Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-11-28
THE MILITIA SYSTEM.

we 90 nOt incline 10 q long argument
with the Freeman about the action Of the
House on the Militia Bill. We are content
10 let the Fireman have its opinion, as we
have ours, both as to what sort of Mill
tia System We ought to have, and as to the
relative knowledge of the Freeman and the
PKEE Press, Of the wishes of the people -
The notion Of the Freeman that the men,
bers of the Legislature have been home Of
tea enough during the session tc get their
notions corrected by their constituents. if
they were wrong, is rather rich.
The FTeeman says:
III the Free Press would consider that Yer
mont without active militia has been, except
al the outset, in the front rank il promptly put
ting troops in the field, being ahead Of Nassachu-
sets even, WITH its Wanted Militia System, we
think cur contemporary would see that machinery
and an active militia were not always the best
agencies for organizing N army IN time Of Immi-
Bent peril
We give all honor to the p5omptitu le and
patriotism Of our citizens in rallying for the
support Of the government, and shall spend
NJ WINS ~ saafNAtiE NV mum AiyAN NsA1AlJ
a movement can be made in 4 small State
Ike ours, and one with people remarkably
united IN sentiment, than in large States and
where great and influential dissimlarities
prevail but the Freem1a's qualification,
"e4oept at The reyV outset, - is worth a notice.
inasmuch as the "rery outset" is the turn
ing point of the whole. How was it in this
case D.?
Fort Sumter having been bombardeI to
lite fall, the President on the 18th Of April,
issued his Proclamation calling Tor - 600
MIlitiamen from the States for the protection
and support of tie Governm ent and the
order from the War Department for the
quota to be furnished by each State fol
lowed immediately after. Within
tceiue ho,rre after the order WAS received
N the night Icy Gov. Andrew of Mass, and
notwithstanding fierce storm was raging,
troops, armed. and fully equipped, and
offered. mustered at Faneuil HIll from
towns ten to fifteen miles of; and within So
hours $500 disciplined men from
Massach useits, ready for action, were on their
way to Washington. On the l9,h the Mass.
9Th fought its way successfully through a
bloody and ferocious mob IN the streets of
Baltimore On the Doth the Rhode Island
artillery with eight heavy guns with oficels,
men, horses and GU pmenis to match, passed
through New York city Ca their way to the
Capital The same day the powerful and
highly disciplined n Y. 7th, lett New York
fox Washington, with IS rounds Of pail
cartridge ready their boxes. On the DIST,
Gov. Sprague Of r. |. marched az the head
OF the r. Island lst regiment through New
York, with the same destinati y.
On the 221, the Oh, l2ih aul list
n Y. Militia, all full and powerful aud ably
Offered regiments left by steamboat for An
napolis, auG within "a hours more many
other regiments from n Y, Massachusetts,,
and r. Island were on the way. BT these
rapid and energetic movements, Fortress
Monroe. Fort Mcllenry, and Washington it.
feIf, were saved from falling into the hands
oT the rebels, as everybody knows; and
every body knows too. that without an or
ganized. equiPTed, and active Militia in
those States, nothing of the sort would have
been possible.
All the patriotic zeal in the world could
have availed nothing at that time, If those
States had been in as helpless condition for
Military action as yermontwas. With unsur-
passed zeal and activity On the part Of our
citizens, male and femalc, and with our put
lie officers doing all that could be done, it
was the 9th of My before the lst Vt. Regi-
ment left Rutland for the seat of war.
The concluding remark of the Freeman
about tie Imperative use, ssness Of INA
chinery and N active militia for organic
ing an army in time of imminent peril, We
let pass for what it is worth-only say
ing that if an active and efficient militia is
not important for Vermont, as a part of the
Union, it cannot be important for any other
State; and if there is 10 organized and active
Militia in the Nation, then there must be so
much the greater Standing army toI
We take it that the notion which pre-
vailed I good deal few years ago.
tina Government en- be saved from for
eign and domestic Toes by constables and
thesiis alone, is pretty thoroughly exploded
by this time.