The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-03-12
A RESPECTABLE STATE MILITIA.

npho WYNN uufu WI tiuSitut k'NH -
the state respectable volunteer militia, 3
body Of young Ten armed and uniformed
that would have been an honor and credit
to Texas and in appearance and thorough
ness of organization would hsve done justice
TO the aohieveoen,s of Texas soldiers in the
war OF independence in 1886, in tho Mexi-
can war and in the late civil war. This bill
furnished. blythe codillers had some objoc-
tionsble features ii is true, but II
wa, so framed @ 10 bear equally
and lightly.on all eitiaenr, and II law Of this
nature to bo of any value whatever, can
hardly be expected TO do more. But tho
tinsors of tho sixteenth would not lot it rest.
They must noeda remodel'i ii after their skillsd
fashion, add they made Of il but an abortion.
II w mistake not, Mr.. Baker, Of Pamela, WAS
The sclfelccted military architect at whose
plastic touch the present militia law sprsug
into existence, snd 1t is to him mainly that
the state Of Texas owes tho present csrics-
turo yclepi mibds law. There is now u
bill pending to appropriate means for IN
encampmcnt of theoyolunteer companies of
tha state. Wo,do not know how far this bill
has progressed nor with what fayor il lie
meeting but wo would respectfully
suggest 10 tho legislature that.it Other Rdopt
sensibc, efficient md oporstve milil.ry
law or elae repeM The onr, rather the fsrte,
that now eucumben the statute boohs.
When the state had 10 militia law at III il had
soma twenty odd we'll drilled, handsomely
uniformed aud equipped volunteer companies,
zach ono law unto lieplf, ard number OF
which, Of their own yclil,cr, md in their
state pride, lcrrtd tbempe!vu into
bttlsliops and ragimen.s.snd one brigade.
These volunteer organizations were the pfiis
OF !hoir respective localities and.reaccled cred
il for them. Soma of theta indeed
on different occasions did
service for tho state and. then, this purely
volunteer organization wos more effective,
Of moro force and character than the strsg
Cling ends of ~ msko-believa militia orgsni-
zltion under the present law. There was $
bill before the congress Just adjourned for
the reorganization, srming and discipining
Of the militia Of the United States. which,
in tho press Of other business and the dead
ening of political TIMBER was left over
This bill provides that all citizens in every
state, between the ages Of eighteen ard
forty-hvc, shall be enrolled in tie militia.
which shall ba. divided iato an active md
inactive force, tho active force "a ombrnc,
tho volunteer companies formed
under tbs laws Of tho states aud TO be updor
regulations simlnr TO those governing the
regular armyi the general government to
arm md oquip lhi' force, provided it be el--
lieient, standard maintained mud snuual drills,
that is oncampments, held uader supervision
Of - regular army niliairs; ths president
To be authorized TO call cut this active foroa
whenever an eIigeucy might arise 70 Justify
him and the inactive or reserve force to ba
called out only by act cfcougresi. These
are tho maIn taaiprcs Of the bin We feel
certain hiatt will become alsw o. the next
session OF congress, aud, although re cannot
fully approve tho measure, as in our opinion
it puts tho militia of tho states too much
under control Of tho general
government still no there is little doubt Of
its becoming law, wo think the Legislature,
in justice to our state, should make provision
by law for tho formation of volunteer
militia, and give it the means OF becoming
efficient and of keopiag itself up to tho
standard, and of having a. leas. one annual
encampIncnt and drill. Tcxas.is about the
only state in the union that has no militia
law, or rather adequate militia law, aud with
the reputation hor soldiers have won in every
war III which they have participated, sho
ought by all means TO have provision for the
formation and maintenance ola most splendid
volunteer militia Teach state in the union
had sgood militia law. and thoy all have so
far as wo can lcarn, except roxas, they would
iurnsh sufficient number of well drilled
citizOn soldiers in case of war to maintain
tho cause,o Of our government. There Stc
now about one hundrod aud twenty-five
thousand Volunteer militia organized, disci.
plined, uniformed and armed in tho United
Sates,and thore AFRO about six million of the
hrms.bOsring c(ss, Of citizens. So il will
readily DO seen that wo have au abundance
of material II tho states will utize and edu
cate it, All wo need is a law that says to
every malo citzsn between tho ag@ Of
eighteen and forLy-llve, that will voluntarily
organize into companies of not lc,a
than ,hir.y.two mon exclusive of three COM.
missioned officers and four sergesnts, that the
state will furnish Mmory room and tho OK
penses Of one encsmpment of not los, thar
one weeks duration each ye'r. Or IL they
do not desire 10 enroll themselves in tho ac.
tive force, thon by paying " tax Of one dol
lsr per annum they will BIO exempt from
organization, or, ia other words, may bclong
10 tho inactive force. There must DO
too, provision made Tor organizing tho active
forcc into regiments, brigades and divisions
and thorc must ba provision made for on.
forcing discipline by fines or cthor punish,