The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-11
THE SOUTH AND THE ARMY
QUESTION.
AN Elk CONFEDERATE GENERALS PLAN TO
CONTRACT THE ARMY AND ORGANIZE FED
rpAr MrrJrYa

AN Ex CONFEDERATE GENERALS PLAN TO
CONTRACT THE ARMY AND ORGANIZE A FED
ERAL MILITIA.
RICHMOND, Va, Nov. Q, 1877.
Tho discussion In Congress yesterday as to the ex.
pcdency OF increasing decreasing the army,
quent upon tho Introduction Of the Army Appropria-
ton b shows that evon IN the South thcro is quite
diversity OF opinion on that subject This lcd to
ask this morning the views Of an exConicdcrno gen.
erai, who Is at present very prominently connected
with the Military Department Of the State OF Virginia.
and who developed somswhas oil army system for
the country
creased ~ asked.
cit Is wrong to increase the army II ought to DO
cut down. Relieve from guard duty tho forts and
arsenals Of the United States and put every man in
tho field in active SERVICE and II Is than ample.
Tho experience Of tho last ten years in tho South
shows tho federal central power trusted
with large military force and the OF last sum-
mcr demonstrated that the State militia have been
allowed ia into such weakness and contempt that
1t is useless In emergency Now ~ standing armies
arc dangerous 10 liberty. SO tho right 70 skill
IN OF is its surest protection. Increase this
army 10 $1,000 men and II Will be but tho beginning
OF an increase to 100000. Thon the government
will DO changed, tho revolution will have occurred
people Know IT,.
society will DO orderly and poaceablo; but liberty tho
right Of people to govern themselves, will DO conc.
Tho government will govern; the party power will
pcrpctuatc itself by the army; moral physical
changes will only takc place aitor armed conflicts.
You Will soc great pressure brought to bear on Con-
gross Increase tho army by the great property in
tercs,s. railroads. mining interests and manufactures
They will demand protection for property, NO matter
Mt what cost II Is the form In which tho struggle
between labor and capital will appear in Congress.
Capital Is afraid OF labor and seeks increase oil the
army to protect ". Wo cannot allow this"
"You probably recollcct how c1ectuai the army
in expressing the railroad mining riots las, sum
mcr, and OF what little use tho militia WERE"
remarked.
A DISGRACE TO THE COUNTRY.
1.-THE spectacle OF half dozen Governors OF States
frantcaliy tolcgraphing the President Tor troops 10
preserve order Was disgrace 10 tho country only
deopened by tho fact that handful OF marines and
regulars did restore and preserve Tho law IN com
munit,cs who made the laws and showed themselves
/. was properly against labor witch did this IL was
III panic and Is now in a trcmor lest the Commune
and the International shall breed fresh disorders"
"But what 40 you propose as remedy for those
ovilsrn
Tmx STATE MILITIA.
"The remedy Is not In Increase OF the army, but
In proper organization oil tho militia building up
and extending oil u system Of military reserves Tor
national defence but which shall primarily servo for
state police"
"Iho States must be required 10 protect themselves
They must bs maze more robust and seli-rcliant On
the other hand the military power OF tho Union ought
to DO enlarged on an extended basis oil militia or vol
untecrs well drilled. we'll disciplined and instructed,
VINO could ON an emergency be called out TO resist
iorcgn invasion or 10 suppress insurrection. tho
people Of the country go along ms u no other war
were over TO occur. The ono we had they suppose 10
DO sufficient 10 lust forever.
REBELaoys STILL POSSIBLE
But tho very nature OF things disturbances must
occur the future. Whether tho question OF labor
and capital will breed them l do not say. Put tho
i<pr9 n q
get II by tho ballot whenever they are properly
led; lot them control the government rom mo ONO
10 the lakes and easily orcsee fruitful causes
oil resistance TO the laws Of the Union. We fought tho
Union on IDEAS, but other states with State laws
ana state forces had before US resisted the Union.
therefore inlor that hereafter there Will be wars and
rumors OF wars. Preparation anu readiness TO meet
them rs the proper and best way 10 prevent them.
john Browns raid In 1859 the spark that burst
into flame two years aterSard IL Is probably wise to
watch Lost spark at PttsDurg in 1871 do not burst
out somewhere else"
rRpgRAL YlrdrA.
"wbat is your plan OF an enlargement Of the milf
tary power Of tho unionf'
.'rncre was an attempt 10 organize the militia in
the nrst part OF Washingtons ADMINISTRATION by tho
passage OF an OF Congress that May
i79s providing Tor It's enrolment go but II was never
enforced In 1872, during the furry OF Mr. Jefer-
sons expiring administration, an net was passed ap-
proprating 5000 900 for tho purpose OF armIng and
eaupping the whole body OF tho militia, and this is
the only provision made by Law 10 tnis day for hcm
In 1861 legislation had provide Tor Tho
militia when called into tho service OF tho United
states. Now, instead OF large standing army tho
army ought 10 De cus down 10 tho force actually
cssary for Hghtng purposes But the IN ilItia ought
be orga nzcd and mado effective Tor ordinary guard
duty ana likewise held Ia readiness the militia rs-
serve, Iiko the Landwchr or Armes Territoriala
THE
"Tako 100000 900 rom the army appropriation and
apply It to The militia Divided among tho s,atcs IL
Will gvo virginia 5000 600 Tor her quota With that
sum viii undertake. 10 have enrolled instructed and
drilled IN proper ca,nps OF instruction under proper
officers, 5000 OF good troops as necessary for
any emergency. In ;he ratio 10000 good SOL
dsre could 20 traiuod IA tina Union ana hold IN rcaal