Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-02-13
From the washington Union.
lAE REORGANIZATION OF THE MI
IIT1A

the House OF Representatives the following
report, accompanied by bill which carries
Ihs proposed system into its necessary details.
We lay the report before our readers, because
il is essentially important, among free peo-
pie, TO give the greatest practicable efficiency
at all times, and especially at this time, to this
great arm of the public serviee--this 'cheap
defence of nations"-but which will neither
be cheap nor efficient unless it be properly
and actively organized; and because the sys-
tenn proposed in the bill from the committee
is eminently worthy of the public attention.
The statistics embraced in the report are as
cheering as they are instructive. "a. q. . g..
MIR. J. A. Black, from the Committee on
the Militia, made the following report:
Fhe Committee on the Militia in submitting
to the House ''abill more elfectually TO pro-
vide for the national defence by organizing
and classifying tho Militia of the United
States, and providing for calling the same
into ths service of the United States, and
for other purposes" beg leave respectfully
10 reports; Gs
That your Committee have given to the
subject that grave consideration which It's I'M
poTtance so Justly merits; and while they abb
stain from any labored argument 10 vindlcdte
the importance, not to say the necessity, OF
we'll regulated militia, they deem it not in
appropriate TO present to the House briefly
the general considerations which have infu-
enced them to recommend the adoption of the
proposed measure, together with an explana-
ton Of it's leading features. "a#
II be the will of Heaven that the liberties
and institutions Of this country shall he pre-
served and perpetuated, our main defence must
essentially remain in the hands of wel-arm-
ed and organized citizen soldiery. A large
standing army in time of peace is not only
contrary to the nature Of our Institutions, and
uncalled for by the circumstances of the coun-
try, but is equally inefficient as reliable
means Of national defence at the approach of
danger. Situated, as we are, at distance
from the powers of Europe, and with no equal
power on this continent, we may reasonably
hope that, in continued course ofjustice and
commercial good Offices to all nations, our
wars will be few and after long intervals of
peace. The effects of peace on a standing
army the last thirty years sufficiently demon
stIate. From snperannuated officers, the coun~
try can hope for but little Of that efficiency
which might be in keeping with the gallantry
of their youth; and while the commute would
be the last to deny tn them the gratitude and
care of the country for past services, yet ex-
peTience teaches that the public safety forbids
reliance upon them in the hour of DANGER
The subaiterns ale younger men, and, at a
heavy cost, are scientific; but it must not be
forgotten that, entering the army in times oil
profound peace, many Of them ale cucumber
e6 with families, AMI ali more or less enerva.
ted By the ease and luxury of peace estab
lishment. They are but i'll calculated for thu
active duties of the field, or for any thing more
than drill pts or men Of mere I6utines-
1t is true that ID. this they have theiI uses, blu
they cannot be relied on aSa,main defence.
Another great objection to standing armI
in time Of peaee is the vast increase which
brings to the patronage ofehe government, al
ready fearfully, if not runionsly, great.
OF all existing Governments, we are mos
prone to initiate, in our practice, that of Grea
Britain. Deriving our descent from the sam
people, Speaking the same language, and il
constant ard intimate intercourse, we uncon
sciously adopt the habits and modes Of though
Of that country and unfortunately exhibit
dangerous aptitude for imitation in all things
In Great Britain the vast church establish
ment and the immense army and navy affor
ample provision for the dependents of infuer
tial men and families. In this country, than
Heaven! we have no church establishment
and, as yet, but small army and navy. Blu
small as they are, the eXertons of those VIII
are disposed to form seperate class from tn
great body Of the industrious community, an
10 find sanctuary in the army and navy, ar
frequently more strenuous and Jealous i
seeking cadets appointment or midshiK
mans warrant than in reaching the highe
stations Of the Government. In view Of tn
great dangers from this source, it becomes oil
imperious duty TO guard against the malig
influence Of such disposition, and to remov
Lii for ho
mere skeleton army in time Of peace, vii
the ready faculty of a temporary increase
times of war or imminent danger. The fir
and most important step to effect this obje
is the organization Of an efficient militia.
disposition, which has been evinced in tt
community Of late years, to suffer the miIit
to fall into utter disorgani7atIon, is equal
apparent and alarming, and, if not ARRESTED
must inevitably result in heavy and increa
ed peace establishment, though it may not e.
danger the liberties of the people by its for
of arms, will exert most disastrous inf1uen
both upon the Government and society,
increasing the patronage of the one, and &C
Tupting the morals Of the other. Impress
with these views, your committee have iabe
ed TO make the militia efficient in times of da
ger, and, at the same time, relieve it Of unn
cessary burdens in times Of peace. To efe
this, the bill provides for classifying the mi
tia, and for an enrolment in times of peaC
including only those between the ages
twenly-oneIand thirty years, together with t
present uniform companies and volunte
corps; while the enrolment for war esta
hshment includes all able to do militia dU
between the ages of eighteen and forty-G
years, the clergy only excepted.
From the best data before the committ
they are led to believe that the peace enr
ment will number about Il ,00o, OO0) one m
lion, and the war enrolment about e, zoo, OO
two million seven hundred thousand men;
that in times of peace. militia duty will fall
little more than one-third; thus effecting
great saving in time to the community, VIII
- L.