The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-18
SOLDIERS IN CONVENTION.
PREP1RIN0 4 Law TO he OPERATIVE
IN AN THE STATES.


Thursday. thero were present Gems g. T.
Bcaurcgard and d. VI. Maury OF Louisiana
Acknowledgement f. VI. Noise OF South Caro-
lima. Adjutant- Gonoral W. l.. Alexander OF Iowa.
Coils G. W. Squire and Charles l.. Hunt and
Capt. J. ID. Dougheity OF Missouri. Capt John
L. LOOMS Of Illinois. and Adjutant- General
NELLY and Major Sthc OF Ohio. Soon after tho
Convention met Judge Hilton entered the ROOM
and. having been invited to the Presidents
desk. delivered brief speech. Then the dele
gates settled down to work on n bill which they
hope Congress will pass. and which they believe
will DO OF great advantage to the militia OF the
United States.
The first section OF the proposed bill provides
that all nble-bodied male citizens between lS
and 40 years Of age. except such ~ tho law ex-
empts. shall constitute the militia This militia
shall be divided into two classes-the active to
be known as the National or State Guard. and
the inactive, TO be known as the reserve militia.
The active militia shall consist Of such regular
uniformed and enlisted troops rs are or may be
organized in pursuance to such laws as have
been or may be passed 10y tho Legislatures and
shall BE- first called out for service. The rcScrve
militia Is to be liable to no active duty except
when called into active service in time OF war
riot. or instruction.
The Convention does not claim tho power
over the inactive militia and all the sections OF
tho now bill are directed toward furthcring the
interest OF the active militia or. as it is called
Tho State or National Guard
The second clause OF the first section declares
That In time Of peace tho number OF the M
tonal or State Guard upon which such State
shall be entitled To receiye aid undor the new
net should not exceed 700 regular uniformed
commissioned officers and enlisted men for
each Representative IN Congress.
Of sections G15 500. iGl7. 62s. and 81 of
NC Revised Stdulgs' provides That thg organ
iIatlon 81 the mllitla on n" states and Terrific
RIGS shall be prescribed 10y their lcgisntures
respectively and that such organization shall
conform ns CLOSELY, a. possible 10 the
that in times. OF peace tho number. rank.
and duties Of the stan officers and tho
organization Of bureaus Of administration shall
be sI1h rs the Legislature shall direct; and
that when called into the service Of the United
States the President shall assign and dos gnnta
the commanders II hrigadcs and divisions
ranks. and duties Of the stan officers shall be-
the same ns prescribed for the REGULAR army.
Section retains section l.G29 Of the Re-
yscd statutes as 10 exemptions from military
Section 4. which is 10 take tho place Of
sections $50 and G3s provides thai ONO
take precedence according to the dato Of their
commissions. and that whom there are two Of
elual dhte' their rank shall be determined by
sections 5. Z, md occasiooned much debate.
In which the southern militia officers bore a
conspicuous part. In fact. Il was particularly
noticeablo the delegates from the South and
Mtrl. lNflfulufly from inc NOuin. TOOK great
interest IN al the DELIBERATIONS Of the Conyen-
ton. and while New York and New England
delegates kept silence most Of the time, their
demand the hearing and respect Of the Conven-
ton.
AS finally adopted the nth section provides
that the lresiden, shall appoint II board II
seven officers, two 81 them army officers. the
other 1--WE To be selected from the active militia Of
the Eastern. Middle. southern. Western, and
Pacific states, for the purpose Of selecting q
suitable pattern OF campaign dress and equip
mrnt Tor the active militia.
Section 6 provides that the active militia
hhhii Do iurnIshed Win complete dress and
called out for active service, and Whenever the
military authorities Of the States may direct.
But II was decided that this provision should
not interfere with the wearing Of any full dress
uniform permitted by the States: but no
expended therefor.
Then follows the usual section regarding the
exemption Of uniforms and equipments from
taxation or from suits or sales for debt and the
like.
shall appoint hoard Of seven officers TO pre-
pare system OF rules for the discipline Of the
active militia. 70 be Composed as was the board
referred 10 IN the NTH section said rules 90 Toe
basod upon The regulations ,prescr bod Tor, the
army, and where approved by the President.
to be- published by the, War Department in a
small Iockct volume and issued upon state re-
questions s. That each officer and soldier Of
the militia SHAH %" provided with a copy.
The ninth section provided that 100000 be
aInropr4ted lor the purposeo Of proyii ngarms.
ammunition. and other ordnance and quarter
master's stores Tor the active militia OF tie sew
erai states uud Territories, and that such shall
be- apportioncd among the several States md
Territories IN proportion to the number Of
their rogu arly organized and uni ormed active
militia in service on the LIST day Of December in
The vital clause Of the tenth section provd el
thW the snWil arms and AMMUNITION for the
htates respectively. hut Of ne same cal an
chamber as TINT pres ribbed ~. ,.,e regular
becions e. 10. and Il taR k The tie place s Of
- old on-S. aud are important us making