Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-06-29
For the Enquirer.
The Military Interests OF the state.


remarks 10 the public regarding the Military
Interests Of the State Ut this unctlire; 10
point out, if may without presumption. what
deem erroneous notions which are very COM
mon, if not general There seems to bc dis
position to limit and modify the measures
which are necessary to place the State in u
proper attitude for defence, because it is apprc-
hended that the military spirit engendered by
our late troubles Ray soon Srbside; and to
this feeling may he doubtless :lscribed the con-
fused, hesitating and conflicting opinions which
prevail as to what ought TO be done Now, it
strikes lie that moment reflection will satis-
:. ~ any man that this is mistaken view OF the
subject; that so Fur from the evancscent cha
iracicr Of our military ardor being an argu-
r rncnt foT hcsitancy and niggardlineSs Of appro-
priatlon, it is Il very strong one for the utmost
energy, promptness and lberality. upon the
principle Of the adage, ".Sirike schile the iron
lshot" Who would desire that military spi-
rt should be other than short-liycd in our
country? Weare not military government
we are not aggressive in our rocy-wc are
not SO week aS to render il necessary for US TO
stand sword in hand for self.defenee. Our
mission, in every direction, is such as can best
he fulfilled under the banner OF peace.
And yet We live III n world lying in wick.
edness," and must be prepared for war; we
have no reason to think that the time has come
though Cod send it spccdily-when we can
afford to turn all the swords into ploushsharcs,
nor all the spears into pruning hooks. Is it
not most clearly our true policy then, when
danger does threaten, and Il spirit Of prepara-
ton pcr"adcs the people, to make the most Of
il; 70 encourage il hy every means into practi-
cal exercise; tha. while it is up they may learn
something Of The art Of war: Not hcsitating
because i, may lie away, but directing it
aright, and rather rejoicing that it scW die
away, while the kHonie'lgc of arms and tactics
and camp duties, which has been learned under
proper encouragement, will, 10 great extent,
continue, aS permanent investment, ready for
emergency. 10 refuse money and every sort
Of countcnancc TO an energetic, practical direc-
ton Of the present disposition Of our people
because We hopc not to have fighting 20 do, is
precisely as wise lis tie mans not patching
the leak in his roof hecause il was not raining.
Now, larper's Ferry, and the general as
poets Of the slavery question, have led to large
appropriation for the purchase and manufac-
tire of arms; to the passage Of shocsonc laws
for the strict regulation Of volunteer compa-
neS; and to the organization ofnumerouS conf
panics in almost every county in the State
Is this nj! that's to bc done: lit is, then we
have indeed enncted larce-paycd the fool
as egregiouSly as the man who collects costly
materials 10 build house, makes contract
and then abandons it, loses his money and pays
heavy damages. And TO hear the sneers and
gabble Of many about ''Mr Wise's tom.foolc-
~" "craporation Of military furor," &C., this
is the very sensible course which they seem TO
advocate. But ! hope there's good sense
enough in the country to ncutrallze the intu-
ence of all such contemplate sh0rt-sig ghtedncss
The State has spent large sum OF money to
provide arms and 10 make laws for the efficient
organization Of volunteers, and the companies
ara formed and equipped Give them the cold
shoulder n1G, and We are just where we were
before, minus the money and plus the shame
But let the Legislature and the people cherish
and hclp on tins work-lct them get together
and put into operation the machinery for which
they have collected the materials, and it will
tcU-who can calculate how much ?-en the
future destiny ofthe country, certainly, ut least
il nc have war within the present generation,
though the "(uror' may subside, its fruits will
not be forgotten; though the machinery may
bc idle, ard come to pieces, the parts are there
ready 10 be used.
What mean, Messrs Editors, IS that the
Government and people should now be prompt
and liberal to further and encourage, in every
wav, the educdtion-thc trainiHg-of these,
for the most part raw young soldiers VINO
have enrolled themselves for four years-bound
not only by the laws OF the State, but the rigid
penalties Of their oHn companieS-spent their
money in uniforming and eqnipping themselves,
and hundreds Of them giving their time to
mastering which is needed to support their
! families. They arc mon Of like iniirmitics with
the rest Of us the first excitement has SUBJ
sided, and they begin to find the expense and
labor OF acting up TO their obligations M trlI'c
| Now, what has the State done for the tHcOur-
! agemeut Of volunteers Exempted them from
| ju,'V dnty. And what is lhe chance OF having
TO serve OF Il jury, compared with the certain
labor of twelve DAYS or one month, in the course
Of the wear, il drilling-tmc taken from their
occupatini.s-and their oltlit ranging from
thirty 10 ten time: thirty dollars, according TO
their position? True we can sci up no claim !
but the point desire 20 press IS, that if the
State would turn the present condition OF things
to good account, instead Of sinking what she
hnsinvested, She ought not TO pursue the penny
wise policy OF emitting anythhg calculated 10
make efficient soldiers OF us.
First Of all, she ought to do all that Is prac-
licable TO provide the best instruction for these
! men and then she ought to o!ler them rea-
sonablc induccment 10 take the trouble 10 bC
! instructed There are some men III all our
. companies who do not need this; but every
! body knows that such is not the case with the
majority In this connection, one main pur-
nose I had in view was to direct attention to
the military encapncnt 10 De held in Rich.
| montl. Itake it for granted that the object OF
; this measure is instruction, in the fullest sense
of the term Not Sliow nor irolic, but tho
rough Instruction. in camp duty and every
| thing cl<e--to give men at least III inklinS of
camps and Sentinrls and Squadrons anu res-
mentS and batlain;Is, &c. IT it is not, want
to have nothing to 40 with il. lr it is not to
be q military school, 10 teach men things OF
! which they will never even hear, unless called
to the iird If battle. including cYcu the sell:
denial, ,ir plain Iv., til" sober habits, and
the sf,ili of GOOD order and strict Obedience,
had rather on: men shculd stay at home. But if
il is 10 le such school, is il going too far to ask
the public authorities to see that the expenses
! nj this r,is:,.np.ncnt he hurnc by the State?-
| Is il su:n. lar .anugh, The majority Of the
| members 81 Gnr country companies are poor,
and will say with truth "Nr cannot afford it.
| We have zone heYOl,a our means already, and
VIC cannot. in justice to or families. leave our
! !i!Sincss ard he absent so long" Nothing is
palmer 10 mr mind than that the best invest
mrri. Of the same amount, which the State has
made or ca; u,:kc, in anything connected with
her military appliances, would be to 1ay these
men to come thereafter them 4 small per
diem ard mileage. or round sum, and guar
anty Of 10 expense, and most Of them would
go. Wii.o.;: il, | am afraid they will not so !;
! and then rrrn those who would be willing to
unite in il. n their OWN COST, will lose the
hencfi; nf the cncampment because they would
not attend without respectable turn out OF
their companies Whether practicable or not
! muSt leave 20 those more competent to say;
bat i: is greatly to he desired, it strikes me,
that this arrangement should be made for the
approaching cncampmcnt, as the repetition Of
- n 4 .t,a