Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-08-07

Il The organization of the militia thus established ;.
been in force nearly fifty years 1t varies 10 manfs-
sental particulars from that recommended b G"iri
Washington, and has been regarded ever since Us AZ
ton as defective n ~ eminent degree, a well By
isuccrssiye Presidents o; Tie L ;. 5 hy Oh other
sons. whose habits Of l,ir and opportunities Of pp's@l
obse rvation have fitted them 10 form sound ppm,
upon The subject. Us Improvement was therefore
Object OF unceas'ng and anr'aGs so!lcitud- IN the :.
Of Gen. Washington, AID aimost every successive h.
4, mt commenced hs career wIth calling th" a't-u.,
Of Congress 70 The subject, and CLOSED i wstn cHJ..
lsions If regret that these commentator mad provo
rnavarIing. Gen. Cas-, when S"c'etary Of War, s;a,.
m an Official report, that TINS subject had been pies.
cd for consideration no less than airg.oae TINS IN a..
ciaI Executive communications. commencing with +
inaugural address Of President Washington.
The principal objections 10 the Prrs~n; -ys,em ~.
par 10 arse from til" great AMI unnecessary ~xtrn
the enrolment Of the mlh.a he'd 10 actgai <eryrr.
and VIII" are required to muster and d. duIy a corr
numb-r of DAYS IN the yea7, and from the wan, ut a..
auat- means or Inducements /" secure a proper Ir>i- e.
4 ton; by reason 81 winch this heavy tax : not ou'y -.
derrd ia q great d~grce useless, Out' also unrea,ya.
burdensnme
By the Federal Constitution, Congress has the ?s-..
to provide fr calling forth the nr!'tlt T. c,.cgta -
a IS Of the Union. suppress instruction and rsp-
yasion. The militia force provided Tor these DG-s-.
by existing laws. and ahIct, 10 render i ,drc; -.
compelled 70 be q. all tunes provided "Ith arms. sec...
tremen's aud ammunition, and to De- muster: :
drilled ats,ated periods. and kept always ready t1-> -.
wee. comprises, with limited and cnuncrs:-a r1.I-,
tons, the whole OF the a5.r-bodied male white pa.....
ton of the L. States, between th- ages 81 / ana -
When !, j. considered that IN" nanbcr 81 tHrSe srsM...
,ns 10 Official returns cxcrrd a mn5i0n ami q b. ff e.-
and probabig at this period. amounts t. rs" m..aa.. @e
immense and consequently oppressive excess, '.n.y.
sting preparatory enrolment. hey nd the po>>.5.r %a-s
Of the country. must be apparent I, all. Hos i-.-
axtst3nr organization and llws passed by tie STAT.
pursuance Thereof: have proved sgrcrSsiu. N asra.
plIshing the great object n view. 81 the lnstrgr.
and Improvement a.: citizen soldiers ia m3.Ita.: t#c,s,
you are allie to judgr for Yourselves. Tn" rr.#s
we're a short time SINCE Slammed up ~ til" rSjc"r
fore alluded 70, IN these rmphalc word: 1T : yar
expect. tia, tn whole adult population Il the conr,r
can. or Kill furnish themselves 9TH the articles regur.
b: law: or that their collection. for aHg ruHihtr "f IL
t!.ey can afford TO devote to tn ons"ct, aud under H.
usu,l circumstances OF SUCH as>-WhlaG"s. can groG..s
any beneficial effects 10 themselves " Their cuuG''9-
Already. 70 A number OF Tia" states. tie sy-'"m n.
sYnk unte- the weight OF public opinion. and TIE pas.
teal Gg,stlon nOw -. whether We shall rrms.n m 'ne,,
def nc-lr~S. or resort II \ large standing H.l!af force
il time Of peace, that jast dead "' AL tFr" "o'',7'
linar,s, o- adopt an eiicirnt plan, which vi! pr~sa-~t;
the public defence the greatest force at TIE least COS,
and wIiiou. danger
To remedy the evils Of the present sys.cu. 1t h.
been repeatedly proposed to Te''rsahizr u" lH..;'.
N such manner Is 10 reduce the numn"r o' u.r.
who shall be fitted and aIHays ready To perform ,e
service contemplated b. the Constitution. "a 'fwa
the number Of two millions TO two hunlr"t .aa.
saad. and Ia pay the latter 4 reasonable c~"Ep"n>' &
uut IF the National treasury, IN Order 10 r"au-.~--
them !Ir the increased bUttEen i"aS imposed "a
them. Several plans, 70 effect t.'s Pr!7t">". -s',
from tine 70 time, been submitted 70 Congress, a s-.
r.ssivr Secretaries Of War. commencing VIII ''ra-".
