Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-03-06


Hesiine Of she PeepIe "a FIadisoz en- rae
Esiifia 4uestien-
r putsHance 81 pubic notice. q nesting of
the eflzsns Of Madison county was held 90 the
eegft house. ia ganton, on Monday, ID day Of
Mafca5 1868 70 give expression to our present
militia system
On notion John Monteomery was called .
the chair, bud j. y Powell appointed ssefetery
On motion, q COMMITTEES Of Eve was appointed
BY The chair 70 draft q Freamble and resolutions
expressive Of the sense Of the meeting consist
ing Of Franklin Smith, j.. e, Burns, Lafayette
Montgomery, GA Luckst., ~ssnstor, and G. g.
Cooper.
The meeting was then aa3re5sed by she Hon.
o. a. Luckctt, State senator, giving "a general
history Of the militia bill wlile il was before tie
Legislature, and the grounds Of bis e~trenuous
opposition 70 81 Is It faaily passed inst body
Mr. Lnckets having concluded his address.
the committee reported the following preambis
and resolutions, which were adopted unaut
mously
WHEREAS, The present war is national 10 It's
character, and it Is The highest duty o. Missis.
sippi TO contribute al in her power to strength
en- the Confederate government, 10 which the
prosecution of said war properly belongs and
whereas. this duty wss designed to b. performed
by the State, by the 4th section of lhe act Of ths
81 of JanUagy, 1868, positively commanding
State military officers, under the penalty o.
being courtmariialed, to discharge al persons
IN the military s~iveTviee Of the State, between
I the ages Of eighteen and forty years, and thaI
such persons should be placed in the camps oi
instruction. legislative command which The
officers Of the State cannot disregard without a
gross violation OF duty aud Of the policy de-
ciared by The State:
And, whereas, the necessary effect Of thi,
policy Wouldbe, and doubtless was intended bg
the Legislature to be, the disbsnding of Ia
State militia then and new IN camps-since, 81
ter taking out of camp all persons up TO the agi
Of forty years the remnant would be inconsid
erable and inefficient as a military Organization
Aad whgfeas. this policy was, lin the opin
ion of this meeing,) wise and conducive Is "a.
public good, because the militia, as organzed
and retained n camp, was, and IS uocalied for
inefficient, UHproauctive Of public coed, and
great expense.
Il is uncalled for, because Mississippi is only
called upon t. render her pT0portiOnate aid q
the public war, and is net called upon to keep
up a separate expensive military establishment.
of troops in the fed.
1t is inefficient, because it is notorious thai
militia in camps are uniformly .uadiseipliasd
under the command Of officers forthe most part
unskllled IN tactics, and that disoIg anization
and d want Of eoa6deacs mark the arrange
meDt
It is highly injurious to the public good 10
many respects
/. Il keeps from the Confederate army 8 large
number Of soldiers who ought to be there, sud
who are now required to 6i up our thinned
regiments, and are called for by various recruit
ing officers in cur midst a call which every die
tate Of patriotism ard Of honor, in his the
emergency Of our coEmo fate, in this the death
struggle of the South, appeals 20 US 90 obey.
? 1t taxes from their homes and keeps in
camps, a considerable number of men, past the
age OF forty, aud unfs, for the most part, for
camp har5ships and exposure, and whose health
and lives are likely to Be sacrificed thereby +
keeping them from their families and leaving
whole neiyhborhOOds for miles unprobsesed by
white men and exposed to outrages; whereas, if
the policy commanded By the Legislature had
been observed these men would have 5een at
home, where they could do much more good to
the State, By controlling their slaves snd keep.
ing them at useful work and out Of mischief,
Than they can render By remaining in militia
camps.
3. BY keeping this class of citizens in these
camps, the planning interests Of the State are
neglected to 8 degree that greatly endangers the
raising OF the means Of subsistence for the
country aud army, which is now q cause of se-
rous alarm, and if not speedily obviaied, must
produce Disastrous consequences to all classes
Of cur people, but especially 70 tho poor, whose
labor is necessary to the support Of their iani-
lies.
e. It produces great confusion and harrass-
mentin tbia Stsse az 70 who should Be- enrolled
aud held @ e6nscript duty, and who are 10 be
excused on account Of The militia.
.. l~seauses o totally useless expense, which
aPpeers 70 be reekless'y imposed upon the
country, by Keeping q large number Of officers
At great salaries, withoas sny necessity or iusti-
hcston; officers foc the most part unskilsd 70
military affairs when, if the policy Commanded
by law was observed, the men up to forty years
Of age would 90 Into tbs Confederate ssTvire
where there are officers ofskil aud experience in
war ready to take command Of them wilhou.
aay additional expense; the men above forty
years Of age would be dsbanded and sent
homo, where thsy could render valuable service
70 their country, aud 81 this heavy expense,
both for officers salaries and tie commissary and
quaTtermasteTs' departments, and various other
incidental outlays, would be saye1 to the. Sa.e.
Therefore,
Rssoiged, That it is the sense Of this meeting
that i IS the imperative duty Of She executive of
he State 70 carry out the fourth section Of the
actO the Sd January, 1869, BY causing The
men in tie State militia up to the sge Of forty
yeaEs, to be placed ia fhe Confederate CAMPS of
instruction, and that the public interest de-
mands that the residue Of the militia should be
disbanded.
JOHN MONTGOMERY, Chairman.
J.R PoWELL. Secretary.