The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1864-01-23

d organizing DuL really QeprlVlng LEem Of
the PosCer to organize the militia. A new
law is absolutely necessary; one shorter,
palmer and more effective. Nor will there
be any difficulty, I imagine, in preparing or
eaacting such a law; for the events of the
last three years have given to many Of you
full military experience; aud exposed as
our people are, and will be during the exis-
tence Of the war, they would urge It as a
necessity. I have very few suggestions to
make, beyond the general ones already made.
These points, however, l would press: that
all distinction between volunteer and en-
rolled militia be abolished, and both be of
one elass; that power be conferred upon the
officers to enforce organization and drill;
that the direction be plain as to the course
which shall be pursued when any number of
the militia are called into active service, and
that the pay of officers and men when In
such service, shall be established.
have stated to you that the Common
wealth has now in its possession, eight
thousand stand of new arms, to say moth
ing of the cid ones belonging to it.. Their
actual money value cannot be less than one
hundred thousand dollars. To save these
to the StAte,and to keep them in order in
time of peace, an Arsenal is necessary, in
some secure locality, with a competent ord
nance officer, who shall take bonds for all
arms distributed aud have charge Of IKE
Arsenal and its contents.
You may not be aware Of the fact that
the war has greatly increased the labors of
the Adjutant and Quartermaster Generals,
but so it is. Their voluminous reports will
demonstrate this fact.
The Adiutant Generals Office has been
created anew. The work to be done there
in, embraciDgas it does both the militia and
the volunteers of Kansas, has involved the
necessity of the employment of four clerks,
two of whom [ had detailed from the army,
thus saving so much to the State. Still, it
must be apparent to every one that, in time
of war, the pay of this department must
be materially increased, and this should
be done to embrace the past as we'll as the
future. It is certain that the heavy work
now done in it cannot be done with the fund
provided.
1 herewith transmit the report Of the
Quartermaster General, to which I would
call your attention; and from which may be
seen the use made of the money raised for
defraying the expense of protecting the
border.
The Quartermaster General has largely
increased labors and responsibilities. Nor
can these labors and responsibilities be prop
erly met unless power be given to employ
an assistant, and his salary be increased.
That salary is now only five hundred dollars
am aware of the objections to increased
outlays, and no one, think. weighs them
more carefully than l do. But this fact ex
perience establishes: that the State which
pays its officers too little or too much is in
variably the sufferer. The medium, or in
other words, that which is just, which pays
the laberer what his hire is worth, is the
trusst and safest rule.
was anxious, last winter, about the safe
ty of the border. The general reports which
reached me from every quarter, and the
detailed reports Of pioneers who knew well
the guerrilla character, alarmed me.
called together, therefore, on the 28th day
of January, 1868, the members of the Leg
islature representing the exposed portions
of the State (inviting a member of Major
General Blunt's staff to be present, to dis
cuss and consider the condition of the bor-
der, and how best it could be thoroughly
protected. We met. The result of our
deliberation was, that with small addition
to the number OF Federal troops, forces
signated, and that this distribution of them
would accomplish the objec; desired. The
military authorities carried out the plan
agreed upon very nearly, and / felt safe.
But unfortunately, from causes, possibly,
which they could not control, this plan was
not adhered to, and large gaps we're left,
which exposed wide extent of territory,
and the lives and property of the citizens
who inhabited it, to the lawless power OF
the guerrillas.
In April of last year, alarms were given.
and reports reached me which convinced
me that there was immediate danger. The
usual indications which always precede
raids, were manifested all along the border.
Daring robberies, house burning, and muir
ders became frequent. So satisfied was l
of the nearness Of the peril that invoked
the military authorities to increased activity
and vigilance.
The blow came. ShawneetoWn, Gardner,
and Black Jack felt it first; they were sack
ed and burned, number of citizens killed,
and large amount of property destroyed
OF carried away. Distress prevailed. A
large committee from the border waited up
on me stating that its protection must be
made certain, or that its desolation would
follow. Better, said they, chat we should
leave our property and save our lives, than
live as We have lived and are living" The
truth is, that few men slept at that time IN
their houses; the cold earth aud the brush
we're their beds.
Failing to obtain from the military au
thorities a sufficient 'force TO protect The
border, and give safety and confidence to
people justly alarmed, 1 telegraphed, on the
9th of May. 1868, to the Secretary of War,
detailing these startling facts. In my letter
of that date, I said: