The New York herald., 1862-01-16

a. at once an important and necessary institution and
entitled to as much care those Of civil character
g. How much soever We may admire the elective princi-
pie when applied to civil Offices IL questionable whether
can be successfully carried out In military
and obstacle 70 the Improvement Of militia
the provisions Of section 2 article Of tho constitution
Of 1s46 Tho perfection Of any military system depends
on the absolute nature Of the authority BY which 1t s
controlled proposition with which the provision making
military Offices elective s in direct conflict. No officer
who owes his position TO the vote Of those whom he
10 to command can act with that paramount re-
gard the interest Of the service which necessary to
promote its highest Nor s the elective princi
pie any less preudcia TO the welfare Of the soldier
Experience has fully demonstrated that the choice Of on
governed more by personal preferences than by
any regard 10 real merit proficiency and when expe-
rence in the ned has brought out the real character of
the person they have chosen they find too often place
Of the experienced eicer, thoroughly acquainted with
his duties, or at least capable Of learning hem total
ncapaci joined total disregard OF as care for
his command Perhaps nothing has been 30 preiudcial
TO tho volunteer service as the OF choosing line
officers and is equally so with respect to any oganza
ton. The Convention OF 1846 seems 10 have been In
great doubt TO the proprety II extending tho princ
pie TO military officers and with commendable caution
ls open way Of escape, in section Of the same art
de which provides "that in the mode OF election
appointment OF militia officers hereby directed shall
not be found conductive to the Improvement Of the mi
hta, the Legis aure may abolish the and provide
by law for their appointment and removal two-thirds
Of the members present in each house shall concur
therein"
modification Of the present law 30 far a. To give the
Commander in Chief the appointment OF all officers above
the rank Of captain, and requiring the choice Of line on
GERS 70 De COnnrmeu MIN, Woud, IN opinion. be
most advantageous change from the present rule
T. change In the u appointing officers should
be connected with provision TO their quain
cations through examining board. Although test
OF this kind cannot be considered equally satisfactory
with merorous conduct In actual service, II Ia far bet
ter thau test at ALL The officer who explain and
Illustrate, theoretically the movements and evolutons
OF the company and battalion will not be likely fail In
carry ing them into practice His theoretical knowledge
will at least afford fair presumption in his favor and
he should prove Incompetent In the held IL will pro.
baby be owing 10 other But the examination Of
ocer should not be confined to this branch Of
duties On acquaintance with those which relate more
particularly 70 the sanitary condition OF troops ser
almost important m 10 know how to drill and
| maneuvre them and no of1cer be considered fully
competent for command who does not exhibit some
degree intelligence and information in regard 10 item
As proficiency in field exercises and In the manual oil
only be scqn rod by practice, provision should
be made for the frsquent assembling Of companies
for drill and also for the massing OF larger bod for In
sruction in the movements OF battaoDs aud brrades
should be located al central point In the reginsnta
W brigade district and as this will the troops
from their homes and business ttons both officer,
| a d men should be paid whilst on thsduty.
| g. Nothing would tefd more TO promote the formati
| new mpanes ana regiments than lib, raj cist bu
ton Of The frequent applications this de
"a show that there Ia astrong inclination smo ~
cass Ct our whose business avocations will no
admit d their entering ths volunteer ssyicc IT, cDnaec