The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-11-06
state Militia.

Stufc Militia.
In recent order Gov. VANCE, while prais-
ing the North Carolina militia for their
crcdtabe appearance at the annual muster,
asks that their numbers may be 50 increased
that the Executive will be able to preserve
order and enforce the laws without the ne
ccssitv Of calling for aid elsewhere"
The Governors ambition IL praiscworthy.
The habit which has grown up during the
last dozen years Of thrustng upon Federal
troops the duties belonging to local police
or militia, IS very pcrnicious. II ovcrbur-
dcns the regular army, wcakcns the con
iidence and corps pride of State forces and
reduces State Governments to "A condition
of helpless dependence upon the Washington
authorities.
From the foundation of the Government
till now our militia organizations as Il whole
have never been even respectfully efficient.
The system in vogue during the first half
century of the republic was based ON the
theory OF cmbodying in the militia every
male citizen, between specified ages, who
was capable Of carrying n muskot This
was an imitation Of the system of Switzcr-
land, whose motto is, Every Swiss sol
der but in practice our experiment CON
fined itself to an annual or scmi-annual
muster and training. It, wrctchcd and
ridiculous failure was largely due 70 the
facility given To buying exemptions. The
supposed militia duty turned out chiefly Il
sort of poll tax.
On the hopeless ruins Of that unwicldy
system was built up the present volunteer
militia. scanty IN all States. and In some al
most unknown. The comparative efficiency
which we witness in New York, New Jersey
| Connecticut, and Massachusetts, Is exccp
tional. Great States like Ohio. Illinois. and
Pennsylvania have only few thousand
well-drllcd and efficient militamen. In u
large number Of States the military cstab-
lishment consists Of bcggarly array of
half-armed, half-cquipped troops, totally in
adequate to preserve order IN case Of any Sc
rious disturbance.
Perhaps the movement Of the National
! Rifle Association for the naturalization Of
rifle practice by Congress, might furnish the
! long-nccded stimulus To militia revival. The
intention that Congress should exercise gen
cral supervision over the State militias il.
OF course. evid mt from the clause Of the
Constitution which provides that Congress
shall have power to provide for calling forth
| the militia To execute the laws Of the Union.
suppress instructions, and rcpel invasions.
and to provide for organizing arnng. and
disciplining the militia, and for governing
such part OF them as may be employed in
| the service Of the United States, reserving
to the States respectively the appointment
| OF the officers and the authority Of training
the militia, according to the discipline pre-
scribed 10y Congress" Under this clearly
defined authority Congress has repeatedly
tried to do something for the militia, and
has usually failed. One of its favorit,
schemes has been for organizing a nationa
militia; but evidently the right plan for uhis
purpose has not yet been suggested. We
remember that Mr. PAINE Of Wisconsin intro
,luccd National Militia bill into Congress
about ten years ago. senator WILSON ais,
introduced one; and the same experiment
has been tried by others. Very likely thcr,
may be n National Militia bill now on the
statute books; but if So ii Is dead letter
Another Congressional device was To detail
army officers for teaching military tactics
i'm State schools and colleges; but that, too
seems TO have died out. third plan WA
to divide up surplus arms from the wal
among the State miltias. Besides this there
are frequent demands upon Congress 10 sup
ply the State militias with arms. one made
by Mr.. COKE of Texas is now pending in
bill to so amend the Revised Statutes as u
provide an annual appropriation Of 100000
for arms and equipments for the whole bod.
of the militia
These devices have not succeeded in put
ting life and vigor into the State militas
The project Of nationalzng rifle practice
however, seems TO us more promising, I've
cause it furnishes at once the stimulus an,
the help to militia organization and ef
iicicncy. Possibly it might prove the long
sought appliance for giving every State al
effective and trustworthy body of militia
competent, ms Gov. VANCE says, to keel
order and enforce the laws without calling
for aid elsewhere