Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1860-12-21


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REMARKS tsoF GEN. MCGOWAN IN THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON
's~''~@y' THE MILITARY BILL.
The question was on the amendment Of
Mr.. Moore.-
Mr.. McGowan-As i: happened to me
not to Le able to be present through this
debate, I propose to offer few remarks.
The section under debate is in reference TO
the appointment Of the officers, and the
amendment proposes that the Offices, from
captain, should be made in different man
ner from that proposed by the bill. Before
we decide on lis question, it is necessary
to decide on The military condition Of our
State, and the character of the force TO be
raised. This seems to me to be indispen-
sable. First : what is the military condi-
ton Of South Carolina What the state Of
our military organization? Every citizen Of
the State Of South Carolina between the
ages Of eighteen and forty five aresenrolled
upon tie list Of citizen soldiers; arc divi
del into brigs'les, regiments, battalions and
divisions. They are also divided terrific
rally, aud these comprise the Whole terrific
~ Of the State. This body, amounting TO
G5,000 men, exclusive of the alarm men
of the State, perform the services Of the
State gratuitousy, elect their own officers !;
and, under the militia law, as now organ
ized, it is uniformly the case that they do
elect their Owl. officers. Colonel. and all
under colonel, are elected by the soldiers of
the territorial division, and all over that, by
the commissioned officers oftlieir respective
commands. This is the condition Of South
Carolina now. But this army Of $4,000
citizen soldiery is Eat all needed, and there
fore it is necessary to suggest some plan
opt:of the ordinary military organization
of the State, to raise tlis force. What is
the size Of the force neededi 1 belieyeahat
the bill proposes to raise sig, eight, or ten
thousand: And therefore it is necessary
that we 60 ont of the present military
organization, and that they sbop.i be raised
rs far as possible, from all parts of the
State. Next, what kind of troops shall
this ten thousand be-. suppose that We
are all agreed that they should be soIun-
teers. And that peculiar kind of. troops
are particularly adapted TO a Republican
form of government. Under our govern
ment, as iinta all The States of this Union,
there is app Instructive horror Of standing
armies. The reliance Of the State is upon
its citizen ,soldiery and it is called ipto ser
vice<in tbe form Of volunteers. This is
right; orwhere public opinion is the foyn-
dasion ofyarmies as we'll as governments
where the soldier is as much interested, in
military affairs as the oficer-.vhen 2bayo.
nets as well as swords speak, il is; proper
for these tfoops to be volunteers. sThe.ob
ject5 t5of the forcesis purely defensive, and il
ispronert that the citizen should defend his
wives, his 'chldren.and his FIRE side. -
Third: How shall this force be organ
izeda I suppose. that when, I state that the
setmy isfto be voluntary, that the question
is settled. I know of no manner oforgan.
izipga army, hut in one oftvo wass.:: |
understand that the first way is, that the
ofioetsare commissioned, and then sent, ,ts
Anlist,sodiefst and, these, thus appointsd
ate eatterwsrds promoted by seepiotits. Ehs
other is, that the ssotaisrs :organizs hem-
selves inso.a. eqmpaay,eud Officers srs;eho'
sen Afterwards, selected from their. own
ranks. Tue frst u ths system OLA regula.
afpy=the othsrss the yosae.eer sssssm
Tie smsedfnsnt proposed, is notsrbolls on
either plan. All that issproppsed tesise
The sles.io9sef; officers belowteolonel to tiis
men, while these above that officer; sreSap.
pointed or elected y the Legislative. h
: onespstt therefore, we hare a conformity
With the ge]untesfs sya.stus J ia s,ss.o,ttihes-a
dsparthrs eon q. Bst { fanfSili;h6 a'ilSasae
ths pfuqpas atspoupcea ,iet this sasstdiasns
hat spasfpasbi biasttis eomna lds sbIhsS Ssyy
much scatssssA, ,sit j. se stsS kssfassilii
over fha r4nk. sof essisSsf skp-
pointsd by.ths Leeislssafs, Ape abs Gsy
vernon, for. 1t seems. t6 me'tEhibis popyt
is too great ard too liable o'asass t6 d