The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1853-08-16
From Abbeville Banner.
Ou5T Militia System.

From Abbeville Banner.
OuHr MILITIA System.
There is no concealing the fact
that our present militia system is
becoming very unpopular; and howcv-
er strong our inclinations for promo
tion in the military, our desires must
yield 10 the convictions of reason,
and we are forced to confess that we
think it deservcdly unpopular.
Yet there are many who would
advocate militia mastering, though
it would accomplish nothing; not be-
cause they believed any benefit would
result therefrom, but because of their
strong hope Of winning military IT,
tie, and an ardent wish to
':Sink their sl,anks knee deep in leather,
And shelter their craniums under caps with
feather"
Now we do not address our re-
marks to this alass of persons whose
reasons is somewhat obscured by
their military aspirations by their
ambition to put on the dignity, wear
the laurcls and enjoy the honor of
being militia Captain or Major; be-
cause they would fall like unmcaning
words upon their brains. But we
address ourselves to the sensible and
rejecting part of the community who
are not aspirants for militia office,
but are content to be called by the
familiar name of Jack or Tom with.
out the title of Major or Colonel -
The propositions that we take are
these:
let. That all the mastering done
by our militia does not effect any
thing in the way of preparing them
for the duties of war.
2nd. That it only serves to keep
a kind Of militia organization, which
could be done with one half the la
Dor and expense now employed.
3rd. That, therefore, we should
make some alteration or revision of
our system.
As to the truth Of the proposition,
we leave that to the decision Of every
honest militia man. and would ask
him, in the name of honesty, although
he may have performed militia duty
for the last twenty years, whether
he could shoulder arms, about face,
or perform the most simple evolution
with that skill and precision that
would be required of him if he were
mustered into actual service?
We presume that there are none
so vain rs to. conceive that, by our
militia system, they are rendered
capable, when called upon, of be.
coming better and more efficient sol.
dicrs; therefore VIC shall say nothing
further under this head.
knowing, by experience and ob,
servatlon, that our present system
fails to drill and instruct our militia
this fact forces the conclusion of our
second proposition, that it only keeps
up an organization.
Now if you conclude that the
keeping up Of the organization, and
patrol duties, are the only benefits
arising from our system, indeed we
cannot see how you could conclude
otherwise; then if We find out Il bet
ter and cheaper way Of doing this,
there can be no reason why we should
not adopt it.
Suppose you make clean sweep
and abolish militia mastering alto
gcthcr, (though we do not advocate
such total extinction of the militia.
ry,) could you not still keep the or
sanlzation by passing law that the
Magistrates in each beat should keer
a list for the enrolment Of the mill
tia-putting q fine ubon any one
who should fail or neglect to enrol
his name
The cost of this would be compar.
ativcly nothing when compared with
the heavy tax that We pay under our
present system.
But, says one, how can you make
it appear that we pay a military tax?
Well, here is to the proof of il: Ev.
cry one must admit that wealth is
originally acquired by labor and IN.
dustry, and that labor is the lever 0,
: means by which wealth is accumula