The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-07-09
SATURDAY, JULY Q, 1864.
THE RAID, AND THE DUTY OF STATE
DEFENSE.

We have repeatedly urged in these columns
the Importance Of a prompt and thorough
organization Of the State militia. And we
must confess that nothing has, during the
Progress Of the present war, struck us as more
remakable than the delay, or, rather, entire
omission Of our State authorities 10 put the
militia In such condition of organization,
discipline, and equipment as would secure the
Commonwealth against invasion, or enable it
at least 70 meet and repel a hostile force on
the instant that it dared approach our borders.
it Is now more than three years since the first
gun In this great civil conflict was fred by
The Rebels at Charleston Within that period
this State has been entered on several distinct
occasions by the insurgent forces, and in each
Instance our people have not only been seri-
ously alarmed and agitated, but they have
been driven from their homes, and hundreds
OF thousands Of dollars worth of property
has been either taken away or destroyed.
1t was, after such painful, such profoundly
impressive experiences, reasonably to be ex-
pected that due preparation would be made
against the recurrence Of such incursions in
the future; that as the Rebels had successively
caught US In a totally defenseless situation,
we would take care at last to avoid being
placed again IN so disgraceful and perilous
dilemma.
But II now appears that all the warnings
and lessons Of the past have been wasted
upon us. We are to-day just as unprepsred
TO resist this last raid of the Rebels into the
Cumberland Valley, az we were when the
first raid took place. Then there was gene
raj panic, ia the midst of which people seized
what goods they could, and fed wildly from
their farms and villages. We witness the
same scenes now. Then there were sudden
and anxious calls by the Governor for
troops TO be enlisted and mustered
and marched to the field, when they
should have been already in q condition
to move against the invader on the very
instant that the necessity for their service was
made known. We see the same appeals for a
defensive military force made now, and the
same shameful state of unpreparedness to re-
spond TO them that existed three years ago
All this is not only inexcusable, but it is posi-
lively discreditable to the character of Penn
sylvania- 1t is exciting, and very naturally
too, the comments Of the press in other States
and we shall richly deserve all the censure ant
derision of which they may choose to make oul
strange, our criminal neglect Of a plain duty
the subject. The New York Times of yester
day, in speaking OF the present Rebel raiC
across our borders, says:-
"We would respectfully suggest to the Penn
sylyanians the propriety OF keeping thei
militia under arms, or at least such portion
a. Of it as they think necessary to protect then
60 from Rebel raids, until the end of the cam
''paign. This is the third summer that they
have been terribly frightened by an advahc
"Of the C0nfederates up the Shenandoah Val
ley, and 1t has been well known, ever sine
CHANTS campaign opened that it was per
- fectly feasible for the Rebels TO make dasl
into Mary land with small force, II they chost
TO do so. There is no way OF guaranteeing
20 that no body of them, great or small, shall, un
der any circumstances, cross the Potomac
There is, therefore, touch of the comical-t
&c use mild term-in this calling out of til
% militia every year, after the enemy has actual
H' crossed the border, and when he is Threatening
" the State Capital, and when about thirty-siX q
twenty -four hours remain for recruiting, arm
irg, equipping, and drilling them-a shoI
space, IL will be admitted, for the Organization
:" OF force which Is expected ~ stand in the ope
field against such troops as EARLY's O
EwRLL's."
There Is much sharp apprehension in tn
above passage, but it is all merited aud Justl
bestowed. About this time last year we wer
indebted to New York and New Jersey 70
troops to defend our border, and they have
right 10 complain that we have, instead {
prohting by that mortiiying experience, don
nothing since to improve our condition, an
thereby relieve them from the necessity
protecting our homes and altars from inya
sion. Our purpose in this article is not {
accuse any one in particular. But it is mo:
manifest that the people OF Pennsylvania hav
been the victims Of a grave derelction of dut
In this matter Of State defense, and public Ger
sure should fall on the guilty parties, whoeve
they may be.