The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-07-18
IN. p, opIe ana the Mi, i,ia Draft.

former is at least the safer error.
The Pc cple and the Mi itia Draft.
If |: had been the design Of the call for the
militia to obtain the smallest effective force, by
imposing the greatest burden upon the COM
munity, the object could not have been more
fully accomplished than it is under the pre-
sent call: In all drafts Of militia that have
been ever known in any country, the system
Of employing substitutes has been provided
for, by which useful members Of society, who
could not leave their business without pecu-
mary ruin to themselves and great injury to
the public, have been enabled to put better
fighting men in their places. But no such sys-
TEN lie new provided, and efforts to obtain in
formation from headquarters are futile.
There are thousands of men in the commu-
nifty who are unfit for soldiers, who are vastly
more useful to their country in their places OF
business than they could be in tho, ranks,
and who would each cheerfuly arm and equip
a good soldier fer a substitute, and not only
put him into militia company for months
service, but into volunteer company tor
: twelve months; thus keeping business going
ut home, and adding effective strength to the
army but who cannot do go, because, owing
to ignorance, or incomretency, or imscciiity,
or Indifference somewhere, no mode has
been digested by which this most advan-
tspeous arrangement can be effected. 1t
would seem as if an irrepressible conflict
of interests were raging between the Confed-
crate and State authorities, ard that those Of
the State were refusing to devise any means
for making the call effective and convenient TO
the people, in the effort to make those Of the
Confederacy as unpopular with the country as
possible. Thus it would seem that the people
were to be made TO endure the maximum
amount of suffering from this call in order
that this man in Office may gain some con-
temptible advantage over that man in Office
We have no doubt that the Confederate
Government are honestly Of opinion that the
militia strength Of the country ought to be
put in q state Of efficiency at this moment.
We have no doubt that in pursuance Of that
honest opinion, they have signified the fact in
the usual legal form to the State authorities.
We have no doubt that having done so, mag
much as the matters Of organization and of
details belong exclusively to the State, they
have left it to the State authorities to bring
the militia into state of efficiency in the
manner provided by State laws.
1t is precisely at this point that the burden
upon the community begins. The object of
the call is to furnish effective soldiers. That
object can be accomplished much better by
devising judicious system of regulations for
the employment Of substitutes than by any
other process. The furnishing of substitutes
for the militia service could be greatly inn
proved upon, by allowing the substitute to be
mustered as a twelve months volunteer. The
moment it was known in kentucky, in Mary
land, and other quarters, that soldiers could
be enlisted here as substitutes and provided
with arms, immense numbers Of men would
flock to Virginia for the army, and many
hundreds already here could find resdy places
in the volunteer companies, being provided, as
they would be, with arms. The rule in regard
to the minimum age Vf the recruit might also
be modified SO as to allow persons not less than
49,
being provided with arms. Thus very consid-
cradle army of armed and effective volunteers
might be obtained by the call for the militia
provided only some pains were used in good
faith by tho Executive looking to the Or
ganization Of soldiers, rather than to putting
unnecessary burdens on the people.
Unless some measures Of this sort are taken,
IL e. Il. sl,.k ~ T,r militia will
prove o miserable abortion, and bring disgrace,
rs it has already brought odium, upon the
heads of its contrivers. The people cannot be
expected to do Impossible things, and will net
consent to take part in an affair alike absurd,
ridiculous, useless, and destructive. The mus
tsring of militia has been standing butt Of
derision for fifty years, and the popular de-
rision and execraUon will be turned upon the
men who would re enact the moekery in the
midst Of SO solemn crisis OF the country. Ii
any good could be effected by mastering an
unarmsd militia force, the people would en-
counter any mere pecuniary sacrifice or Per
sonal Inconvenience, and rally to the banner of
the country. Bat when their Government
calls upon them to sufIor unprecedented sacri-
fees, in order to take part in a grand farce
and wretched mockery, it asks quite too much Of
their patriotism. their patience and their pride.
We expect to hear Of numerous popular meet
ings in this counties, and the universal EXPIRES
sion Of extreme unwillingness to take part in
hismilitia tom-foolsry. eseexpressions will
doubtless be coupled with pledges to send more
effective men into the field. on the v,luptcer