The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-12-06


but the reality Of an effective force n
muster rolls of names Of companies. reg
ments. brigades. but we'll disciplined citze
soldiers, with good officers able to hand
and lead them. This is something that ca
} be doue-something that ought to be dom
1t is q matter for consideration what
the military system that will best keep U
ready for war if war be forced upon US. an
at the same time with the least de;rimen
or danger to the people or the Government
Is it q large regular force. a standing army
adequate to the defence of the country al
ways ON foot and in the pay of the Genera
Government think not. The numbe
OF regular troops in the service Of the Uniol
doubtless will and should be constantly in
creased. But to keep large standing army
as many Of the great powers Of Europe do
is what l hope We shall never come to.
do not SO much object to the great expense
Of it--for that is not worth consideration i
it be the only or the best way to provide
for the defence of the nation. But it i.
foreign to the genius and spirit of our insti
tutions. and involves dangers to our liber
ties. Human nature is human nature
is pretty likely to continue 10 be. What
history has recorded more than once, it may
have to record again.
tia system? Not, il is to be hoped, without
very great notifications, additions, and i'm
provements. 1t we do, we shall show our.
selves as incapable Of learning by our own
experience as by the wisdom Of history
AT the same time, our militia organization
furnishes the basis Of military system
adapted to the genius Of our Institutions,
fully adequate to our national defence, and
hot frnr
dangers Of a standing army large enough
for the need of the country il a time OF
war.
In recognizing our military system on
this basis. would go to Switzerland for
suggestions and guidance. The Swiss sys-
ten, with certain changes and with some
features adopted from the English, is the
one most fitted for our country. In Swift
zerland the motto is: No regular army,
bu. every citizen a soldier This motto
lies at the base of their system. But then
the system makes every citizen really
soldier. Ii is system that has shown it.
self adequate and admirably adapted for
the defence of the country against for, ign
fees and internal rebellion. Not their
mountains merely. but their hearts and
arms--and knowledge on the part OF their
ncig ghbors what those hearts and arms were
capable of-have preserved their independ-
ence. And as to internal safety. let any
one r, ad the story of the rebellion of l847.
W hen und. Jesuit influence seven OF The
Ssiss cantons formed a secession league
Sender Bind and rose in arms lmme-
di,teiy an army OF more than one hundred
thousaud men from the loyal cantons was in
the fed. summoned from their ordinary
calings, and in seventeen days the whole
struggle was over, despite the strong force
ard almost impregnable position # the
rebels, and despite the menaces of Austria
and her offers of help to the insurgents. In
seventeen days their ciidais were taken,
the traitors league broken, and the loyal
army { all but nine thousand men lef, to see
to the expulsion of the Jesuit conspra ators
AMI the restoration of order) d;sban ed to
seek their homes and renew their ordinary
occupations.
| shall not pretend to GO into the details
Of such a system As we shouli adopt, but
coufine myself to such observations as every
man OF general intelligence, moderately ac
qlainted with military history, is competent
to appreciate.
In the first place, there can be no doubt |
of the importance Of good system Tor the
enrolment Of the rank and file, With effect
i've provisions for certain amount OF in
struc,ion and drill every year.
The next thing, and which is OF still
greater importance. is the adoption of
system that shall secure The formation of
proper officers. Dividing each State in the /
Union into a proper number Of military dis I
Ircts. there should be in everv distrc. a
perfect or aniza,ion Of officers, staff. brigade
regimental, and line hat the French call t
cadres, the rucleus or skeleton of brigsdes 1
and regiments special provision for
heir thorough and effective instruction and T
discipline in all their respective duties.--f
This was a great point in the policy Of M
poleon. .Whea a nation said he pos
-esses n,i'her cadres nor the principles of
military organic .tion, it is extremely diff
cult to organize an army Attaching the
rank and file to these cadres- whenever
and as often as there is nsed--they can
soon be made good soldiers, even il they
have had but little training before; and
there is no way in which discipline can be
$, speedily and effectively instilled. The
eadre is not only the frame. joint, or articu-
laton, but the system of veins and arteries
and nerves Of an army. All the military
systems OF Europe rest upon this principle.
To prepare officers fit to be organized into
ii ese cadres, they have schools for special
tnS SruCtlOn-tne ScnOOi OF the SIAN, and OF +
every branch Of service-iucludiny everv-
thing relating to the subsistence and move.
ment OF armies.
This brings US to the consideration of a
point of fundamental Importance. We have
nothing but West Point, and that is moth
ing to the needs OF the country. In every
State there ought to be schools to prepare
officers for the cadres-special schools for
every department of military science and
art. either separately or united in one con
prehensive institution. The rebels have
been wiser than We of the North. For
twenty years past. looking forward to this
day. The conspira,ors and traitors now in
arms for the overthrow OF the Government,
and the dissne emberment of the nation, have
been assiduousiy training officers. In near
ly every Southern State they have had one
and In some States more than oue special
military school. founded and fossered by the
State-beside introducing more or less OF
military drill. into their other schools. and