The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-08-13
TIE NORTHERN ANTISLAVERY AGITATION.
TIE REACTION n TIE SOUTH.
The State to be Armed and Drilled for
Active War.

&C., &c., Sc.
MILITARY DEFENCES OF vIRGiNfA-DUTY
OF THE LEGISLATURE.
[Frorn the Richmond Enquirer, Aug Io.l
Long life to the Union-may its shadow never be
domestic tranquility, provide for the common de-
fence, promote the general welfare, and secure the
blessings OF liberty to ourselves and posterty"
and, therefore, we love and cherish it, II was the
work OF demi-gods, and hence we revere it.
But we have fallen upon evil times There il rea.
son to appreend that it is to he perverted from its
noble ends and used fer far different purposes IT.
pass under the control OF fanacisu, then will JUS
tce he 0verthroyn rather than established domestic
tranquility give place to intestine COMMISSIONS, the
common defence and general welfare lie disregarded
and the blessings of liberty lost to ourselves and
posfe.ity Antisayery agitation threatens to accom-
plish these fell purposes. 1t was union OF slave
States in it, birth; and when the institution OF
slavery comes to be source Of inequality and injus-
tice, the Union, as originally constituted, will have
That condition, we fear, is already in sight, and
nothing can avert it but the gallant stand for the
constitution made by Northern men. We of the
South must be, in the main, passive spectators OF
the strife. All that we can do to save our friends
from rcproach, by the moderation Of our conduct
and to strengthen them by the firmncss OF atti
tude. This is all we do for the Union; but there
s much to be done for ourselves, and but little time
to perform il.
In few years Kansas will probably ask admission
into the Union as slave State and may he refused
i needs INIT free soil predominance in the House OF
Representatives to achieve this end II refused adj
mission into this Union she will undoubtedly be re-
ceiyed by another, and the United States, South,
Will begin their career. This proposition Is too
clear for argument. Nothing but rank cowardice
could induce the South to acquicsce in the ex-
cluslon OF slave State on the score Of slavery.
We assume, therefore, that the South will not ac-
quiesce, and, consequently. we fear that, in few
years Masonsand Dixon's line may be the boundary
Of foreign powers.
The possibility of this event creates grave respon
sibilities. Virginia will be frontier State. Should
war unhappily occur between the two republics. she
will receive the first shock. The bare possibility
OF this thing demands instant preparation so far as
it may be made without fastening the event and
with strict fidelity to the constitution.
II constitutional retaliation can be devised. and
will probably be etectual let try it, but let not the
failure OF constitutional expedients find UMPIRE
pared for the change in political relations that
must ensue.
The next legislature will find the commonwealth
threatened with this contingency, and in the main
unprepared for it. They will find her without an
organized military force, save few companies Of
volunteers, and without the means Of concentrating
warfare. The constitution prohibits us from keep
ing troops or ships Of war, but 1t does not prohibit
well organized militia or q judicious system Of mill
tary communications.
The Legislature will be faithless to It's gravest du.
Ties Il il adjourn without organizing the militia and
providing toy the completion of such lines of i'm
ptoyemeat as will subserye military as well AZ cOul-
mercIal purposes.
We are civilians, and wholly incompetent to plan
asystem of military deenccs for the State, hui there
are some general considerations dictated by common
SENSE which even civilians may present without pre-
sumption.
II is generally conceded that whole population
cannot lie drilled as soldiers. The abandonment of
the Old militia musters shows the opinion Of peo
pie on this point. Nothing, therefore, remains but
to classify the adult male population and to drill such
portion as may be withdrawn from their usual ayo-
cations without public detrment.
According to the census returns and the lists of
tithables there ere not less than 100000 fighting
men in he State. One-tenth of these might be-
drilled without injury TO themselves or TO the public.
We zee no reason why each Of the existing regi
mcnts, increased in numbers TO 200, might not be re-
draughied men, at their option These companies
should he armed, assembled periodically at The regi
mental muster grounds and drilled.
The graduates Of the Military Institute might he
required 10 conduct these drills, instead Of teaching
school, a they are now required to do
The companies might be organized into regiments,
brigades and divisions, and into infantry, artillery
and cavalry.
The advantages of such system would be that,
while man would be carried out of his county, or
ipiariously withdrawn from his business, yet every
county in the State, except some Of the smallest
w0uld have one or more military companies, ready ~
assemble at moments warning TO suppress nsur.
rcction or for police purposes. The State would pos.
scss corps OF 10000 men. armed, organized and
drilled, and capable of being assembled in whole or
IN part at short notice, for the purpose 0t offensive
or defensive warfare, without seriously interfering
with the Ordinary pursuits of the people at large. or
burdening one section more than another.
We know Of no objection that can be urged to
such organization, except the difficulty Of Assem-
bling the companies FOR battalion drill. This diff
Guilty Is incident to every system except the i'm
practicable and exploded one OF drilling the whole
adult population The moment this is dropped and
the principle of classification adopted, it becomes
difficult 10 assemble the requisite number of men
without transporting them considerable distance.
Nevertheless the difficulty Is not in-nrmountable
Where the population is dense II docs not exist and
where the companies are widely dispersed. they
should moi he assembled 80 often a. in other cases
The service would not nc harder thaB IN the present
volunteer companse and therefore The men might
be kept enrolled several years and by the periodical
discharge of crridin proportion and the incnrpoa-
ton Of an equal number OF new men. II would be
rendered still easier.
The present volunteer companies would form
part Of the proposed force, and where such com.
pany was fotaod, Of course drafting wonld not 10
required.
BY some such system, an elite corps would bc u.
ways at command to suppress insurrcctiOn Icprl IN
ysson or act Extensively, If required.
Only one thing more would then he needed for the
present. Armies without the means Of copccntrs ton
are useless, and in modern warfare this is effected y
steam, and with rapidity not dreamed 0s thirty
wears ago. Twenty thousand men, dispersed through
the State would be- available to suppress insnrrcc-
tion but 10 repe invasion. unless other means OF
transportation than Their own leg- lie provided \
system of military communication j. therefore in,iis.
pensable 10 the safety of the State, and should be
looked t0 forthwith
To our unsophistcaicd view The commercial lines
already marked out are in The main such routes a.
military defence requires. We call attention 10 the
map oil Virginia. Ii will he found that the northern
frontier presents what In military pariance we be-
lieve " called salient angle. The northwestern
face of this angie j. covered by the Ohio and the no b.
eastern. 10 sonc extent, by the Potomac. Neither
OF these rivers cond lie crossed by IN invading army
il We! defended but the space between them. const
tuting the point Of the angle snd portion OF IT,
right face hae such protection Moreover, the
ranges OF mountains and The rivers run from the cen
ire OF the State towards this open space, and thus
present avenues Of approach instead OF lines Ut lie
fence. Here. then, Il the weak point on the north
ern frontier. On the east We are wholly exposed Ia
maritime invasion. An enemy. master 81 the ocean.
could land wbefc he likes. There IL but one pro
tected poat, and that 10 Hampton Roads feet
entering the cspcs, With an army on board, might
IA In ka, mil IN