Knoa's. IN 1870, and ending witii that OF VI fo"sr'',,
m !-!a. That Mr. Poin-etts IS, N sevr:a. ~f">g,-'s
preferable 10 those winch have preceded II, ana : I'LL.
cula,rd 10 effect a more .qUlaa!. disposition O: 'a
whole military force Of the country than any her"'ot"r
presented. appears 10 have been the op'n'on q '-
Committees of both houses of Congress The g'.-r.s
Of this preference are fully set forth in tie able reports
made by their respective clairmcn, at the la! session.
wl.ic! have been published. and extensively c.rc2..
ted, and are stated as follows
ls,. It ex,rnds the pay, for the period occupied /:
training, 10 yrirutrs as well as to commissioned ""a H'-
commissioned DIFFERS, to whom y w4s limited ~ "s
plans Of others 2nt. INTRODUCES the pr'nc pie oi t.',
uon, By winch the period during which the ci!i4e", &s
engaged IN training IL diminished, ard the instruct.
thrv receive more directly impaired 10 TIE mass. auaGz
burthcns as well as benefits more equally ~G'slFL1m.
among the people. Bird. Ine1c!uGIng from enrolment.
between II and ~ years OF age, hrlng the periodic 81:
which Young men are employed IN tnish.n giheirecas.
ton. learning trade or studying the protrssioU5 y waN-
they hope to obtain a livelihood. In these preference. |
| concur. ln all other respects the different plan: a-
understood 10 be substantially the same. Thcy are ::
with regard To the authority OF the officers or": the
Yates, and The rules forthe government Of all "he"e-"
ed on; for Or Il. They all propose, that the rules s"g.I
be those established for the government Of the army .:
existing law appi;cs those rules to the militia, wnsnos
ed into the service OF the |. ). and has done Sairrm# I
years past. Mr.. Pornsetts plan does not add = s.tEt
penalty or new provision, There certainly exist, q
some extent = prejudice in the public mind ag9''.,t ID: /
application Of the same rgor IN the d~;scip!in" cfc'." |
soldiers, who are only called out FIR short prr"cs !
service, as that which is applied by all nations 10 ia"'.
who make arms a profession. II VIII be tor Congress
decide, aided by the opinions Of experuenctd mIta. :
men. whether the discipline OF the militia, when caIt I
INTO the service Of the United States, viii admit Of 'r5
rela 5ation. No one appears yet 10 have thought 3 |
The rule bv winch Congress should be g"vernrd, 10 I
nv opinion, - 10 confer as much authority ~ = me- (
crssarv to subnrdI nation ana Improvement, ard % L
adapt The regulations as tar q. practicable To Tie |
character Of the force, and tie feelings and t. |
bits of our people. The different plans are also a.t /
in recurring the militia 10 arm itself, II - true. " 1
Poinsctt ~cnntempl!tcs the establishment Of Drp"s@ /
arms and ammunition at the eXprns- Of the Fet.@. I
Government, near toe places where the militia AZ" 10 |
muster tor training: hot, like oil his PREDECESSORS e L
proposes 10 leave IN force the present law, wiliclI ma"' /
i the duty of every enrolled c:tz"n 10 b" constants 1
provided with arms, Announcements and ammuo:t ou st I
his own expense. THIS law, il Will he remembered, "i Z
passed under the admins ration of Gen. Wash ng'"a &
and WINS re-enacted under that of MIR. Jefferson lie {
g1rded az an indication Of the principles Of our e."
rernment, which confidcs the protection OF the hs' h
lies nr the country and the maintenance o: publc nn"' B
To the hants oithe Tree c';iz~rs OF Tie ls"pdblc, Il VS. 4
honorable 10 our legislation, and stands IN beautiful " l
tras, wih the Institutions "fn:hcr cnuutrcSh wllrGht L
! people, so lar rom tPliiI c"Iilpt!icG 10 nave HibtS. 81 II
denied the right t. possess them, ana deprived 81 ~ II
uSe. But the utter urriictenry OF TINS pr"v,> nu o'hs 4
law to i;dure the people u arm themselves prop
has been fully demonstrated. 1t rs rni" 10 expect, $50 i
Governor Cass IN the report before cited, that
whole adult male population OF the country cnr,arM
furR sI themselves with the articles required BY las }
Wherever a military pr de IS excited, - : tie g." I
with volunteer associations the law is 0hcy'di r' 3
cannot. it appears 10 me, b. carried into cx,cu'"u wE
the mass ni the militia without a m0r" Moor ~ rr
c 50 ofauth rty on lie parto f the Government tUla r
consistent ~ tl the spirIt of our Institutions Nr
sctts plan proposed 10 cStablIsI GrpctS a! ar;Is IN
several States al the public expense, 10 he used ~, u
training, or IN actual service BY tie militia sr.cr'r-" \
duty, and rs It wasn not contemplated 10 muster hrh"
81 In" ntii;ia for discipline, K wHl amy judgment 3
@"lI worthy Oispr.oGS consideration. whether Il h'r-
The provision "i the law winch requires IN" inttiih i"a'
themselves at their own expense, leaving II 70 '.ri " d
ton u be- 20 provided or not; and the dIs'T1au'io"
arms ~ the full extent that nay be necessary Il" ,dtIs i
the III l,ra vixen called INTO active service. ought "'' q
constitute n par; o! any plan for the Tr.otgln'Aano" 3
fh. uttI a 70 rbIrfN a rprlfn0 "a & nor re Il BE- 4N&tTea H