Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-06-12

cOmu0seu of
men who have small families or those who have none
ho are IN the full enioymen of bodily STRENGTH and
activity and whose minds easily excited 10
military ardor and the love of glory than those of a
more advanced period OF life. Notwithstanding this
cassiicauun ii recommended that the officers nd
scrreauts of the whole militia OF the United States he
framed for month III every year, at the public ex-
pcnSe The estimate, upon the supposton that the off,
GERS and ScrgcautS receive full pay for month"; with
ont rationS allowance of ratons forage except
10 the Sergcants for whom ratons might be necessary
amounts to 81 73S 800; and made upon the suppo
ston that the officers receive only half pay and the SER
seantS full pay and ratons, to 81 57S 900;
third estimate, upon the suppnsItion that all the officers
receive thirty dollars n month, leaving them on full
pay and ratons, requires 81, 800, 900 per month.
On coming into office, Mr.. Monroe called the unrc
mucd attention of Congress the organization and
discipline of the militia, and frequently repeated the
accommodation.
In 1926 the then Secretary of War, Mr. Barbour
assembled board composed Of regular and militia Off
GERS take consideration the cxpediency of re or
qan,zlng the militia Their report and the numerous
letters addressed to the Secretary in reply to series of
queries put by him TO the Governors of the several
States all recommend select body of militia to be
trained for the defence of the country, in preference
10 the truitless attempt then and making to disc
pne the " hole mass
Mr. Barbour says in his report TO President Adams in
l-2U, 'lmportant changes in the present system in
dSptnsable make the militia any way equal the
standard assigned it By the wishes of the patriot and
again, at would appear that keeping up a system of
the militia extensive the present, and burthen-
some without any advantage to large class of our
tizcns, altogether unnecessary different organ
cation, therefore, by which at least million and half
Of most useful citizens would be relieved from the
Improbable pageantry of military parade for FIVE
days in the year, constituting injurious draft
their industry, must be which cannot fail to be well
received by the American people; and when too II is be-
loved that Notwithstanding this relief, superior eff
Cheney will be impaired 10 this natural arm of the
1.fa he hoard of of
General Scott Major General T. Cadwalader of Penn
sylvania; Aduant- General Sumner of Massachusetts,
Adiutant- General Daniel of y. Carolina; Lieutenant
Colonies Eustis, Z. Taylor and f. Cutler, and Major
NourSe of the United States Army took the same view
OF the classification have DONE and exempted the
young up TO the age of twenty-one, 'because il
thought unnecessary time of peace for govern
interfere with the ordinary control of parents
guardians and masters minors and gave as
their opinion, that weregula,ed, armed and instruct
ed militia of 100000 for the whole union would be
sufficient for all the purposes stated in the Constu
ton. They proposed ian Adlutant- General as
sary to the establishment of efficient plan. They
proposed ''to increase the of service when the mi
mas be called out by the President from three
twelve months. They proposed "to enrol and organ.
brigade for every congressional district in the
United Statcs-the minimum aggregate TO be 4l0,31l
and the ma ximum aggregate So, go men" Camps of
instruction be formed fer the officers Alone who
10 receive pay during the period of pment 10l
camps recommended for ten days in the year. each
10 have instructor from the regular army or from
West Point, and the number of officers annually
sembed and paid during the period of encampment,
after making liberal deductions for absence from sick
and other causes, is estimated at l67oS. The
whole expense calculated AT 81 % cents day for each
officer, at 81 %, andone dollar varies from 3lS,
S2S6,23o= TO 23J 3i3 for the ten days.
General Jackson than whom no man IN this country
had better opportunities OF Observing and practically
experiencing the deficiencies OF the present system,
recommended IN the most earnest manner an organ'za-
Of the militia by classes. He says in his message
of December, 1885 Occurrences to which We, well
all other nations liable both internal and
external relations point to the necessity OF an ehclent
organization of the militia. | again induced, by
the Importance of the subject to bring it 10 your atien-
ton. To suppress domestic violence, and to repe 10
reign INVASION should these calamtes overtake u.s.
rely, the first instance upon the great body OF
the community whose will has instituted, and whose
power must support, the government large standing
military force consonant TO the spirit OF inst
tuons nor to the feelings of our countrymen; and
the lessons of former days and those also of our own
times, show the danger we'll as the enormous eX-
pense OF these permanent and extensive military or
carnations. That Just medium which avoids an made.
uuac preparation one hand, and the danger and
expense OF large force on the other, IS what our
constituents have right to expect from their Govern
ment This object can be attained only by the MAN.
OF small military force, and by such an or
ganizaton of the physical strength of the country
bring this power into operation, whenever ITS ser
vices required. classification of the population
offers the most obvious means Of eectng this organ
zaton. Such division may be made as will be Just
all, by transferring eac At proper period OF me-
from class TO another, and by calling first Tor
the services OF that class, whether Tor instruction
or action, which, from age, is qualified for the
duty and be called TO perform II with the least
injury themselves TO the public Should The dan.
ger become imminent as to require additiohai
force Me other classes in succession would be ready
for the csu. And if in addition to this organization,
voluntary associations encouraged, ana induce
ments held out for their formation our militia would
be IN state Of efficient service. Now, when we are
al peace is tho proper time to adjust and establish
practicable system The object certainly worth the
experiment, and worth the expense. No one appreciat
ing the blessings of Republican Government can OBJ
rect his share of the burden which such plan may
impose Indeed moderate portion OF the national
funds could scarcely be better applied than in carrying
effect and continuing such arrangement, and IN
giving the necessary elementary instruction. "Ihe
armor and the attitude of defence afford the best secu
rtv against those collisions which the ambition, or m
terest or some other passion oil nations, not more ust
fable, liable to produce. In many countries u IS
considered unsafe TO put arms into the hands OF tne
people and 10 instruct them in the elements OF mill
tary knowledge. That fear have place here,
when it recoectcd that the People the sovereign
power Our Government was Instituted, and is sup
ported, by the balot-box not by the musket What
ever changes await it, still greater changes must be made
in our social institutions, before our political system
can Weld to physical force In every aspect therefore,
in which can view the subject, am impressed with
the importance of prompt and efficient organization
OF the militia"
And Mr.. Cass in his report of the same year, uses
the following language sTle defective organization OF
the militia is universally acknowledged But little
practical utility results from the administration OF the
present system; and if this great element of national
defence is worth preservation and improvement, 1t is
time the whole subject should be examined, and that
lan suited TO the exiuencies Of the country should be
adopted am unwilling believe, that there are such
inherent difficulties in this subject to render IT I'M.
practicable or even very difficult to organize this great
force peculiarly adapted TO our condition and sti,
,utions in such manner TO render 1t active ana
efficient IN those iunctures when the country may DC
called on to exert its power. presume few would be
found 10 advocate the maintenance OF standing mil.
tary force adequate to all the purposes OF peace ana
war When, therefore, those exgencies arse, from
which no nation can expect exemption and which call
for an extension Of physical means, acc must resort
IL an increase thtc army, to the cmb0dyng Of e
wiiitQ 1t is obvious. from the extent OF the country
III IL. cnI anIflc