Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-11-21
A NATIONAL MILITIA.
Southern officers Recommending q Plan,
Congress-.

Southern officers Recommending q Plan to
Congress.
A dispatch from Richmond, Va, says: An
important meeting of military men has just
been held here which is destined to attract
considerable attention throughout the coun-
try. 1t was meeting of volunteer officers
and graduates of the Virginia military in
stitute. and is intended to inaugurate reor-
ganization of the entire military system Of
the United States. It's importance will be
more fully understood when il is known that
it was conducted by old United States army
officers, e1- confeierates, and the alumni of
the Virginia academy. A committee, through
Gen. Dabney Maury, chairman, reported
memorial 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 Point By selecting
from the most competent of graduating
classes of the State military institute, the
cadets to be appointed by the United States
academy instead of having them appointed
by members of Congress, as at present.
Gen. Bradley L. johnson favored the strik-
ing out of the memorial all that portion look
ing to a reduction of the army and to limit
the change in the manner Of appointments
of cadets to those hereafter appointed from
Virginia. He read an elaborate paper in
favor OF a reorganization of the militia and
limiting the army to its proper functions.
1t set forth that it was the duty of Congress
to provide for organizing the militia, but
that their officers must be appointed by the
States, and that the militia could alone be
| called upon to keep the peace, queli insur-
rections, and put down disorder. The con-
stitutioE nowhere authorized the federal au-
thority to suppress disorder or act as a
posse conaitdtus, and that under no circum-
| stances could the army be used in any State
| without being called for by the legislature,
or by the governor when the legislature
could not be convened in time.
| His proposition was for thu organization
| Of force of militia, say one thousand for
each Congressional district, to be equipped
and organized by the United States, but the
officers appointed By the States, to be under
the orders of the governors OF the States; the
appropriation not to be paid until an in.
| spection 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-ffth to go out of service
each year, and camps OF instruction not ex.
ceeding thirty days each year 70 be provided
This wonld give thirty thousand men in the
ranks at the end of five years. Three hun
dred thousand men would be trained anG
discharged, and at the end of ten years 900,
GOO trained and discharged rnen would con
stltute reserve force for any emergency.
According to this plan the whole question
of army reorganization ought to be left tx
the Congressional commission appointed 70
that purpose. and tbs army cupilt II, ha ken
in the highest degree of efficiency. It's stat
ought to be organized and instructed full,
up to the most advanced experience c
| modern western European nations, and i
ought to be the caGre OF formation for III
troops of the union in time of war -readil
capable of being expanded to 100000 0
100000 men as necessity required.
| The memorial as amended was adopte
and will be presented by the Virginia mem
bers to the house and the committee O
military affairs and an attempt made to ge
this Congress to provide for thorough r
organization of the militia.