Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-06-16

Mr.. KEEN, from the Committee the Militia, sub
mittcd the following
The Committee ou tie .!Eiitia 10 ,chom reterred
Mc propositions attic Secretary IF Var, report:
That, due consideration Of the subject submitted
to them, they find it correspond III It's essential part'
culars, with the plans and suggestions recommended Ia
Congress BY General Washington Mr. Jefferson, Nf.
Madison and General JACKSON and TO differ III some
Of It's details only from those heretofore presented ny
the ioriHcr Secretaries Of War, General Knox, James
Barbour and Lewis Cass They all purport TO present
classification of the militia of the United States, and
the adaptation OF portion Of II to the more active du-
ties of defence, by being frequently instructed
and trained for that purpose, and they all contemplate
this being done at the public expense
The present plan differs from the others iii only tree
respects
/. Most Of the former projects confined the trau,U.
aud discipline to the officers and sergeants and Im-'t
the pay to that class alone whereas, that under cos.
Iteration proposes pay the privates well the com
mlssoncd aud commissioned officers. THIS up
pears to your committee to be very just feature, for
the privatcs stand fully in much need Of this pccuni
ary All, while they are withdrawn from their daily
cupatom for the purpose Of acquiring the military skill
necessary to defend the country, do their officers.
l. 1t introduces the principle OF rotation, by the opc
ration Of which the period actually engaged III training
is diminished, aud portions OF the instructed are re-
turacd into the mass, npartlng their military know
ledge and spirit to it, thus tcmpcring the military ardo
by the nroducton stated periods, Of fourth part
fresh from the people
3 II rejects The Justification BY are which imposes
the duty OF defending the country almost entirely upon
those under twenty years.
In the exceptions made by this classification By com
m!cc OF the House OF Representatives., as long ago
i-n6 We find il urged, objection, "that from i
to u wears Of age period Of life in winch young
imrn arc employed in completing their cdncat'on IN
pursuits Of mechanical information, or in acquiring
necessary acquaintance with some other branch OF bust
ness, occupation profession, on the improvement OF
which they calculate to obtain subsistence at
would seem, therefore, that all arrangement which
would compel this class OF our citizens to bear the PTn.
cpal part Of the burden of national defence, might
Justly be deemed departure from that principle OF DIS.
trbutiyc Justice which ought be paramount carac-
tcristic of the Government Of the |. > That young
men would better endure the iatIgues Of campaign
than those more advanced III life cannot hc doubted; but
that they should be- exclusively selected as active
force, is position which imposes on them very unc-
Qual burden In this view, the Secretary OF War rX-
cnp;s, entirely, al! persons under twenty, ana relies
upon those between twenty and iorty.vc years OF age
The detail of this plan embrace nearly all those OF the
existing - establishing uniform militia throughout
the L. s, passed III 1872 but differ from 1t IN several
particulars tending TO render It's requirements less bur
dcnsomc 10 the people. The Secretary plan restricts
The duty ofranng onc-tcnth part of the number now
required be assemble for tins purpose and while IT II
mS The asscm!ac OF the militia engaged IN training 10
their states it differs, also, from the previous plans,
by proposing establish dcpoS Of amsand ammunition
in the several States and Territories (near To winch
thr militia engaged in training are To be aSSe!nhca,l
and to ar, and equip them from these dcpots at the pub
lie cost; whcrca by the law as It now exists tn" whole
body OF the militia of the Udted States IS compelled,
under heavy penalties TO provide arms ana accoutre
mcnts al individual expense. committee oil Inc IAN
Congress expressed opinion that ian energetic ma
toun militia is to be regarded the capital security
of free republic and that 1t is desirable It should be 50
organized and trained to the use o arms as 10 supeseue
under any circumstances the necessity OF standing
army. THIS is undoubtedly Just conclusion; and with
similar impression the Secretary OF War has presented
views calculated to effect equitable disposition
Of the whole militia force of the country than any others
that have yct been presented The Secretary OF War,
IN his letter 10 the committee OF the eth OF April laS
which has been printed for the use OF the House, *
mains the doubts by the committee IN reard
10 the conStu,ionaltv of OF lis provisions, By de-
caring that the department contemplated asking the
consent of the States lit should become necessary, 70
call for draughts Of militia FIJI the ranks of the class
he engaged in training, and to place lis CHEF reliance
on volunteer companies.
