The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-07-08

The development of the volunteer element 10
the Mexican contest, and the demonstration % us
wonderful power aud efficiency In actual ~afsf',
startled alike our own ooun'rymen ana "te'eh
nations. The militia had always been 'aug"'hR
stock. both in England and America, hot"i'h'
s,anaiuu tts ratiye courage and hardy habits, and
the occasional splendid triumphs achieved both IN
Oh. Revn,n,,on and the late war; by undisciplined
xeomanYy Bunker Hill aud the Battle OF New
Orleans showed what can be sometimes enecteu
bv militia In the l.tter battle the deadiiest nre
of the fgb. came from the raw Tennesseeans, who
eomnosea the American ceptre.i The British OIL
GERS who had been advised by an American de-
serter to direct their principal efforts against 'he
American centre, because it WAS composed OF w.
litia were convinced by the terrible reception they
met, that the centre was composed OF regnihrs'
AMI, believing that the deserter bad wilfui'y de-
ceived them, they hung him to the first tree -
Notwithstanding this brilliant proof OF the EN-
cheney Of militia, the country has never put much
faith in their capacity for action in the open heo
1t remained for the Mexican war to prove that the
militia, we'll disciplined, is the most powerful mt
litaTy which this or any other country can
possess. The volunteers Of Mexico. drilled anu
commanded partly by graduates OF west Po'ht' %
the Virginia Military Institute. and OF other mill
tary schools, but principally ofhcered oy gentle
men who had received no military education, prov
ed that. whether In the open field or III iortiica'
tons the citizen soldiers Of America fully able
to maintain the honor.of their country. The bat
tie of Buena Vista was fought principally By vo-
lnnteers and the same description OF force com
posed great portion Of Gen. Scott's victorious
and conqueriDg column.
Let II once be shown that volunteer regiments can
be made equal in drill and discipline to reg ulars
and we may congratulate ourselves upon possess
ing ipexhaustibe military resources in the United
States The Mexican war demonstrated that I'm
nortant fact; and the New York regiment. which
lately visited this city, is certainly not surpassed
II equalled. In military perfection by any re-
giment in the IT, s. Army. We have In Virginia
great facilities for the establishment OF this de-
scriptiop of force The Va. Military Institute IL
splendid school for officers and it only needs the
proper encouragement and support Oh the volnh-
teer system by the Legislature and the community
10 insure to Virginia army OF citZen-soidiers oil
which any country might be proud. The small We
lusteer force of Richmond, in its military spirit
aud discipline, is an honor to the State, ana IL
ought to receive the active sympathy aud Coop
ration of the people to make it what it ought to e
In numbers as we'll as efficiency. Our gallant 'o-
luuteers and their accomplished officers have mad
to struggle against unusual discouragements, but
we trust the late military exhibition in this city
will have the effect Of awakening the martial prIde
of the community, and stimulating them to an
active and generous support OF the volunteer
corps. They are not mere holiday warriors, OF
no practical value, but soldiers, capable OF dong
all that regulars do, if they receive that sub
stantial aid and comfort which they justly merit,
and which the community owes it to its own inte'
rests to bestow.