The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-01-11
For ths Hill.borougL Recorder.
OUR MILITIA.


"s.eht events have called the attention OF
~ .'''Aehs ~ forcibIe manner to the mi
Ihhlasy organization 1 the State. and exhi-
u''sd The startling fact that. with M cxcen.
uvh W some twenty odd tolerahlv dr;lIad
so'uh,eer companies, there is ma mil;,arv
Iesce NJ tof Pseseat service, and that Nortb
Caretina, IN case &C collision with any now
er whatever, would have to depend ent.,al,
for her deience on perfectly raw recrn;,s
This is position that isse and ind. linen.
dent State should never occupy shat 4 peo.
pie who know the cost of their Liberties and
properly value them, should promptly re.
medy.
The present depierable condition Of our
militia sufficiently eyinces the insdequacy
Of the existing laws on that subject and the
failure Of the system may in great degree
be attributed TO the fact that the citizen is
required to give his time and render his SER
vices without pay, and is fined for the non.
performance of this compulsory duty. 1t
seems TO me that in all free States service
and pay should go together--that when the
citizen - required 70 quit his usual ayoca-
tion for State purposes, he ought to have
fair compensation for the time and labor rem
dered.
Entertaining these views. it will not APP
pear strange that should suggest that tax
be levied TO properly equip and pay the mi.
litia Of the State when On duty.
This tax should be on property as well as
he poll; for it is just that the person or
thing to be benefited or protected should pay
therefor. And the tax should be collected
and accounted for as other taxes are, and held
by the Treasurer Of the State, subject TO the
orders Of the respective Paymasiers Of regi-
ments. aud by them discussed 10 the proper
recipients. that accountability from all par
ties should be properly secured.
/ All free white males between the ages OF
twenty and forty five. should be required TO
enroll themselves with the listers Of taxa.
bles; whose duty it should be to hand the
list 70 The Clerk Of the County Court, and
he should forward one copy 10 the Comp
troler II the State, and enc 10 the Adjutanl
General. The Colonels Of the regiment
should furnish the Sheriifs with list OF their
respectiyeT Commands; none should be ex-
empt from the poll tax but the military.
| An Adjutant General should be appointed
with salary adequate to the Importance II
the Office. Encampmenis Of not less than d
week Al a time should be held, Of regiments
one year and Of brigades The next, alternate
/ ". II this is deemed TOO expensive, the of.
fcers should at all events be eneamped and
well drilled. it beng Of the utmost impor-
/ lance that the State should possess an Efficient
body d we'll .instIucted commanders.
! According 70 the census Of 1850, there
were in the State at that time about 81 900
free white males between the ages Of twenty
aud fifty. This number is doubtless much
increased BY this time. and il is probable
that those embraced between the ages Of
twenty and thirty five might afford force
amply sufficient for The purpose contempla-
ted.
These suggestions are made with the hope
OF so Ear attracting attention as to cause re.
Election. and induce preparation on the part
Of those whose duty II Will be to act. o.