Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1840-04-30

for short time, will return and impsrt to
IL the military knowledge and experience
they have acquired during their period of
service. have prepared the plan. the de-
tails Of which are herewith submitted,
sgreeably 10 the resolution OF the House.
1t is believed that. 90 examining them, il
viii be apparent that the scheme is not
liable 10 any one OF the objections that are
urged against large standing armies, but.
on the contrary. that II will form select
body Of well.diseiplined militia. ready
themselves 10 defend their county 10 the
hour Of danger against any sudden attack.
and furnishing corps, around which the
less instructed mass may rally: possessing,
in some degree. the military knowledge
and skill o. regular soldiers, they will be
able alike 10 protect their county from q
foreign foe. and TO guard its liberties from
any danger that may threaten them.
| IL appears 10 me that the organization
now proposed viii prevent the necessity Of
maintaining large standing armies. even
In time OF war. The militia, properly
drilled and Instructed. will be thereby
rendered perfectly efficient, and capable
Of defending the forts along our maritime
frontier. which. in the absence Of such an
organization, would require a regular ar.
my Of City thousand men. Al present,
the militia cannot be rendered immedi-
aiely available against surprise; whereas.
under the proposed organization. they
would repair to their stations at the first
alarm. and would be efficient soldiers
when there. In case Of war. those sta.
tons would become permanent, aud ar
rangements might easily be made 80 as TO
render the service rs little burdensome a.
possible 10 the artisan and mechanic.
Every preeaution has been taken 10
avoid all interference with the rights Of
the States; or 10 lessen their means Of de-
fence. The militia will be called out in
the manner al present provided for by
law, and no change is contemplated in
:he mode Of offering the several corps
Of which the active class will be compos-
ed.
4 IL will not abstract single man from
the defence Of the State where he resides,
nor separate him from the class OF ci,i.
zens 20 which he belongs. 1t will, on
the contrary, strengthen the delences OF
each State. by furnishing il with a we'll
organized and we'll dscip lined force. Ia.
ken from the People, and making part Of
the People equally interested with their
fellow citizens in the preservation Of free
institutions. and ready OF ell times TO
guard the territory and the liberty Of their
country. Neither does it interfere, in
any manner. with the constitutional rights
Of the States TO train their own militia &C
cording TO the displine prescribed by Con.
gress, because the active militia will be
employed by the President during the pc
Rod they are preparing for warlike SER
vice in garrison and in the field. And
while the States have ell the advantages
which may result from we'll. organized
and disciplined mi;tis. they w., - The
same time, he exempt from the losses,
expenses, and evils which follow, neces.
sarily, from the assemblage OF large null.
ttitudes for merely nominal military in
struetion. II is to be considered, also,
that portion Of the militia are provided
with opportunities for the attainment OF
the essentials ofmilitsry knowledge, and
at the same iime that they relieve the re-.
mainder from an onerous and useless bur
den, they themselves will not be Cypress.
ed by an undue amount Of military service
being required Of them: but on the con.
traEy, by comparing the time which. IN
der the present system. is devoted 10 that
object. il will be found that there is buI
very little additional service, IL any, re.
quirs6. and for that time they will be suf.
6eiently compensated. The compensation
contemplated is adequate under good
administration Of the laws proposed, which
are TO be made uniform 10 their sPpIica-
tom by regulations TO DO Issued by the
President, 90 as to prevent any expense
To- the citizen who is thus called out, though
II may not rise, 10 amount, % the sum
which bis pursuits in social life might az.
lord. The total amount required 10 re-
eompense the militia TO be called ouI
for exercise will be lTihing, when
compared with the loss Of time ex.
2eriehced by our llow-cilizens under
the present imperfect organization, and Of
the serious evils TO which the youth Of the
country are exposed by the frequent at
temps nov made 10 impsrt 10 them ave
~ imperfect knowledge Of the duties Of
the soldier. The subioined plan will, II
10 believed, tend TO diminish. il not en-
tireiy remove. such evils, add will also,
BY sDgendeIingan esprit du eorpf through.
out the militia Olshs several districts, sle.
Vaie "a the mind, Of every citizen, the
character Of the duties hieh he is requir.
ed TO perform, and taus make more GER.
tain the results uhichare hoped lorby this
system Of military precanlion and defence.
Ia preparing the details Of the proposed
reoTganiEaiion Of The militia 81 The uniisd
states, ] have been governed By sn ear
nest desire 10 place TIE county IN ca at
iiisss q defence aad a. the same lime,
- secure q from The necessity Of main-
tanning Is any period large standing ar
my 70 render the militia effective, giih.
cut SishdraWing too large q Number Of
our fellow citizens from their occupalions
Al any one time, sod 10 diGuse lbfoOghout
the eommuniiy generally some ka0e ledge
o. military fsFyice, without ta1ing the
Treasury Too heavily. Al this y sppesri
90 ne, viii Be- effected BY dnllisR d0riue
l 4 years. one hundred Thousand men l1f Al