Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-12-19
The Csnssrislien Ezania in she AIabna.
IeKisls5ars.


LeKisls5ars.
The legislature of Alabama recently passed g
resolution declaring the militia ofisers Of ths.
State subject to sonscrigtioa, and instructisr the
governor to notify the Confederate government
of their action. In their ever zeal to testify
subssrviensy in this matter, it seems that the
Legislature rather get ahead Of public opinion in
tho State. The Montgomery Adgertissr has the
following editorial on the subject:
1. appears to US that the legislature miebt
mueh better have prcrserved tGeir dignity and
snbssrTed the Purposs they had il view bv de-
clsring al tAs militia cfiiees vacant, and tLeB
/ prescribing such qualifications as would bnvs
excluded those withiA the csaacrpt sys, than
by passing joint res0l8aons declaring tksH1 in
thsiE opinion liable TO cOnseristion, aud then
Bendisg the resolutions to the Secretary of War
linus Presaming upon his ignorance of ths ac.
ton ot sovereign STATE. Tbs resolutisns wers
doubtless passed without any natured consid-
Grafton, and express the disgust Of ssa leoisla-
tore, IN common with their constituents, for men
who are skuiking the service bebind tbs ssilitis
otaees OF the State. But ia 90 doing the nsrl
5oTs sta1ld Save been careful 20 do nothing
which would indicate too ready subservisDeT
to the ceAtrsi power It is too plain te admit
Of question thst The old militia system is a hum.
bug, ane many ef its officers, old and young,
are an incubus
The only effsctua remedy would seen to be
to repeal the old laws AID declare the Offices
vacant preparatory TO thorough re0rganiza.
ton and Tenovati0s. 1t would then be CONNIE.
tent for the Legislature 10 disqualifF those fro.,
holding ofiee between eightson and fortY.ive,
out the wisdom OF suck discrimination might
be doubted BY thOse who think the militia.
Rndeg tae Impending emergency, Should be com
manded sy the men who will make the most
etls'ent commanders, regardless of the age. A
properly organized militia would embrace nrsHy
OF tnoss between eighteen and forty-fve, who
are nos nov subject to csnscriPtion A sufi.
elent mil ia Of a5ls-bodied men might be- raised
cut of that class wko Aave substitutes. ana v-bs
are not detained at home By sny public business.
Ia TINS sase the objection to having officers
Sllhn the esnscrlpt age. to command those
under or ever hst sge, would not apply. IT,
Aowever, the legislature thinks there is no need
OF mihti5, of course, there il no use for Off
GERS without men, and the officers had better be |
in the service.
Ine action of the legislature on the subject !
OF tR5,miitla officers, has already hal the effect
to enSourage the idea that the State should abne-
gate ltseii, by asking to have iis civil officers
conscrPted We can scarcely eOnceivc of a |
policy which would tend more to bring Us into I
contempt There may be men skulking the ser
vice behind tke offices Of justices Of the peace.
censtaoles, deputy sheTifs. etc. but it looks ike
too expensive business for the legislature Is
uadertake to impair, not ts say destroy, the or
ssnizsHon OF the State, merely to reach a fen
nsn who could be bett employed ia the army
Anose who have advocated this proposition do
so as hippsnty as if it were settled question.
both OF ezpediency and of constitutional law.
But it Eigbt be wise for members who are called
on to adopt so sWesping measurs, TO take a
peep st their State Constitution. They viii dnd !
that certain OtsceTs, justices of the peace in
cluded, are constitutional officers, and that
thersfore, sny law Of the Legislature which would
require men now in office to do ether duties than
those assigned to than under that instrument,
might Gene in conflict with their oath.
Ii Is competent for the Legislature to reduca
the Eumbar Of officers in the State, by modify
ing or repeating the laws BOW in existence, and
i is also competent to tx the qualifications fer
elections, SO 81 to exclude those within the con-
script age. We are, however, disposed to cues
lion the policy of thus restricting the sufffagss
1t the people. If we have more persons filing
given Office than are needed at home, let the I
aw provids for a smaller numbsr, but do not
ct Us carry this matter to the extent OF denying
% the vster the choice Of men OF all sgas The
oriaciple of fitness shoud be the test of qUali-
ication, and there is no sound reason why the !
state shoEld not have the services Of the mast /
competent mez in her midst for all offices, high
n low. By sdoptias any other system we re- s
train the elective frsAehise, aad degrade the 8
'ositien Of the State to the most abiect irabe- {
.ditY: Tho Genfedegscy has enough Of men Is
lght It's battles to successful termination, sad {
,lso to maintain its civil administration and {
hat Of the State intact. The timid and the s
may, in the madness of the nomsnt, {
'e wiling to tear down al the constitutions and
ornls which are in their way, but these should 7
lot be the guides Of esstssmeu who look as {
yell to tha ipturs a. to the present