The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1878-11-27
ORLEANS WEDNESDAY, 27, 1873

number Of militia officers Of New York. New
Jersey, Massachusetts and Connecticut, aided
by several army officers, have drawn up u
plan, which they propose to submit TO Con-
gress.
They propose that The regular appropria~
tinn for militia purposes under tho act OF
1903. amounting 10 500 300 annually, shall be
raised TO 81 ,o0o. 900. This sum they propose to
apply to the encouragement Of the volunteer
system, its proper organization and equip
ment, in order to ennble it, as militia to Ct
fcetiveIY raasel,m the functions now usurDed
by the army. This plan also contefuplhtes q
regular inspection by officers Of the regulnr
army, the establishment Of cnfnpetiiive rifle
matches and n uniform discipline and fatigue
dress for active service
4 convention Of ex-Confederate officers and
graduates Of the Virginia Military Institute
has also been in session ut Richmond for the
purpose or considering this very question.
It's work Is thus presented In n Richmond
special to the New York Hernld,
4 COMMITTEES, through Cen Dabney Maury.
chairman. reported u memorial to thB State
Legislature and to Congress, asking for @ re-
hurtiOn nf tho army. reorganization Of the
tnlitin, aud system Of appointments to West
Point by selecting from the most ConpeHnt
Of graduating classes Of the State military in
FtiJItrs tB ttst11t7ttFe5 HI tse aarnintad by LIe
United States Academy, instead OF having
them appointed by members Of Congress- as
nt present.
Gen. Bradley +. johnson favored The strik-
ing out Of The memorial all That portion look
Ing to u reduction Of the army and TO limit
| the change IN the manner OF appointments of
cadets to those hereafter appointed from Vir..
gina. He read All elaborate paper In favor of
| u reorganization Of the militia and limiting
the army to lis proper functions. It set forth
TINT 1t was The duty Of Congress to provide
for organizing the militia but thht their Off
| GERS must be appointed by the States, and that
the militia could alone h0 called upon to keep
the peace. ulell ineurrecton and put down
disorder. Tho constitution nowhere author
iHnd tho Federal authority to suppress dis
order or act as q pOsar rOmMntne. and that
under no circumstances could tte army he
| used In any Stnt0 without being called for by
the Legislature, or by the Governor whom The
Legislature could not bs convened in time.
His proposition was for tho organization OF
N force Of militia sny 1880 for ench congress
epnnl district, to he equipped and organized
by tho United States Il,t the rpftiGrrs appoint
e1 hy the Stntes, tp be- under the orders Of the
Governors OF the States, the appropriation not
to be paid until m inspection by the Federal
staff showed the militia came up to the stand
ara of efficiency, the volunteers IN each State
to hn enlisted for five years; nG-fiIth tD gD
out Observes enCh year, md camps nf iustruG-
non Hbt eSN"ehlflR bnlltV HhVS ftAtn yfHti ~ fh
provided This would give 800 900 men In the
ranks nt tho end Of five yenrs. Three hundred
thousand men would he trhiurd and dis
charged. and ut the end Of ten years 10000
trained and instructed men would constitute
u reserve fnrcp for any emergency.
According to his plan tho whole question Of
army reorganization ought to be left 10 the
congressional commission appointed tInr thnt
purpose, and the army ought tp be kept in the
highest degree Of efficiency. lis staff ought to
be- organized and instructed fully up to the
most advanced experiences Of modern Western
European nations, and it ought to be the
rnifc uf formation for the troops Of the Union
in time Of war readily cnpnbe Of being ry-
pnndcl to 100000 or to 500, 0D0 men, as neceS-
sity required.
Tho memorial. ns amended, was adopted.
'nd will be presented by tho Virginia mem
bnrs to the House and the COMMITTEES on
Military ATnirs. and III attempt will ho made
to get this Congress- to provide for o thorough
reorganization Of the militia.
These recommendations Of Gen. Johnson
appear TO us to cover the whole case, and we
can but solicit the attention Of Congress for
this memorial