Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-10-31
THE MILITIA SYSTEM.

THE MILITIA SYSTEM.
A militia force always must be less power
full, for the same number Of men, than
regular army, because its discipline will be
less thorough. But for all that, the power of
good militia system is very great Every
man within it, rich or poor. learned or I'M
learned, is made to realize that he is a part
ofthe government police--that il his services
are needed. they hava got to be rendered.
without any debate on his part. llyis made
% put of. for the occasion, the freedom of
the private cItz-n.who goes where he pleases
and says and does what be likes. and settles
hin differences with others through the for
mahues and DELAYS Of cryn courts, and to
suh c. himself Tor the time being u military
or4ns This Discipline is Of greu; value III
thu Wy OF preparation for active service,
wheneE IT comes. Every N N who Is under
It feds th,; HIS government is the stronger
becirse OF q, q; b14e or abroad.
ThaI IA aslni or ii hundred thousand, or
ten hundre1 thousand mea, # the govern
muu, Is Ia I-sril, en-, a; a word from (
proper authority, be brought together from
t5ei. i4rm,. their shops. their III rs Of busi-
uess, every man armed, every man knowing
his oth,er, every officer las superior, very
man kncWia. lHat =yery other iHaa Us ID
as himself knows his place and has duty.
and lakes 1t and dos IL, is a waateriu.
thing tie very th.usht Of It gives iiie and
power 20 one who Is mad 10 reaiz IL in las
own perrou.
Moderate to q the am-u.t si discipline
is in an active militia system, it s,rs great
way in determining wao 10 the community
have aptitude I- military ofirc, in cas-. ,t
emergency. There was little diff .ultY IA ST.
Letting :. Cd line or field officers 70 drafted
or volunteer militia IN the war Of lsl2-
What host OF worthless officers have been
taken hap hazard, ~ n w,l-. way, from cryIi
liie during the last Is months, and v aac a
costly lesson has the nation been taught by
its folly in not maintaining al eff -ient mil
itia system IN all the States Of tie Union
We do not suppose there is d sane man in
the country. Old enough to remember the
condition OF tie Militia System in the Free
States. as it wac at the close of the war of
lSl2-l5, who does not believe that had it
been kept up 10 an equal state OF Efficiency to
this day. there would have been no rebellion
the peculiar state ot society in the Slave
latlon there to keep themselves familiar with
the use OF arms. They have always had
military organiziti u. and an efficient one
too. 10 the Northern States, within few
years after that war, a nOtiJn began to pre-.
vail that all this business Of militia training !
was piece OF nonsense-that it on,y made |
occasion for able bodied men to waste three |
or four days in year, and foi the boys and |
and girls to have Jolly times in
seeing the trainers, eating ginger |
bread and pies, and drinking new
cider. What's the use OF all this expense
and non, ense, was the CRY? As''the trainers !
generally in their every day dress and with
but Inn ted experience in drill, fell great
way behind in appearance 10 regular troops. |
it soon became the fashion to ridicale them
to get Up companies in fAns4stIcal dresses,
who were tolerated IN rarading side by ride
with the proper military bodie-, and in
marching beiore and behind them-the avow-
cd purpose beng TO make the militia system
ridicu .ou>--l very reprehensible praeuc,
which should have been prevented, even 10y
severe measures, II nee1iul iOr that end.
Q her causes also, were operative, and grad
naly the community to q great cxtnt
came 10 the belief that there was not, and
never would be, any further use for the mil
tia. Save IN few large places where
train-hlnds were got up mostly for show.
the system. 50 fa- IS any efficiency
was concerned, went into general di,use,
and the money and time to be saved went for
the encouragement of horse. trots and ezhi-
bitIons OF fat women. &c.
In this State nothing was left of the sys-
TEN but the annual election Of one or ;wo
'hloers, the expense OF hundred Liars y :,
n the caro- OF some arms kept in boxes IN the
u ). arsenal at Vergennes, and trifln. {
for the f armatloi. Of volun- {
Ger uniformed companies. which might exist l
II not at the pleasure OF the members. The y
HrOA0'enf, 50 called, by listers, was mere c
ominal afa ir, of no value whatever. d
The men who were plotting rebellion IN i
lie Southern States were not unInindiul of q
bis helpless condition of the Free States, so Il
IT as military organization and military d
faetice was concerne-. Ii is notorious that o,
considering their chances of success. if Z,
hey SHOULD "secede," as they called it, they v
lade large account, and with good reason. 90
the fact that there was no military organ. flu
alton, and no military spirit at the North. Y
fhe Yankees. they said think Of nothing but ~
ade and money-mAking. while the potoer "
the nation is all with u.s." AID to make
at power the more sure they managed to
ep the army and navy Of the nation filled So
tho greatest extent possible with men who an
cid be in har service and not the service rs.
the 1af,oD 10 = h~>.ch ~I,~,l1 49,. nl-