Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-09-17

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General HeWsOn, that the uniform
must be that Of the United States
troops, viz: The Federal blue.
That the Adjutant General lie
correct in SuppOsing that the blue
is the necessary uniform, or the
one which must be adopted, &C.
Cording to the present militia law
or in accordance with any United
States law, is manifestly wrong.
If we are not mistaken an act
Of Congress Of the United States
says that the uniform Of the United
States soldier shall not be worn
by any but those engaged in the
service Of the army or navy OF the
United States.
Further, we can point to volun-
teer militia companies North and
Wsst-in Boston, New York,
Philadelphia, and in almost any
Northern City-whose uniforms
are radically different from the
United States regulation.
There can be no question II
seems to US, that there is no law
requiring the militia Of this State
to wear United States uniforms,
Except they should be called into
the service Of the United States)
There..is nothing that we can find
in the State Militia law which re.
quires the uniform to be the same
as the United States army, or au'
thoritAtively designates what II
shall be, except Section Al, which
says, "the uniform of the militii
of the State shall be the same a
prescribed byi the United States
army regulations until otherwise
ordered by the Commander in
Chief.
This is simply a temporary pro
vision and cannot be strictly
termed the law.
Now if we are correct in saying
that the regulations of the UniteC
States army forbid other thar
United States troops wearing theiI
uniform 1.-THE intention Of which
rule is to prevent the sale and ust
Of United States uniform without
authority then this portion o.
the militia law is null aud void and
if otherwise, it is simply as we
say, a temporary provision with
this exception in Section II: vol.
unteer companies "may make such
bylaws and regulations relative to
their enlistment and equipment
not conflicting with the laws OF the
United States or this State as they
deem proper.
Now, this means something OF
nothing, and the rules of jurispru.
dence require to decide that il
means neutrality-suspicious. We
think it means what it says, viz
that Section Il, being temporary
provision subject to change the
provision Of Section II does mol
conflict Herewith, but is allowed
as an exception thereto under the
implied permission contained
therein for a change which, Of
course, must meet the approval OF
the n.chief. Such
must be the meaning or it means
nothing.
Equipments, Webster says,
mean "habiliments; warlike ap-
paratus )" and equipping, he says,
means furnishing with habill.
ments or warlike apparatus"
Therefore, we claim that Section
II allows volunteer companies to
select their own uniform subject to
the decision of the,commander-in-
chief.
II has been the general custom
all over the United States for vol
unteer companies TO select their
own uniform, and we will not be-
lieve that Governor Alcorn will
attempt the arbitrary step of de-
parting from SO fair and general a
custom without any law or neces-
sity therefor. On behalf OF the
Volunteer Militia of this State,
men who, whatever have been their
political antecedents, will be found
true and really loyal in time of
need-on behalf of these we claim
for them the privilege of selecting
just such uniforms as they may
desire, only subject to the appro-