Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-11-27
Vermont Militia system.

ed, whether there DO any good reason ior II or
not, the leading question which should engage
the attention of the Legislature. II has been, at
any rate, the subject more than all others,
nearest the interests of the people, and the sub
iect which has, more than any other, engaged
their attention.
The vital point to be considered is whether
it is necessary to put the State upon military
footing, or at least, whether it is expedlent 10
establish system which shall answer as nu-
cleus for complete military establishment,
should events transpire to render such an es-
Enlistment necessary. In other words, is 1t
demanded by the present and prospective con-
dition of the country that Vermont should have
a sodiery of her own, properly armed and
equipped? ....
There has been an evident disposition to fall
into extremes in discussing this subject. There
are those who, perhaps, overestimate the dan
gers to which the State is liable, and who,
therefore, advocate the most elaborate and ex-
tensive military preparations In such view,
we do not concur On the other hand, there
are those who put out of sight altogether the
dangers with which we are manifestly sur
rounded--those who regard our condition such
as to require no expenditure whatever for milit-
tary preparation, in view of apprehended diti-
culties, and who, therefore, are opposed to the
establishment of any military organization
which shall involve pecuniary expenditure
There are still others who seem to think moth
ing can be done by the Legislature of practi-
cal benefit in a military point of view, short of
"going the whole figure" or in other words,
they seem to think that if anything is done,
there must be complete organization Of the
militia and a full armament provided, including
arms for infantry, artillery and cavalry, with
the other necessary equipments, for active SER
vice, and they plead the enormous expense of
such preparation as an argument against do
ing anything at all. Now such views are not
candid Those who favor military system,
take an altogether different view They do
not ask that the entire militia should be armed
and drilled at the State expense, as if we were
in an actual State Of war, or even as if we
+ were upon the eve of war with foreign powers
But they do say that the times are such, and
the future is so uncertain that common pru-
dence requires the State should not be wholly
without military force, drilled and armed for
possible emergencies. The present rebellion
was precipitated upon us simply because the
Northern States had no military organizations.
Had the North been even as well prepared as
the South in this respect, the rebellion never
could have occurred. 1t has taken year and
a half for the free States to place themselves
upon a war footing equal to that of the South
at the time the war broke out. True, in the
raising of troops, Vermont has done as well as
her sister States, but they all ought to have
been in condition to have done better all the
States should place themselves In condition to
do better in the future, and Vermont should
not be the last to exhibit energy in this direc-
ton. The question is, shall we remain wholly
without military preparation, and take things
as they come OF shall we act the part of pru-
dence and make some preparation for the flu
ture2 We arc tossed upon sea of boundless
strife. Who can foretel the end of the pres
emit unparalleled war; Whether it shall result
in further divisions and disintegrations, who
can prophesy? Who can say how soon the
necessity may arise for military force within
this State to protect its own integrity and its
dearest interests
For the very reason that no one can answer
these questions in the negative, do we press the
necessity of being prepared for the worst.
We say, therefore, that provision ought to be
made for the arming, equipping and drilling Of
few regiments of infantry. This will serve
to form the nucleus Of more effective force
if needed, and will also be corps from which
the General Government may draw such quo
tas as may be necessary hereafter in putting
down the rebellion. 1t will be a corps ready
TO take the field at any moment, and to do eff
fective service, avoiding the necessity and the
expense of drafting and Of six months previous
training-the army in the meanwhile standing
idle, and the rebellion gaining head.
We hope the Legislature will not disregard
these important considerations. We are in the
midst of war which is likely to last for
years,-the end and results of which
no one can foresee or PREDICT
1.-THE war is protracted, as seems probable,
many more troops will be required to fight it
out successfully than are now in the field. If
this be so, we cannot begin too soon to make
soldiers Of our citizens. The fact is, we mus
make the war our first business as they do in