The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-10
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
Convention or the Odcers OF ahe New York
State Miiitia-Address or tho President, Brig.
Gen. z. r. Bentley.


Gen. z. +. Bentley.
FIRST DAY.
The third annual convention of the Military Assoca-
tion of the State Of New York. under which title tho
officers Of our State militia organized about two years
ago. commenced yesterday afternoon iu the lecture
room Of the Mercantile Library Association, in Astor
place. In. accordance with the notice published In
Mondays HERALD, the members assembled ut the Astor
House, from which they marched in a body at twelve
O'Clock, to the place Of meeting attended by the State
Guards, Captain johnson, escort They also
accompanied by Dodworths Band. On their arrival at
the Library the Guards formed outside the building In
two lines, between which the officers passed into the
lecture room.
The convention was called to order at a ittie after
o'clock in the afternoon, by the President Buigader
General 7. Bentley, Of the Nineteenth Brigade; after
which the proceedings opened with prayer by Rev
Mr.. Hughes, Chaplain of the 42d Regiment.
The President then proceeded to deliver the following
address,
ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT.
0rFIcERs AND GENTLEMEN MEMBERS OF THE New York
STATE MILITARY CosvSros-t affords me heartfelt
qualification to gree you the return Of this
nual meeting. The year which has recently rolled
heads has been full of interest aud instruction
The Great Author Of our existence has cast abengnant
smile upon US, aHd in his infinite mercy has permitted
large number again to assemble and exchange greetings
and to take counsel for the well being and promotion OF
the honorable service now engaging our attention and
energies Thankful, indeed, ought TO be who.are
highly favored while alas some Of most gifted and
useful members have been laid lew in the valley Of
death. The late able and efficient Adjuant General OF
our State, whose military education and experience
eminently qualified him to fill that responsible
Office, and who, at his country's call, buckled
on his armor and hastenea away to the ensan-
guned fields Of Mexico-the gallant and chivalrous
Temple Is no more He was laid low in sugo
combat with that kmonster warrior who yet
was vanqushed and whose grim vsage we have all yet
TO encounter Dearly let cherish his memory and
sincerely deplore his loss Col Cowman another ardent
and active member OF association, prompt soldier
and accomplished gentleman, commandant OF the
Twenty first Regiment and editor OF a military Journal
has also to the bidding OF the hearess
and unreenng conqueror. Nearer still to my
headquarters has been the approach Of this nsdious
foe. The jealous and companonable Major De Long the
attentive and energetic Engineer of my Brigade Stat has
fulfilled his destiny and since agreeable fall
pagn has taken up his line of march TO that bourne
from whence traveller returns. These melancholy
fectons called they by the contrast between
the mentioned and favored position,
not Improbable to contemplate. Turning away from
these sad memorials see before in the members Of
this association the buoyancy Of youth the vgor Of
hood and the maturity age combining intellectual and
military endowment which indicate stable guarantee
for country's defence. You have met, officers and
gentlemen, proessedy for the purpose of fostering
couragDg and perfectng thorough military system.
Two years ago In the neghboring city of Syracuse,
association had its organization and in the ncpient
stages Of its existence 1t recommended that the
Governor should be authorized 10 appoint commission
to cody the military laws OF the State and engraft
upon them such notifications and improvements as
were deemed necessary Pursuant 10 this recommcnda
ton and doubtless by OF it, the Senate originated
and the Assembly concurred in "a joint resolution
thorizng the appointment OF such commission. Gov.
Seymour TO whom the association greatly indebted
for his cordial and able efforts in seconding their aims
and who eypced thorough attachment TO the success
and the service promptly selected the comms
soner who entered upon the discharge OF their
duty. Limited they 10 time, and the
PRINCIPLES upon which to act vet their hbors were
brought to close and although the result not
adopted by the Legislature then in session II submit
ted 10 the last annual meeting OF this association IN Al
bapy and received its unanimous concurrence; and tho
voice Of the convention not altogether lost upon
the legislature then In session. Tne law was finally
passed by that body, but regret to say In many
spec,s muated and shorn by amendments OF its de-
saoe provisions that many defects st 70 be found
in it. But Il is universally conceded TO be great i'm
proyement upon the laws In existence At the time these
reforms rst broached The success which h4s at
tended the abor Of this association thus far although
not complete could be desired furnishes ample
encouragement for perseverance in aims and oh
jects. Let rs at this meeting apply ourselves % tha
task OF Pointing out the improvements stll much de-
sired in the system, and then in specific language ask
at the hands OF the legislature their adoption Fore
most among these should be one securing
beyond contingency sufficient and ample fund with
which to pay the ccers and soldiers for the services
required Of them So vital do deem this security that
cannot forbear expressing the conviction ha without
y every uni orm company IN the state y doomed 70
speedy dissolution, regard II subject OF serious con
| sderaon whether the civil officers entrusted with
the duty Of enrolling assessing, and collecting the mill
tary funds, Notwithstanding the solemn obligations
Of their oath utterly regardless OF it, moral force
to neglect or indiierently perform this duty II this
conviction is forced upon By the criminal ygence
OF civil officers then shall not ask a. the hands o.
the law making power substitution OF military officers
the agents perform these duties Their integrity and
promptness proyerba that little Is 10 be feared
from them in the discharge OF duty in which they
OF all interested to make complete. may be also
allowed 10 suggest that instead Of the Fary sum now
| hxed a the Communication, he who is excused from
performing military service and the expense Of a
| personal equipment would have reason TO co n.
| plain, nor would he complain, II sctuated by the
shelters and protects him II that government should
require at bis hands much greater sum. IL Is not my
purpose, however to enter into discussion OF the yar.
| Gus improvements that may be desired. know the
intelligence Of this association know the prompt and
perseyering energy Of It's membersand 10 i and them
do cheerfuy confde the interests OF the highly honor
able service in which we are engaged.
AT the conclusion Of the foregoing address the roll
called when 1t appeared that about ninety members
were present The roll, however, was not completed
and will not be till this morning. when IL IL expected all
/ the members will be present. The reading OF the
minutes Of the last meeting dispensed with after
which letters received from the Mayor inviting the
officers 10 visit the City Hall this morning. from the
Mercantile Library Association, 10 visit that institu
ton from Mr. Marshall inviting them 10 be present a,
last evenings performance from Col Smith Of Brook.
Iyn. to attend review Of Captain spragues company,
this evening at Montague Hail. In that city Besides
these letter read from Gen swan excusing him.
self for non attendance and another from Major Rich
on on ., ,ns ans s,ng bs Il. bssn
unable TO devise any plan for the purpose
After the reading Of these letters, motion was made
by Lieut. GATES Of the members Of the present State
legislature from Ulster county in favor OF appointing
COMMITTEES Of Ave TO examine the militia laws Of this
i State
Cen sAsDyoRp said that as,yet we had not suice mt
experience Of the operation OF the present laws and he
hoped that the convention would not agtate the subject
at that time. He had doubt that notifications
necessary but he thought IL nexpedent 70 make
them now, particularly there many persons who
would willingly take advantage Of the opportunity "a
| abolish them altogether.
Lieut. GArz deemed II absolutely necessary that some
alteration should be made 10 render them effective
than they arA He alluded particularly 10 the
taon system, which he considered entirely inefcie
| for the purpose for which II had been established
and report whetbsr IL was capable Of Improvement.
There dagger that the laws would be made
by this course that the military would be rendered
less efficient. The committee might report and IL de-
pended Of course, upon the convention 70 adopt
| Ject their suggestions.