The Sccretarys propositions made in obedience
toa call of committee of the House of Representatives
Of the last session. Immediately after the passage Of
biz appropriating ten millions of dollars, and authori.
znr the acceptance OF fifty thousand volunteers TO meet
ap9rcrnGcG collision the Northeastern frontier and
presented to this House pending the negotiation upon
:
such circumstances, when some immediate action
seemed not only urgent but unavoidable, that care was
,.nrted that the constitutional requirements should DC
Observed Tho plan itself is IN many particulars s':i
lar to numerous others III the archives o Congress,
and contains provisions, il! not wholly uuexccptona-
be certainly lar less objectionable than most OF them.
The following extracts Will afford The leading Opin
ons and views that have been held heretofore on the
subject of the organization Of the militia:
On Tn. 2s of January, l1!ic, General Knox, Sccrc-
g.,l ,,lut Tart
rnngcmcnt Of the militia Of the United States, in which
he expresses s'an ANXIOUS desire TO devise national
system Of defence, adequate to the probable cxrgences
fthe t. States, whether arising from external or m
trrnal causes and at the same time to crccta standard
Of Republican magnanimty independent of, and supe-
rinr TO- the powerful influences of wealth The con
vuir. events generated BY the nordina:c pursuit OF
riches or ambition require that the Government should
possess strong corrective arm The idea IS therefore
submiltrd whether Efficient military branch OF Go
ycrnmrn can be invented with safety To the great prn-
ciplrs nr liberty unless the same shall be- formed OF
the people themselves and supported By their habits aud
Ills pIan was 10 organize the militia into three classes
The advanced corps be composed OF youths OF eish
teen, nineteen and twenty years
Til, man corps to be composed by rotation from al
vanccG corns Of men from twcny-o TO torty-hve
wears Of are The reserved corps embraced thr men
from fnr,y-siX 10 sixty years OF age.
..,ll the militia shall assume the form of The legion,
consisting d -; officers and 2,c~o noncomniSs'o"ea
officers and psiv0tcs.
The sum OF tour hundred thousand dollars annually
yas considered sufficient 10 meet the expenses ct IN
s,rucfiu.r thirty thousand for thirty days Wch
SIM appor.!onrd three millions of people, "ou!" ne
I,,ilc less tlIan one -uiahtlr Of n dollar "a"h.
Mr. Cobb, the 18th Of March, l'94, FcPort'u :"
t. louso Of Rcpcs 'tha as tie Ight % 'fa'h
mo the militia IS reserved to the States, they can D"
impressed with the Importance OF exercising ,, Pc"
or and directing its operation, more eSpec'a! 10 '''
Iirht infantry aud grcnadier companies OF eaeh reg
ment efficient force may be created mrreoyi Tdai
10 any that can be probably obtained by any adatona
ay Of the United States, made under the constitutions
power of Congress.
Esrnc,s ro tie ;ns,rnoas from The Gcera, .G JSIIT.
bi, of iTrsiaiato Stephen NompSon .HaSo" nm " :"
.c earn Vcboias, Senator'S from thu S'@ie q 'Tgt'
"@. in The Congress # Tie raed o"fe> '"""a'y H.
800. -. ia -,rL. &c r,;s
IN The discretion of Congress, yet evidently
the militia as the great oul%aS q nnai@1n'
decnrc As well 10 use the language OF the cons,tn-
onl 10 rev nrasions TO crec" the ta'eS q inc IN
~ aA snpprcss msnrrcctio"s, and contemplated 'he
and ny