Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-11-20
OUR MILITARY SYSTEM.
En- Confederate Oil ccrs OF Virginia on
the Reorganization OF the Army and
the Improvement OF the Miiitln-
A Plan to be Recommended
to Congress.
New York Herald. I


RICHMOND, November l4.-An important
meeting of military men has just been held here,
which Is destined to attract considerable attention
throughout the country. 1t was meeting Of volun-
teer officers and graduates of the Virginia military
institute, and is intended to inaugnTae reorganiZa-
ton of the entire military system of the United
st Ites. Its Importance will be more fully understood
when II Is known that was conducted by old United
states army officers ex-Confederates aud the aumi
of the Virginia academy. committee, through
General Dabney Maury, chairman reported a memo
al to the State legislature and TO congress asking
for a reduction OF the army, a reorganization of
the militia and system OF appointments to West
graduating classes of the State military institute the
cadets TO be appointed by the United States academy
congress as at present. General Bradley T. Johnson
favored the striking out OF the memorial all that
limit the change in The manner of appointment of
cadets TO those hereafter appointed from Virginia.
,ton Of the militia and limiting the army to its
proper functions. 1t set forth that it
the mita Int nj 6af heir ocaTs mnst bs ag1nnta
by The States, and that the militia could alone be
called upon TO keep the peace, guel instructions
I'd put down disorder The constitution nowhere
thOrized the Federal authority to suppress
act posse conitatsS, and under no circumstances
could the army be used in any State without being
called for by the legislature. or by the gov
ernor when the legislature could not tie con
vened IN time. His proposition was for the organi-
ZatOn of force of militia, say one thousand for
eseh congressional district, to he equipped and or
pointed by the States to under the orders of the
governors of the States the appropriation not to be
paid until an inspection by the Federal staff showed
the militia came up to the standard of efficiency;
the volunteers In each State TO be enlisted for five
years. one fifth to go out OF service each year. and
camps of instruction not exceeding thirty days each
year to be provided. This would give three hundred
thousand men In the ranks at the end of five years.
Three hundred thousand men would be trained and
discharged, and at the end Of ten years nine hun
dred thousand trained and instructed men
would constitute force for any emergency
According to his plan the whole question of army
reorganization ought to be LIT e the congressional
army ought to be kept In the highest degree OF eff
cheney. Its staff ought to be organized and instructed
fully 10 to the most advanced experience of modern
western European nations, and 1t ought to be the
cddTe of formation for the troops of the Union in
time OF war-readily capable Or be!DS expanded to
one hundred thoTsand OF to iIYa hundred thousand
men, as necessity required The memorial. as
amended, adopted, and will be presented by the
Virginia members to the house and the committee
on military affairs, and attempt made 10 get this
congress to provide for thorough reorganization Of
the militia.