The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-17
A Convention Which Interests The State Troops
Of the Entire Union
SUGGESTING A GENERAL MILITIA LAW
The Days Dry Proceedings and the Even
ings Pleasant Reunion

the Seventh Regiment Armory. The meeting was in
response to a call made by the Executive Committee
of temporary organization representing New York
and four or five other States contiguous to this. The
Reception Committee. composed OF Generals Smaller
and wingate and Lieutenant Colonel Fitzgereld.
Seventh regiment, received the delegates they
came in General G. W. wingate called the conven-
ton to order and introduced General Shalcr who in
short speech welcomed the brother officers from
outside States and said that it would be the duty OF
the New York men to make their visitors feel at
home while they remained here.
Upon proceeding to effect permanent organization
the following named delegations were found to be
present
Observation-Disclosures H. T. Hammond.
Connccticut-General Stephen r. Smith and Colonel
b. H. Tubbs.
Observation-Disclosures Adjutant General Edward
G. Stevens.
Observation-Disclosures General John Robertson and
Inspector General L. B. Heath.
New Jersey-Adjutant General B. s. Stryker, Gen.
eral j. W. Plume. Colonel Bird W. Spencer, Colonel
b. H. Sterling Colonel B. Franklin Hartt and Colonel
j. V. Moore
New York-General william G. Ward, General G.
W. wingate Colonel Rodney G. Ward, Colonel Josiah
Porter, Colonel W. II. Brownell and Lieutenant
Colonel Louis Fitzpatrick.
North Carolina-Adjutant General John Jones.
northumberland Frank Reeder and Major A.
D. Hepburn.
Observation-Disclosures General J. s. Peck and Colonel
Theo s. Peck
virginia-Colonel j. H. Ordway.
Telegraphic messages were received from Adjutsnt
General W. L. Alexander, of Iowa. saying he was ca
ronte; from General John B. Woodward. Acting
Adjutant General of New York, reporting himself
snowbound at Poughkeepsie; from James W. Lolita.
Adjutant General of Pennsylvania saying that he
NOT Att q. L, BeaureIard.
South Carolina delegation. was at Altoona. Pa, and
tersely informed the Convention TRAIN ten hours
behind, caused by snow.
The Convention went into the business OF efectng
permanent organization and the following officers
elected :-General Barry. OF Rhode Island.
chairman; General Wingate, of New York, vice chair
man. and General Smith. of Connecticut. secretary.
SUGGESTIVE GENERAL MILITIA Law.
The Executive Committee of the preliminary
ganzaton placed before the Convention printed
be urged for passage upon Congress 1t consisted Of
twenty-one sections, of which the following is
The militia to consist of the uniformed State or
Territorial troops. and aid shall be extended by
the United States to any militia that is not uniformed
aud equipped.
The system of organization Of the militia in the
several States to conform as closely as possible to
that of the regular army In active service the Pres
dcn OF the United States to have the OF form
Ing the militia forces into brigades or divisions as
the case might be.
Each state receiving part of the proposed appro-
pration to uniform and equip Its militia as soon as
service, and part Of the appropriation to be de-
voted TO the purchase of full dress.
For the purpose Of selecting dress for the ma
point board of i've officers. three of them from tho
militia and two belonging to the regular army Tho
dress selected by this board is to be that adopted in
all the States.
The President is to appoint board ofseven officers
to prepare system of discipline for the militia: the
board to consist of one member from each of tho
FIVE States having the largest number of troops
ganzed, and of two officers from the United States
Army. The system OF rules thus adopted to be
based upon the Army Regulations. and to be adopted
by the several States for observance by their troops
The sum of 81 ,OOO 900 to be appropriated for the
purchase Of arms ammunition. quartermaster's and
the several States and Territories in proportion to
the number Of uniformed militia they may have
under arms.
The small arms and ammunition to be of the
models selected by the respective States but OF the
calibre and chamber those used by tho
United States Army.
An adjutant general of each State to be charged
with carrying the contemplated system of disciphne
into execution whose duty it shall also be to forward
reports to the Secretary OF War.
For the purpose of ascertaining the number Of Or
ganized militia in each State annual inspections
shall be made.
Each adjutant general notify the Secretary of
War of the time and place for holding the annual
inspections and the President is to authorize any
officer from the regular service to accompany the
State inspector during the inspection. but such regu
lar officer is not to control the actions of the State
inspector in any way.
Each state receiving quota of the appropriation
shall be required to maintain at least rifle range
Tie Secretary of War is authorized to offer certain
prizes he shot for by State teams Of the uniformed
militia.
Upon the application Of any regimenta brigade or
division commander of any State the Governor may
apply to the Secretary Of War to assign officer of
the army to act adJutan &c. to such forces such
officers to be commissioned. during their time of
vice. in the militia of the States to which they may
Officers Of militia while serving boards &C., to
receive the pay OF their rank exceeding the rank
OF colonel in the army together with mileage ut the
There shall be at least one annual encampmcnt of
the militia of each state or Territory The pay of
N
per day.
II consisted of Generals Jones. Stryker and Wingate
The duty of this body defined to be that of franz
ing from the above points and such others might
be accepted. projected law to be urged upon Con-
gress for enactment.
VISITING GENERAL HANCOCK
The Convention adjourned at half-past one O'Clock
and partook of a substantial collation.. At two o'clock
the members Of the Convention took the east side
elevated railroad down to South ferry, where they
embarked in body for Governors Island
for the purpose OF paying their respects to
the foot of the glacis. they received by Lieu
tenant Mcneil, who conducted them to the head
quarters of General Hancock The General received
his visitors most cordially and the rtfreshmens that
found awaiting the visitors showed that he had
not been surprised the position carried by Storm
On the return trip the delegates again went up by
the elevated road TO Eighth street. and reached the
Seventh Regiment Arinory soon after four o'clock.
The afternoon session which followed was princi-
pally devoted to discussing the merits OF tho pro-
posed law, the substance Of which has been given
above. At half-past five o'clock the convention adj
journed until ten o'clock to-day.
At eight O'Clock the majority of the delegates
present in the Seventh Regiment Armory 20 witness
two company drills. They by Company. Cap
tain III $. Steele commanding and Company. Cap
tain w. G. Casey.
THE EVENING RECEPTION
reception was given TO the delegates last evening
ct the residence of ex-Judge Hilton, No. West
Thirtyfourth street. Between three and four hun
drcd persons present. The guests began
to arrive about nine o'clock. but it ten be-
fore the majority had come by that hour the grand
salons of the mansion thronged Judge Hilton
stood in the main saloon receiving his friends.