Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-10-20

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| that, so far as has come To my knoWl-
| edge, these soldiers have borne their dis
appointment manfully and have perform
! ed all the duties assigned them with
| cheerfulness and alacrity that speaks
! loudly ia their praise.
would respectfully submit for your
| consideration whether it might not be
well TO place these recruits for the re-
mainder of their term on the footing OF
re-enlisted men, and, II anything should
| be done for these latter in the form OF
bounty from the State that these re-
! cruits should also, under these circum-
stances, Dc considered, and receive the
/ same or o proportionate bounty These
recruits embrace those who enlisted in
! 1862 into the regiments and organlza-
| tious then in the service, and companies
| L and nj OF the First Vermont Cavalry.
! STATE xJLrrrA AND MILITIA LAW.
In nv last communication | took oc-
casion TO direct your attention briefly TO
| the subject of adopting an efficient and
| active militia system. The events or
/ the past year and the present threaten
! ing aspect of affairs, render 1t especially
| proper that should again, and more
| earnestly, invite you to q serious consid-
| Grafton of the subject.
Vermont stands to-day utterly desti-
tute of any arm of defence or any eff
| cient power to resist or TO prevent inya-
| sion. The dangers to our northern from
| tier are by no means inconsiderable, nor
can with just regard for the welfare
Of the State overlook them nor, in the
light of the evidence now in my posses
sion, can / justify myself in withhold
ing an urgent appeal to the Legislature
to frame such law as will place the State
in that position of security, and afford
those means OF protection TO her people,
without which they are left exposed to
the most wanton and high handed pred
atory incursious. A prudent regard for
the public interest does not admit Of my
communicating, in this form, all the
facts in my possession tending to show
the actual dangers to which, during the
past wear. the State has been exposed.
It is sufficient for me to say that such
evidence coming from authoritative
sources. was placed in my possession, as
satisfied me that the peace and safety OF
our border were seriously threatened,
and to lead to the adoption OF proper
measures TO prevent disasters Which
would have been most serious in their
consequences to the entire community.
Nor are the dangers by any means alto.
gether averted. The more recent move
n, ments upon the western lakes ana along
the northern frontier are but evidences
! of thoroughly organized plans, limited
by no means to those special localities,
but extending throughout the whole
line of our frontier, manifesting them
selves now upon the more easterly por-
| ton and now at other and more remote
/ points along the western border, but all
partaking of the same general purpose
and bearing unmistakable evidence OF
| being controlled and actuated by one
master mind.
lam not unmindful of the sentiment
that has hitherto so extensivelv perva
> ded the minds of the nreaople of the State
, in regard to organizing the militia
r aud the arguments that have been urged
r against such measure have appealed
to my own mind heretofore with con
trolling force. The burdens alread,
: resting upon the State are large. TIL,
: young men who would have been reliet
upon to bear the most prominent part il
:, such organization have been drawn from
= us to engage in the active service of tn,
I country; the industrial enterprises o
: the State have thus, to a great exten
;, been made to suffer, and heavier bur
. dens are in consequence thus imposed
:. upon those who are left at home.
- These and kindred arguments hav
;, weighed with me hitherto with grea
y force and have been not altOgethe
;, free from doubt as to the expediency o
:. present time | have however becom
, fully satisfied that just regard to tn
: safety of our commonwealth demand
;. now at the hands Of the Legislature al
n immediate and vigorous preparation 70
y defence
|, If there were ever a time when ou
i safety depended upon our vigilance
). when well organized and Efficient mi
:, litia would prove bulwark to preserv
our peace and ''basis of defense
- against threatened invasion, and per
!. haps the only means Of ayerting it, tha
time has, in my deliberate Judgment
fully arrived.
. Feeling thus the Importance of an i'm
! mediate organization of the militia, and
a with view to relieve the State so ia
- as is practicable, of the great and prin
: cipal source of expense attending sue
Il an organization, | made application t
- the Secretary of War for a suff1cien
= quantity of arms, accoutrements ant
q ordnance stores to arm and equip the mi
q litia Of this State to the extent of fiftee
y thousand muskets IN he event of a
Q organization of the militia by the Legis
q lature. In reply the Secretary of Wa
D. has signiied his willingness to furnsl
A the amount required. The State will
thus be relieved of the great and princi
N pal item of expense and that which ha
~ hitherto been used as most potent ar
"a gument against an organization, is nov
4 removed. | also received personal assur
70 ance from the Secretary that camp equip
a ments such as might be required 70
= drill and instruction in camp would b
Il freely furnished by the department to tn
> extent needed, on the proper requisi
if tior
# transmit with this the correspond
a | ence with the Secretary of War on thi