sentod by the mer.Secretaries Of War
General Knox, James Barbour, and
Lewis Ca>s They all purpcrt to pre-
sent classification Of the militia of the
u. States, and the adaptation OF por
ton of it 10 the more active duties Of de-
fence by being more frequently lnstruc-
ted and trained for that purpose; and
they all contemplate this being done at
the public expense.
the present plan differs from the
others in only these respects:
Il. Most ofthe former projects con-
fined The training aud discipline to off,
GERS and sergeants, and limited TO pay
to that class alone; whereas, that under
consideration propr ses to pay The pri-
Yates as we'll as the commissioned and
non-commissioned officers. This ap-
pears TO your committee TO be a very
just feature, for the privaies stand fully
in as much need Of his pecunlary aid,
while they are Withdrawn from their dal
y occupation tor the purpose of acquir-
'og the military skill Lecessary TO de-
tend the country, as do their officers.
50, 1t introduces the principle Of ro-
tation, by the operation Of which The Pc
riod actually engaged in training is d.
minished, and portions Of the instructed
are returned into the mass, imparting
their military knowledge and spirit to it,
thus tempering the military ardor and
love of glory which prevsde tho cIaes
liable to duty by the introduction, at sta
led periods, OF one-iourlh parts fresh
IIoih Ihe poepie'
3. 1t rejects tie classification by
age, which imposes the duty of defen-
ding The country almost entirely upon
those under twenty years. |
in the exceptions made to4his clos-
si6cation by committee of lhe House
Of Representatives, as long as 1906, !
We find it urged, as an objection, 4hat
from ls to 2l years ofags 10 period of
life in which young men are employed
in completing their education, in pursuit
Of mecnanical information, or in acqHr-
ing necessary acquaintance with some
olhei branah Of business, occupation or
profession, on the improvement of which
they calculate to obtain a .subsstance.'
1T would seem, therefore, thatan ar
rangement which would compel ibis
class Of our Sitizens to bear the prici-
pei part of The burden Of national de~
snee, might justly be deemed depar-
ure from that principle q dislributive
Justice which ought4o be a ,paramoun,
;haEscteristic of the Government of The
Unted ~Stntee.' That young men would
better endure Tire fatgues Of a campaign
han those more advanced in life cannot
se doubted; but that they should be ex- 4
:iusiveIJ selected as an active force, is
position which imposes on them We
y unequal burden. In this view, The
Secretary of War exempts, entirely, all
'srsons under twenty, and relies upon
hose between twenty and forty five
ears ofage. The details ofthis plan
mbrace nearly all those of the existing
aw establishing a uniform militia
throughout the United States, passed in
1872, but differ from il in several partic-
lars tendiegto render it's requirements
sss burdensome TO the Fpeople. The '
plan restricts the duty of
raining TO one-tenth part Of the number ]
ow required, to be assembled for this c