The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-10-15
From the SoutlIron.
Our Present Militia System.

one from correspondent oil the NInnS.
boro Register, over the signature of a
sufferer" and the other from the Chester
Standard, in which the writers have at.
tempted, though we think very unius,ly
to rdicule and disparage our Militia Sys
tenn. Though we are not altogether in
favor OF the system as il now is, we are
nevertheless sufficiently soto he ready and
willing at all times to say word in lis
defence, though feeble may be the effort,
when it is thus so unjustly assailed and
abused. AS to the correspondent of the
Register, all VIC desire to say is, that the
arguments, if arguments they can be call.
ed, by which he has attempted to sustain
his position, amount only to ridcule and
are so entirely destitute Of any thing like
reason as to need 10 further notice. To
the Editor of the Standard we desire TO
pay our special regards, but will endeavor
to do so as briefly as the nature of the
case will admit. His reasoning, though
having somewhat more the sembance OF
arguments than those OF the correspon-
pent OF the RcgtSter, might nevertheless,
be almost as summarily disposed Of but
for the fact that he has in one respect
grossly misrepresented the Militia Law
1t is to us passing strange that he whom
we would take to be a gentleman of pru.
dence and discretion, should act so impru.
IDENTIFY AS to lay himself liable to public
censure, by presuming to discuss a subject
which be seemly knows but little, If any
thing about. lie begins his remarks by
saying, 'and here we desire it to be under.
stood that We have no personal interest
at stake in the matter under discussion.
for we have served our term, and become
exempt from duty but before proceeding
TAR he commits most egregious error, by
asserting that the present system requires
that each beat company shall be kept ND
to the number Of sixty men rank and file.
what gIaring ignorance of law lie has
undertaken to ridicule and denuunce as n
humbug! Where, will the Editor Of the
Standard be so kind as to inform us did
he ever see such law2 ANY informa-
ton upon. the subject will be thankfully
received, for we have time and again care
fully read the great military &C, of Al,
which embodies the whole of the present
Militia system, but have never seen any
such provision. In Serving his turn he
must certainly have done so rs fourth
sergeant in some beat company during
the existence Of the Brigade Encampment
System; for surel y any one who has ever
held commission long enough to be ex
empt from duty knows that there is no
such provision in the Militia Law. La
boring under this great mistake, he saws
we contend and maintain that the pres
ent laws, SO far from favoring volunteer
companies, are oppressive to them, and,
II enforced in either letter or spirit, would
most assuredy break up every volunteer
company-horse, foot, and dragoons-in
the District, simply by keeping up the
beat companies to their standard and law
full number; to wit, sixty men rank and
fle.' For the purpose of removing the
ground of this argument, and for the spe-
cial benefit Of the Editor of the Standard,
we will state what the law is upon the
subject. 1t says, mo beat company shall
be reduced, by the raising of any voIun-
teer company, below the aggregate offfy
men, including officers non commissioned
officers and musicians Now it will here
be perceived that there is a vast differ
ence between sixty men rank and file,
and fifty men in the aggregate. The
term rank and file as we understand il,
includes only privates and corporals, to
which add four commissioned officers,
four sergeants and two musicians, and
the law, according to the Editor of the
Standard, would require that each beat
company should be kept up TO the NUN
Der OF seventy men, twenty more than 1t
really does require, which in single mil
itary company, would be difference Of
considerable importance. One other Of
the Standards arguments, may perhaps
descrve passing notice. The Editor
says the fact is we have heard one who
ia, with some reason, reputed TO be the
best drill officer in the State, and who has
large active military experience, say
raw troops, who had never been called out
TO petty or regimcntal muster, were
great deal easier TO he taught the duties
ef a soldier, than those who had the ordi
nary old fielding Now the fact is we
have heard three officers who have had
considerable military experience, either of
whom might, and with some reason be
said to be the best drill officer in the State
pronounce strongly in favor of the present
a stem.
We will now bid adieu 20 the Standard
but'in doing so, we cannot refrain from
giving the Editor little friendly advice,
which We trust will be received ih the
same spirit. At the conclusion of his ar
ticle he says we defer further consider.
alton OF the subject to future OCCASION
Now if he really does intend TO renew his
discussion OF the Militia Law, We would
advise, yea entreat him for bis own sake
TO read very carefully the military act
of41.
We desire now TO express our own
views upon the subject, which we will en-
deavor to do as briefly as possible, aud