Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-05-18
The Militia system In the State,

Nearly two years ago, rs the conductt
!, of a District newspaper we advocated til
. abolition of the useless military system no
). in vogue in South Carolina. Since then "
have read no argument upon the subject, no
/ seen anything in the operation of the syster
itself, to induce us toschange our view
S We are, therefore, prepared to respond 60,
daily to the call madeQin the Carolina O
yesterday, upon the press Of the State, an
will lend our feeble aid to break up the use
less, burdensome, barren, odious militia sys
tenn, and to bring about,a reformaiion-al
entire change-a radical determination.
There can be no doubt that large maiori
ty of the people are in favor of reform
Then why should the system be continued il
force any longer9 Every body must see it,
inutilty. Its unpopularity and inutility are
sufficient of themselves, to cause the people tc
become listless and negligent in the discharge
of military duty. Iii useless, does no good, i:
positively injurious, is rksome, and burden.
some tax upon the time and labor of the peo.
Pile; therefore, they shirk the duty in every
way they can, or perform it in bungling
manner, just to avoid the penalty attached to
a total neglect oft.
The military system is perfect despotism.
To accomplish the end inview, the thorough
training of the people in the tactics Of war,
it must necessarily be .despotism. There
must be an uncomplaiding, unquestionng
obedience to authority. The performance OF
every duty must be rigidly punished. If the
military commander suffers his authority to
be questioned, or his commands to be DISC
beyed in the least particular, there will be an
end of his authority. The whole system
may be- comprised in two words, to command
and to obey.
Now, can such a system be enforced
among a free people, in time of profound
peace! Let the operation Of the militia sys-
tenn in this State answer the question. The
captain, elected by the people, cannotse1act
obedience by compulsion. If therefore, he
attempts to require strict performance of
the soldiers duty; if he drills his command
in the various evolutions and the manual of
arms, as their should be, he is met by plump
refusal to obey his orders. He has no au-
thority to punish disobedience, and there is,
therefore, an end Of control. His command
do as they please; use sticks for guns, if they
choose so 70 do; carry their guns in any posi-.
ton that seems most comfortable; march in
time or out of Time, just as it suits them; talk
when and to whom they may wish; and if
kept on drill longer thay deem necessa.
enough to learn any lmng-uney
leave the ranks and go home. Such is the
practical operation of the system in force in
this State, or rather such is the manner in
which the people render obedience to it.
Has it the least semblance to what the sys-
tenn should be and what it must be if
any good result is looked for! The fact
that the people know nothing, absolute
ly nothing, of the science of war;, al
though there has certainly been no lack Of
musters, battalion parades, regi.
mental reviews and brigade encampments,
shows conclusively that the system has not
been and cannot be enforced, as it should be,
if the object be to make soldiers.
We are not prepared, nor are we qualified,
to make any suggestions relative to substi-
lute for the present miserable militia system.
However, we feel inclined to favor the sub.
sttute proposed by the Carolinian, the gene,
raj features Of which are the adoption of uni
form companies through out the State, the
continuance of those already organized, cav
airy and artillery, and the establishment Of
new companies, to be organized into batta.
ions, regiments, or brigades, as may be con-
'enient orpracticable. In addition to this, an
enrolment of all citizens liable to perform
military duty, and the imposition Of mill.
AIRY tax on those who prefer to pay rather
han become members of the Uniform compa-
lies in their respective localities--the amount
hus raised to be distributed equitably among
he volunteer organizations.
We have not now the time and space to
levote to an exposition of this system or the
advantages Of some such change. We may
efer to it agan--Columba Times.
Southern QUARTERLY REyIEW-At the