The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-11-20
vi.
The House Militia Bill,

TO the character Of the military law which
ought to be enacted at this session, prove, if
nothing else, that the people are not united in
their demand for legislation, and have no def
mite ideas of what they really want. In this
state of opinion, we believe the best thing the
Legislature can do, is simply to remedy the
only evils which the authorities have found in
the practical working of the laws as they now
are The bill proposed by the Military Com
mittee of the House, however, goes far beyond
this, and is, we believe, open to very grave and
wigh IT, objections, as was shown by the very
able speech of Mr., Royce. of Berkshire, Tues
day. against the bill.
The expense attending the operation of this
bill, is, in these times when the State has i'm
mediately, and prospectiyely, heavy burden
of taxation resting upon it, worthy of the most
serious consideration. The bill, exempts the
polls Ct the militia from taxation, for other
than school district and highway taxes. This
militia will number, according to the estimate
Of the bill, about % 900, making list of $50
GEO. The State tax, which the House have al
ready agreed upon, is sixty GEMS on dollar,
and the loss of the State, by the exemption of
this bill, would thus be $4,000. But this is
not more than half she loss from taxation The
average Of the town taXGs-ncuding bOunties
and State school and County taxes, would
make an item of at least sixty cents on a dol
lar more, thus doubling the above figures, and ,
in round numbers, making the expense Of the
practical working OF this bill in the matter OF
taxation alone, SGT goo. This, We think it will
he agreed, is an important item of expense,
which ought not to be incurred unless some cor
responding advantage can be secured.
But this is not half the annual burden of
this bill to the State. The militia is to be called
out twice, yearly, and it may be compelled to
come out six times. lfthey should be called out
on four different days-and that is the average
number-the loss of time computed in money
at one dollar day, thus compelled, would be
$4,000 and we believe it is within the esti-
mate to add $38, 900 for the necessary expenses,
III addition to this loss of time, making in the
get IN this loss in taxation, and loss of time,
and the actual expenditure occlsioned by the
machinery of this bill, the sum of $2l7 600,
which is a snug little sum in these Strengthened
times for money, and ought to be saved to the
State if possible and this computation Toes
not take into the account the loss of time
and money, expended by the thousands who
would attend these trainings, which it would b.
i low figure to estimate at $50 coo annually.
We will admit if there is an absolute nects
sity for this bll,-if as reasonably prudent and
sngacious men, the Legislature can see no other
way to put the State in conditicn t.
defend itself, aid the general government, OF
maintain Its OWN honor, and fair name--that
the cost of the militia system proposed, SHOULD
not be an insuperabe objection to it. But il
should at least set the wits of the members al
work to devise, If it can be done, some cheaper
way that, if it does not accom- lish the same
result, will do all that common prudence re-
Quires to be done at this Session.
There are many other objections to the bill
which have been developed in the course of tn,
de bate, and which are quite manifest. Th,
fact that no arms are to be provided for the
militia, except in cases of invasion or nsurrec
ton is almost ridiculous. Soldiers fit for service
are not usually made without instru cton il
handling musket. And we don't believe tina
militia training" whether or not it would
be good for anything if arms were provided
would be of any value without the militia wer
furnished with muskets.
Another forcible objection was made by Mr.
Royce in his speech, namely, that the organlza
ION of the militia proposed by the bill would
be Of no practical use in case of draft. Tn
draft, if made at all, is to be made as equal,
as possible from the whole body of the militia
The draft would not be made by regiments o
companies, but precisely as though no company
" regimental organization existed, and when st
made, OF course new organization into com
panies and regiments is inevitable and tn
old organization only remains servicoable il
excmpting the commissioned officers from th
draft.
We have in previous article alluded to 9th
er objections to this practically useless militi.
system, and we forbear any further enumeration
here. Ii ought to be sufficient to condemn the
bill that, 80 far as it provides for the organ,za
ton and drill OF the militia it will be entirely