Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-08-27
AIMING THE MILITIA.

AIMING THE MILITIA
As the State Legislature is to con-
vene in few day we deem it of consid-
cradle Importance that the attention OF
that body be called, by the press Of the
State, and otherwise as opportunity may
OCCUR, to the great importance of max
ing an appropriation for the purchase OF
arms, which are to be kept for the sole
purpose Of arming the militia Of the
State. We, the people, are learning ev-
cry day of our lives that we are paying
very dcarly tor abandoning the militia
system. The time was when it was con-
sidered sound policy to have the able
bodied men out every year at general
training, and again at general muster.
The militia was kept up in drill and was
conversant with the use of arms. 1t
VAS many years ago, and the good old
custom came to be abandoned. The
people adopted the idea that such annu-
al demonstrations were only the relics
Of barbauism-that We were a peace ma
ton and had no use Of skill in arms
SO the good old militia practices of our
fathers were entirely out Of use when
this rebellion broke out. Imagine that
it had been Otherwise that the militia
Of our States had been kept well book
ed up in the drill, and that each able
bodied man had been armed with good
serviceable musket, alb, we should not
have been engaged in such desperate
rebellion to-day it could have been
wiped out while the nation wss engaged
in preparing muskets for five hundred
thousand men. In such case no trait
orous Secretary Of War could have stol-
en- our meaus Of defense and left us in
the deplorabe condition presented by q
nation without arms.
The States have erred in this matter
tor most previously, and most fearful is
the punishment. Let the right track be
once more resumed. Let the militia
law be enforced with the utmost ngor.
and let the State now hasten to provide
arms for the people. We have been
canght napping-let us take heed. from
the bitter experience and learn war;
Peace Is good thing and ought to be
encouraged but at the same time let
US keep on our guard. Let the coming
special session take the matter into con.
sideration, and let prompt action be had
upon it. Let the militia left after the
draft be organized into companies, reoi
ments, and brigadcs without unnecessary
delay. We may as well be ready for
the emergency. Our State is pouring
ont her thousands to-day, but instead O,
stopping at the end of fifty regiments OF
Infantry and cavalry, which is the mum
Der raised and called for in this State.
she will undoubtedly be called upon to
furnish half as many more. Let the
militia of the State be prepared for the
emergency.
WHEN Greeley aud Wendell Phillips
attempt to make emancipation of great.
er Importance than the prevservat,on or
the Republic, We think President Lin.
coin, instead OF honorlng them so much
as to address letters to them, should is.
sne warrants for their arrest rs public
enemies, the same as ho does for the ar /.
rest OF those misohevloua northern abet-
tors OF treason who, in their pro slavery
lntatuat'on, attempt to discourage enlist.
ments and to dampcn the ardor of
northern loyalty, by trying to convince
tue people that this is an abolition war.
-Chicago Journal.
That is the true doctrine. Rnt II, y.
incidentally remark right here, that the
Republican papers, which, like the Jour.
nat, have the honesty 10 come on, .na
SO declare it, are exceedingly scarce.
Let those men who endeayor 10 f,;.,
upon the President or the country tho
idea that the emancipation Of tho No.
gro is OF greater Importance than -.
preservation Of the Union, be b,ouph,
up to the rack alongside Of those who
discourage enlistments and o,hcrwi.,
use toc-.r energies to clog the wheels Q
the government.
THr rahe1s whO havo relia1 MAO,