The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-17
SOLDIKES ~ CONTENTION
Taking In Hand the Diverse Laws that Gov
ern the MIlitIa az the states.

The gentlemen who have been working
like beavers 10 perfect arrangements for tho
National Militia Convention had tho enowstorm
10 contend with yesterday. At l0'i o'clock.
Gen. George w. Mingate called the Convention
TO order. Gen. William j. Stryker. whose duty
II was 20 preside. being snow bound. rs was
Majur-Gen. John b. Moodwarl.-Actir~ Adj
iuiant-General of the State. who was expected
10 welcome the Delegates on behaA Of the Stata.
lie telcgrnphcd from Poughkecl d. that he was
tuck in the snow. Therefore Gen. Alexander
Sholer. commanding the First Division " the
National Guard OF this state. welcomed the dell
egat"s. There were present from Mnssa-
chusetts. Assistant Adjutant- General Ed
ward c. Stevens: from Rhode Island.
Adit.-Ge c. Henry Barney. MAJOR Gen Will
liam II. Walker. Col. Robert J. Goddard. Col.
A. y. Crandail. Col benjamin Is. Martin. and
Lieut-Col. LYMAN b. Goa. Connecticut WINS
Represented 10y Gen. Stephen Il. Smith and Col.
W. H. Tubts. and Vermont by Adit Gen. J. l..
Peck and Col. Theodore ). Peck. New York
sent Gen W. G.. Ward Of the First Brigade.
Gen. Wingatc. Inspector 81 Rife Practice; Col.
Rodney G. Ward 81 the Twenty Regiment.
Col Josinh Porter Of the Twenty Col.
W. II. Brownell Of tho Forty seventh. aud
Lieut., Col Lewis Fitzgerald Of tho seventh.
New jersey WIS represented by Adlt. Gen. W.
;. Stryker who arrived late in the morning
Gen. J. W. Plume Col Bird w. spencer Col
Y L sterling, Col d; F. HART. and Co. :.
Reeder. Col. Boics and MAJOR A D. Hepburn.
virginia Was represented hy Col. J. ~. Oriway,
North Carolina by AdJutnnt-Gen John Jones.
Nehiga by Adlutani- Con. John R,h,.rtson
md lns pcctor-Gen l.. W. Heath. and California
CART. Adiutaut,Gen. v, l.. Alexander Of Iowa.
Adlufunt- Gen. James ". I.u,ia % Prnusylvanln
ana NJ S"w"l OF New Jersey we're among the
Gen. barney ot Rhodo Island WIS made
Chairman, Gen. Muente VIC" Chairman and
tprv Thou tho Executive COMMITTEES presented
~ hlil which th"y had dtaWn up rs the h,ast
means 90 getting at th" views ~ the members
~ ihn tnuv utiNu. who wrrc invited 90 critic s'
~ tlorou.ily ans amend II Hs seemed h'-f.
Gems Wingafe. Stryker Roberts 90. Jones. and
ton. with power tp cInhoiy nil tho suggestions
- the Delegates in new bill. Tho bills cLtl-
An act o. rrorgani7e and discipline the mi.
lua 81 tt" United States. Tho first section
reads "a follows;
nc militia or Nau'nai Guard shall consist z snch
,.al ... DO ,,g 90 10. STATE nnt Tern
OF 'N rs nave been or may tc paced iy nc l~gi-
Noa uul., tc provision. M 81. act shall te cS'cn
% o., e tu,l,d state. 60 an, muta 90 amy state or
r'Ui's, except such a.l's 'naorm.d ana o..anl0ei
This is an entire change from tho existing
law, unu'r Wulrh every hul"-' odied male cli
I"n l"twreu Is ami - years ~ age H. enrolled
49, "A miii'Wman. cen. Mingnt" stated It ~ "a
'Nt tN"i uuunil"rm"d. uu"rganiIod militia q 20
STAT" ~" ot little avail lu rurrseucic~ The
nov section WIS meant a. do away with such %
stat" ~ affairs uy having none hut the uni
formed and organized militia recognized a.
such.
Cen Jones ~ North Carolina lid not approve
IN" proposed section. II was unconstitutional.
In times ~ great emergencies tho country must
accept vrish t'crs. But he thought there should
d. an organized militia All aulr-tOdird male
citlHnnS between ~ and A YEAR u age. in his
opinion, should b" considered mllit!amon.
Then from That number there should hc organ
i2"i a national guard. Washington himself
said that h" hoped the time wound come when
"" should have a regular. uniformed militia
Hamilton. in the FedeTd'tSi. advocated what W.
want to-day. and what We are comm. 10
When the Secretary read section l.G2s Of the
Revised Statutes which II one that the new bill
VIII ahro-nto. There was irrcpress bile laughter
Tor n provides mat every citHrn shall. after
tie 81 enrolment. b" constantly provided with
"a good uusket or ilrelock. 81 a bore sufficient
for balls OF the eighteenth part Of a pound. q
sum hayonct and belt. two spare fiints and
other acrouirem"nts. Or, in .cuse he cant get
these. he must have "A good rife. knapsack,
shot pouch, and powder horn.
Instead OF all this the Executive Committee
propose the following;
sc In place " sections i625 lGeo 1927. e2s
u ne .ycra states amt Territories shan bee prr,crb'
hN the l"gi.laturrs thereof such organization shall
conform closely 10 the method pre- scrlhcd for the rrgu
tr arm, a. ur circumstances Of the various states aud
fhr unmhcr. iank, and duties u the officers and
rir "reHllnuon m bureaus ci administration shall r'
such t Legislature o mo .eNeTa States and Tern
tori, liza rom time 90 time direct
militia may h' organized hN the President into brrades
AMI dtlHots tie public interest IN ms opinion
dets oi such hrigadcs and divisions
In the afternoon the miltiamon went 10 Cow
crnors Island and were received by Malor-Gen.
Hancock.
Returning to the Seventh Regiments Armory
the delegates went 10 work vigorously upon
the new Till.