Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-02-13

ed necessary by the government But~whenl
called out, an allowance Of $40 forty dollars
| per annum to each, al compensation for uni-s
! form, is to be made; and each COPS or COM
pany is TO serve as whole under its eWn Of
ficers, and, where danger shall be encountered,
shoulder to shoulder, with their own comrades.
This the committee deem due to men who.
even IN times of peace, have manifested pro-
per military spirit, and upon whom the conn
try, therefore, in times of dagger, could conf
IDENTIFY rely.
To the second class, including those be-
tween the ages of thirty and forty-hve years,
the bill allows the privilege, on general en-
roIment in the time of threatened danger to-
enrol themselves in separate and distinct
corps, and thus become liable to furnish re-
cruts for the regular army in the proportion
of one to ten Of their number. This position
they assume voluntarily, and without coercion
of any kind. Should they refuse or neglect
thus to enrol themselves, they are placed by
the law, in the first class, and are only liable
to such duty as is required in common from
all their fellow-citizens. But should they
avail themselves Of the privilege, as your COM
mittee believe they will, the class which must
number from one million to one million two
hundred thousand would be made Immediate
| ly TO give one-tenth that number of recruits to
the regular army. 1t is not supposed, how
ever, that tie whole Eunber would be requlr-
ed at once. Congress most likely would hns-
band the means of defence, by calling outfrom
ne-haftc three-fourths of the supply of re-
crnits, leaving the balance to fill up the army
at such times as the exigencies Of the service
might require.
Even with this liberal supply of recruits to
the regular army, the committee have no dlspo-
sition to limit the necessary defenees of the
country. They offer these means additional
to those which already exist; and should
theshPply of recruits proposed to be raised by
this bill prove insufficient, there is nothing to
3tprevent Congress, in times of great public
danger, from increasing the army by the usu-
al method Of enlistment.
I The exemption allowed to those furnishing
recruits is not intended to limit the means of
the States respectfully, or prevent them from
a full control over all their militia in cases of
instruction, invasion, or alarm.
I The committee propose that only regularly
licensed preachers of the gospel shall be ex-
empted from militia service. They hold that
all public burdens should fall as equally as
possible on every member of the community,
and; in times of public danger. all should do
their duty. The law should suffer no favored
class to exist under the bill, in fact. there
could be no apology for exemptions, as all are
allowed TO furnish substitutes when called in
to service. Those who are unwilling to fight
: or have better employment at home. should at
LEAST be willing to pay others literally who
3 are willing to fight the battles of the country.
/ In time of peace there is no duty required of
those between the ages of eighteen and twen-
: ty-one years, thus forbearing to interfere with
: the relations of parent and child, and master
e and apprentice, or with the pursuits and ac-
e QUESTIONS of education in youth. Of those
between the ages of twenty-one and thirty
t years, duty is required; but no duty is requr-
ed Of those between the ages of thirty and for
y ty-fve years. Whatever advantages or dis
II advantages may seem to attach TO the one OF
j. the other class are fully equaized and dstrib'
uted, as will readily appear when tits remem'
st bered that in succession of years every one
1t is called to pass through each class.
10 The only thing in the bill which may be
n supposed to bear heavily on any portion of the
d community is the extension of the time Of
1t draught to twelve months. But when the in
crease of pay, provided for in case of draugh
3. of six months or more is taken into consider
J. alton, together with the privilege of substltu
d ton and the faculties Of increasing the regu
ar army in time Of war, it is believed that this
X extension of the time Of service is neither op
!; Ipressive nor likely to increase the whole pc
lt Rod of duty beyond what is now required
10 while the change is too obviously productive
e Of greater efficiency in the service TO require
d proofs.
re To those at all acquainted with the military
In service, it is notorious fact, that from three
P" to six months drill is necessary to make sol
er der really serviceable IN the field. Under ;
ne Gfraught of three six months, for militia, NJ
nr matter what may be their gaIlantry or firm
IN ness, are often sacrificed for want of discipline
We and very frequently discharged at the yer.
an moment when they become capable of being
IN really useful to the county. By the law o
In 1889, our militia was subjected to six month
st service out of every twelve; by this bill, the,
ct are subjected to twelve months service out o
A thirty-six. The amount of service, therefore
he required by this bill, compared to the requisl
Id lions Of that act, is in fact reduced. 1t is tru
y the act of 1889 has expired by its own limita
O. ton, while this is proposed to be permanent
IS but it is equally true, that all demands on tn
n militia, except in cases Of instruction, inva
&c sion, or alarm, must be made with the sane
&c ton of Congress. which sufficiently guard
oy the exercise OF the power against danger {
or executive caprice in its use. That this length
ed ened term Of draught may have tendency t
or" strengthen the Government, in times Of pub
m lie danger, your committee will not deny; bu
le- al the same time, they feel that it was the OF
ect ject of those who formed our institutions t
lie make them strong in war, and as little onerou
&c. as possible in time of peace. .'s Is
OF II the committee be right in supposing ths
me all the people in the United States be liabl
Ger to do militia duty, according to the require
40 ments Of the bill, amount in number to tw
MY millions seven hundred thousand, under fu
I've war enrolment. there will be in the first elias
about one million FIVE hundred thousand, an
ee, in the second class one million two hundre
,of% ihousand. But Of these government woul
1li- never require at one time more than one fif1
lllA e IL 1