The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-12-24
DAILY DISPATCH.
SATURDAY MORNING. DECEMBER II, 1873.
THE MILITIA.

A correspondent in some structures upon
our views on the late venerable militia asks
us whether, instead of laughing at the ehor's
made by the fifteen officers of militia IN
Iynchburg to galvanize the deceased militia
system, il would not be better to a.d 'heh IN
showing that this subject requires iegis'ss'oh
at the present time more than any other OF
State government, and to advocate the auop
ton of such measures as will insure READY
arm of public defencein any emergency IN
our security of quiet and freedom from inter
nal disturbance adds our correspondent
81. NAV be very funny to ridicule the absurd
tiles of the Old System, with its Cockeo
Hat and Swing tail Coat, which had furnished
hints ofrailery for every schoolboy of the pre-
sent generation; but should this prevent us
from providing by a new system the means OF
preserving this happy order and tranquility
when il may become necessary
We assure our correspondent that we had
no intention of treating with irreverent mlrth
the cooked hats and swing tail coats, and We
think he does the schoolboys of this and past
generations less than justice when he charges
that they have regarded those military insig-
MIA with unbecom;ng Ievity. On the contra
~, we are not aware Of any objects more inn
posing and awe inspiring to the rising gene
ration of certain age, than the splendid ha-
bihments of war, The boys, and the 'colored
pussons 60 in for buttons and tinery. We
shall never forget to our dying day the a6
b..,I,
first beheld an officer of militia. He was
Major General, and we could conceive of
nothing greater or more magnificent in the
wide world than that man. To US it was the
most inscrutable of dispensations how such a
parsonage. so sublime and gloriors upon the
muster field, could consent when off duty to
stand behind counter and selltallow candles
by the pound Cooked Hats ! Why, if
there is anything in the way of militia
ry paraphernalia in this universe which
we particularly and especially admire it
is Cooked Hat. But then, since we have
arrived at years of discretion, it has occurred
to us that there ought to be some correspon-
dence between the visible sign and the in
ward qualifications, and hence when we see
the cooked nat, emblem of skill and soldier
ship, on the brow of an awkward civilian, we
must bepardonedif we cannot Away suppress
smile.
But to be serious Whilst we cannot agree
with our respected correspondent his views
of the overshadowing Importance of immedi-
ate Legislative action upon the militia subject,
we have certainly no objection to new
system" if such can be devised which will
provide ''the means Of preserving order and
tranquility when it may become necessary"
We do not think it probable any such neces-
sity will occur, and we are quite sure that, if
it should, it will be put down quite as effectu-
ally without the aid of the old militia system
as with it. But the views presented in the fol-
lowing extract from the letter OF our intelli-
gent friend strike us as very forcible, and We
shall be glad to second them in any manner
in our power:
1.-THE orignators of the scheme CT the act of 1853
had IN view, besides the object ofreoving the obi
Gus burden of militia musters the announcement
of volunteer organization the most effective and
useful arm OF militia; proposing 10 devote large
portion OF this communication fund derived from the
the state, and to the instruction of militia officers
who were to be kept in full commission and enrol
ment But as usual, this scheme from not carrying
out all Its provisions total failure. Instead
CT advancing the volunteer interest, it has materi
ally injured it, and instead OF increasing and i'm
proving the corps of militia officers, find them
almost entirely disbanded. There is commuta-
ton fund in the Treasury to be dishursed among
volunteers they have none of the privileges and
exemptions extended to them which foster and en-
courage the systems and yet the militia Generals
and Colonels like Othello, with Occupation gone -
are sighiug for their Field Days OF Glory
Suggest to the Legislature then the careful
preparation of such law as will secure to the old
Commonwealth an efficient and well drilled force
which may be depended upon if she should be un-
fortunate enough at any time to need their services
at least place her upon honorable footing, with
other States OF the Union"
Our correspondent tells good anecdote
appropriate to the subject and the season.
II remember an old veteran who had sery-
ed the State lat muster) from IS to 49, came
TO enquire Of me whether it could be true that
the General Muster was abolished Z" said he,
'and 22d February and 9Th Of July and all
Well Ireckon they'le try to shet up Christ