The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1868-01-23
"Malisl1. y .

Win advanced sheets OF the report
of Iowa'svery efficient Adjutant Gen
eral. s}8, h tl3s34a.5.a R9i5
We take great pleasure in laying
before our readers the following por-
tions oft, wherein he quite conclu-
sively argues in favor of a thoroughly
organized militia force, and fully on.
dorse all his recommendations there.
on. As we understand it. there il
but little difference between General
Bakers plan OF militia organization,
and that of General Paynes, of Wis.
consin, now pending IN Congress, and
we earnestly hope that Congress will
|give us without further delay Ma.
tional Militia Law, and then resolute.
lly 60 to work and rae down the
regular army TO q nominal standard
saving the country the greater part
of the useless expenditure Of one
hundred and twenty.four million an.
nually, to maintain costly organize.
tion, that is just about as valuable,
as an extra quirk as pigs tail. /
Here are General Bakers recon-
mendations: aAm
have not changed my opinion
of the present militia law since my
report of Ian. 1, 1867, in which sta
ted :Eia PEI e 'ts5 l',sIl 4a3i's q
Frhc present militia law is almost
as,lcad lolterso far ms a activc militis
is concerned. The activity and energy
of those who labored FORTS Organiza
ton durisg the war, has almost en-
tirely disappeared, and this depart
mcnt has not the satisfaction Of even
receiving the returns which the law
requires froA the county officers, and
is therefore compelled IN endeavor-
ing to comply with the requirements
of the laws Of the United States, to
make very imperfect and unsatis-
factory return to the War Depart
me t. .sii sI 81 essi@;a8
am satisfied that the present mill.
tia law, with the existing feeling Of
the people of this State. shonld either
be repealed or modified. We certain a.
ly ought to have in the State a few
well organized and we'll drilled active
militia companies. They may be re.
quircd in an emergency, and would
ltserve as q nucleus around which vol
unteers couldrally in case OF q call
for them, Such companies we cannot
have under the present law. If the
people of this State want q small
militia organization only, that cannot
be had unless the law is made more
stringent in its provisions, and unless
officers and soldiers are properly paid
for their services" cas- se7 ~
If a regiment could be organized
in each congressional district with
companies iudiciously scattered ovel
the limits of of each district, under
laws which compelled company drills
for suffitient number Of days that
would make the members Of the or
Ganiza,ion skilled in the handling OF
arms and proficient in company move
ments, and a regimental muster once
in each yearfor reg!mental drill and
Ievolutions, we should soon find or
ganizations of which we. should be
yroud, emulation for, superiority in
The qualities that would make good
soldiers, a body Of men ready tomove
cffectnally and promptly when an
emergency demanded, and as before
stated in relation to we'll drilled com.
panies, the nucleus around which
volunteers could rally III case
| of greatest dangers to the State or
nation, and instructors who could
| educate the new recruits for new
regiments.
TO do this. the companies should
be compelled to drill at least ten days
in each year, and the rcgimental mus
ter should continue at least three
days. The officers should be selected
from our experienced veterans of the
late war and officers and soldiers
should be armed and equipped BY the
State and should be we'll paid for
their time and services. A tax of one
dollar on each voter in the State
would pay all the expenses of such
organizations, provided the minimum
of tho companies was, fixed at a low
rate. sae..-....,.. 8, ~
l 1t isuselcss TO urge upon a portion
Of the people Of this State the iinpor-
lance Of maintaining All active and
efficient militia and ask them TO ex-
pend ten or fifteen days each year in
that service without compensation.
If the State requires a thoroughly
drilled respectable and efficient mill
tia, it can, in my opinion only be OBJ
tanned by proper compensation to the
members who compose the organiza-
tions. 1t has been hoped that Con
grcss would have acted in this mat
ter long since under the provision Of
! the United Ssates Constitution "to
provide for organizing, arming and
disciplining the militia" but the re-
mcmbranoe Of our late great danger
Lie gradually becoming only mere his
| tory and no warning to a large num-
Der Of our people, there is a strong
probability that we shall hear no
moro from Congress until some other
danger threatens, and we find our
selves almost as unprepared to act as
many Of the States wereat the begin
ming of the rebellion-without arms.
without equipments, without organi.
zatlons, and without DISCIPLINE
Some will object the plan l pro-
posed, on account Of its expense, but
It is the opinion Of many statesman
and soldiers, that If the State militia
had been properly organized at the
mouth at the commencement of the
rebellion, and larger forces properly
drilled and efficiently armed, and un-
dor tho command Of, good officers,
could haue boon moved to the front
without such delay a. did occur, the
| rebellion would have been crushed
in very short period, and an i'm
mense sum Of money and rivers Of
blood would have heen saved tho