The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-04-26

The Army Register for 1851 places the aggre-
gate number of the militia of Maryland at forty
six thousand eight hundred and sixty-four men.
This return is taken from the official statement for
the year 1885, since which time no report that
has come to our knowledge has been made. The
classification as registered wenty-three years ago,
gave to the force supposed to be enrolled at thai
time, twenty-five General Officers, sixty-eight
General Staff Officers; Ave hundred and forty-four
Field Officers; one thousand, seven hundred and
sixty-three Company Officers, and fortylour thou
sand, four hundred and sixty-seven rank and file.
This catalogue shows remarkably well on paper;
but unfortunately, so far as actual enrolment was
concerned, so imposing body of militia existed
only in Imagination. On no occasion since 1888
has there been in this State an actual muster of the
militia, and we very well remember the ridicule
which was cast upon the muster of that year.
Long before that time, indeed, the practice
of compulsory enrolment had fallen into
desuetude and the effort which was made
to revive it, in 1888, was regarded as 90 utterly
abortive that it may be said to have given the
coup de grace, not to the system ITSELF for that
is an admirable one, but to all further endeav-
ors to enforce it. This was partly owing to
the miserably inefficient manner in which it
was organized, and in part also to the greater
popularity of the volunteer companies, whose
really martial aspect, and skill in the use of arms,
put to shame the unmilitary appearance and
awkward movements of the enrolled militia when
mustered for inspection and drill. But the mill
tia system is absolutely essential utNder Republi-
can form of government, to the defence of the
several States, the utterly disorganized condition
into which it has fallen in MARYLAND renders it
imperative upon the Legislature, which is now
about to assemble at Frederick, to undertake its
thorough revision. At this crisis of our affairs,
the abuses which have crept into it have rendered it
practically imperative. Many of the officers con-
neced with this service are VIGOROUSLY unfit for the
duties to which they have been appointed. All such
whatever may be their rank, and however much
they may be respected socially, must be sternly
weeded out. We cannot afford to be sentimental
when prompt and decisive action is of so much i'm
portance to the general welfare, or 10 stand too
rigldly upon etiquette. 1t is not matter of feel
ing 1t is far beyond that-t is a question of self
preservation. The safety of the people of this Com
incompetent officer be revoked at the earliest
possible day. None but the best men-men
known to be skilled in the profession of arms. and
ofapproved courage and capacity-sbould he an
pointed to command in a crisis like this wo Gin
cerely trust that the reorganization of the milito
will be the earliest measure undertaken NV
the Legislature Every able bodied white male CHI
zen between the ages of eighteen and forty-6ve
should be ordered to enroll for the defence of the
State and capable officers appointed for the pur-
pose of perfecting them in the manual. It
is possible that this force, which, with our
present population, would considerably exceed
nifty thousand men in the aggregate would not
be called into active service; but it is quite GER
tain that if the independence of the State is to be
preserved, the only mode by which such result
is to be accomplished is to be prepared to vipdi-
cate it by force of arms if resort to the arbtra-
ment of the sword should be found necessary. Bnt
the bravest of men will become demoralized unless
we'll differed, and we confidently look to the
Legislature to see that there shall be no Just
ground for complaint in future on this head.