The daily gazette., 1878-11-29
FIFTH EDITION.
The sssse Milisia.


Major S. A. Macallister, of the First
Regiment, Delaware Volunteer Militia,
| impressed with the necessity of having a
good militia law for this State. has pre-
pared suitable bill, which the General
Assembly, at its next session, will be
asked to pass.
In preparing this bill, Major Macallis-
ter carefully examined the militia laws
of number of States, and took from
them such provisions as we're suitable
for and applicable to this State. The
main provisions. however, are of his own
conception and origination. The bill is
designed to entirely supercede the pres
ent militia law of the State, and to form
the basis for the organization and MAIN
tenance of an efficient State militia. 1t
has been examined by Adjutant General
McCaullay, who cordially endorsed all
its provisions.
The bill is entitled "An Act to provide
for the enrolment of the militia, for the
organization of the Volunteer Militia,
and tor the defence of the State"
Section l provides that the militia
of the State shall be divided into two
classes, viz: 1, The volunteer or active
militia, to be known as the Delaware
State Volunteer Militia. 2, The Militia
Of the Reserve.
| Section provides that all able-bodied
male citizens, between the ages of Is and
45 years, residing in this State and not
exempted by the laws of the United
States, shall be subject to military duty.
excepting those in the army or navy of
the United States, those honordbly dis
charged therefrom, Judges and other
State officers, ministers of any religious
denomina ion, persons who belong to re-
ligious societies whose tenets forbid them
to carry aims, idiots, lunatics, common
drunkards, vagabonds, paupers and per-
SONS convicted of any infamous crime.
Section provides that when the Gov
error shall SO command by public pro-
clamation, the Assessors of the several
hundreds shall enrol the names of persons
liable to militia service and transmit the
same to the Adjutant General. The neg
lect or refusal Of any Assessor to do this
service shall subject him TO fine of from
$500 to $500.
Sections and provide for penalty
, of $40 to be imposed upon any person
| giving wrongful information TO the AS
SCISSORS in regard to the male residents of
their houses.
Section q provides that the Militia Re-
serve shall be the subject to no active duty
except III case of war, invasion, The pre-
vention of invasion, the suppression of
riots, and to aid civil officers in the exc
cution of the laws of this State.
Section authorizes the Commander
in Chief, through the Mayors of cities,
and Justices of the Pease, TO call out the
Militia of the Reserve for duty and Sec
tion Sprovides that members of the re-
serve refusing to resp nd 10 such call
without reasonable excuse shall be taken
and deemed to be deserters and dealt
with accordingly.
Section . prov de that the Militia OF
the reserve shall be mus cred in Tor the
service of the State for three years, or
such e s period as may he diYec ed by
the Commander in Chi, (, ana shall be
othcered-ihe volun eer Militia by el C.
tons. and the drafted companies by
appointment of the Governor
Section 10 provides that the Militia OF
the Reserve, when called out shall act
in conjunction with and be subordinate
TO the civil power OF the State.
Section IL provides that the Governor
of the 5 a'e shall be the COMMANDMENT.
Chief of all the militia of the State. HIS
slaifhall consist ofan Adjuthant- = General
with the rank of Major-General who
shall be chief of the stall, and Inspector.
General, General, Sur.
geon- General and Judge Advocate
l each with the rank of Brigadier General
who shall take precedence in the ordel
e named, and four Aides-de- Camp, eacl
: with The rank of Colonel, and such addi
: tional officers Of the staff as the publ,
e sevice may require.
d The ensuing sections prescribe the tht
r duties Of these officers.
= Ihe bulk OF the act Is then devoted
!. to che Active Militia, which in time o
I peace shall consist of not more than for
V iy companies of infantry, six companies
OF cavalry, and three batteries of artillery
OF four guns each, to be arranged int
( regiments and battalions by the Com
mander-in-Chief
= Alter detailing at length the mode o
z electlns officers and the duties of tn,
l. same, the bill provides that enlistment
: IN the militia shall be for term of fiy,
II years, and arranges for transfers, resig
II nations and discharges. 1t then provide
for arms, uniforms and equipments, an,
= for the payment of $50 per year, by th
state, to each non-commlssioned officer
musician and private who has been regu
larry mustered into service, for the puT
pose OF enabling them 10 procure uni
z forms and keep he same in repair. Fo
l the purpose of determining the amour
| necessary for this purpose there shall b
an annual inspection and report in th
J month of May. All necessary arms, az
! coutrements, &c, shall be furnished b
the State.
Allowances are provided for, as follow,
To each officer and soldier. for attend
ance at the annual inspection, two do
lars; for each days duty in camp or /
70 service, S5 for each general and field an
n staff officer; So for every other CON mis-
tioned officer, and So for non.commi
| stoned officers, musicians and private
Four dollars per day each shall be a
loved for the hiring and keep OF horse
Two dollars per day shall be allowe
s each officer anu soldier for duty undt
the Commander-in-Chie In time {
peace. The Adjutant- General shall r,
ceive a salary of $500 per annum
The balance of the bill provides IN mil
C. ute detail, for order, regulations, d sell
e...l