Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-12-01
Legislature OF Vermont.

Among the prominent debaters upon
the military bill In the House as steady
and staunch supporter Of an immediate,
effective and permanent organization,
may be named, without any injustice to
others, Mr. Nicholson of Wailingford,
the points only Of whose arguments we
make room for to day. The House being
in committee of the whole upon the. mil
itary bill, Mr. Nicholson, after stating
that his military experience would not
embolden him to speak upon the bill,
save in committee of the whole where
all sides are open to the freest and
fullest discussion, made the following
points:
First, that he was in favor OF the
most readily available and effective plan
that was within reach of a solvent ad-
ministration OF our commonwealth, as
connected with the General Government,
and that this was an open question.
That the constitution in terms called
for the organization and drill of the
whole upon an equal and level basis,
and any organization short or this would
be an incomplete defence against assaults
upon the field or the claims for re-em-
bursements for losses suffered by the
victims of military incursions or raids.
That the common right and common
duty of the citizen growing out of alle-
glance and a devotion to a common
cause, demand an organization of the
martial array of the state, upon such
basis as shall inspire no jealousies or
hostile rivalries.
That the late election had about set
tied the doctrine of raids, and the mill
tary was wanted as a means Of securing
our rights peacefully if possible,) but
| at all events at the hands OF power
which always showed most respect to
those who are in situation to CON-
mand it.
That in event of sudden emergency
our whole population would spring to
arms and repel all raiders with the en-
ersy of our Fathers at Lexington, Con-
cord and Bunker Hill, or our sons and
brothers at Gettysburg.
Tha. the organization of only a part
of our forces for drill and discipline
would in the event of war drive us to a
| draft supon an enrolment of men who
have had no such drill or discipline, while
the general plan would not only drill all
alike, but would establish a perfect roll
by the sitting out exempts on account
of unsoundneSs.
That for dress parade the plumage
furnished at the expense of the heaviest
taxation would be rather an expensive
pageant, and upon the field of battle
would give no additional devotion or
energy to our bravo ond lnval soldiers.
and to this every man will respond al.
firmatively as to himself, but fears that
others may not be thus legitimately in
fluenced.
The organization of a partial and Sc
lected portion of the militia is a novel
|. experiment, the offspring of contempt
heretofore begotten of a general opinion
that we had arrived so near the millen-
mum that the enginery of war should
be beaten into instruments OF hus-
bandry.
Thatsthe stern realities Of these times
had corrected this Misrepresentation. and
would secure the universal respect for
that general system SO respected OF our
fathers, as the offspring of two genera
tions of warriors, who gave us in the
revolution and the war of 1872, the best
assurance of their fitness to bequeath to
us with our liberty the best means OF
defending it Waltons Journal.