Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-06-21
The Murkrille Gnqnirer*
YORKVILLE. 5. G.


YORKVILLE. 5. c.:
THURSDAY MORNING, JUNE q, 1888.
THE MILITARY CONVENTION.
The military convention Of the State
volunteer troops, comprising all branches
of the service, met in the Senate chamber
in Columbia Thursday night. There was a
large representation, nearly every military
organization in the State having delegates
present. York county was represented as
follows: Lieut. J. G.. Wardlaw, of the Jen-
kins Rifles; Allen Jones, Lieut.. R. T. Fewell,
Catawba Rifles; Lieut.-Col. A. H. White,
Palmetto Regiment. The convention was
called to order by Col. Marshall, of the
Palmetto Regiment, who made telling
speech setting forth the objects of the con-
vention. After the conclusion of Col. Mar
shalls remarks, General Izlar was elected
chairman, General Moore of Hampton, COL
onel Bruins, of Charleston, Captain Mc1ver,
of Darlington, Captain Jones, of York, Col
onel Norwood, of Greenville, and Captain
Richbourg, Of Columbia, were elected vice
presidents; Captain Rutledge of Charles
ton and Captain McGhee, Of Abbeville, sec
retaries. The most important thing done
was the offering of memorial by General
McCrady, of Charleston, setting forth the
grievances of the volunteer troops of the
State and asking for additional appropria-
tion for the support of the militia; also for
the passage of an act requiring all male cit
liens between fifteen and forty-five years
to perform militia duty or pay some stated
amount to it's support. Colonel Marshall
offered list of proposed changes in the
Militia law. The following are the main
points:
All men between eighteen and forty-tive
to be subject to duty, such as serve to be ex-
empt from road and jury duty, all not serv-
ing to pay a tax of one dollar each for mill
tia support; the number of companies now
existing not to be increased, except in so
far as to allow one company OF volunteer
troops in each county, the maximum size of
companies to be 100 and minimum 30; in
case of fdisbandment the places of companies
to be supplied by the Governor and adjutant
general. In the event of war the senior
officer Of volunteers present to assume chief
command; the Acknowledgement to receive
50, 100 and have the rank of major-general
officers to be examined in each county by
two judges appointed by the adjutant-genl,,
eral, and no commissions to be issued until
the officer passes satisfactory examination.
Besides the Acknowledgement there should
be two major-generals and four brigadlers OF
VOLUNTEER troops, to be elected by their COM
mands.
Gen. McCrady's memorial, and Col. Mar
shalls draft of proposed changes in the mill
tia law, were referred to committee OF tif-
teen, and the convention then adjourned un-
til Friday.
On reassembling, Friday morning, Capt.
w. St. Julien Jervey, chairman of the COM
mittee on memorials and resolutions SUBJ
mitted report of which the following is
the substance:
The Committee on Memorial and Resolu-
tions report that they have carefully con-
sidered the several papers, resolutions and
memorial referred to them and recommend
the adoption of the accompanying memo
rial, and that a committee of the Conven-
ton, to consist of seven members, shall be
appointed to draft and prepare bill carry
inc out the views of the memorial and pro-
viding for the exemption from taxation of
all property owned and used for military
purposes by the volunteer troops of the
State, and that the resolutions referred to
this committee be referred to the COM
mittee hereby recommended to be appoint
ed for their consideration in the draft
ing of said bill; and that the said COM
mittee be charged with the duty Of attend
ing before the General Assembly at its next
session and procuring the introduction of
the bill to be prepared by the committee
and urging the passage thereof, and of any
other measure tending to the assistance and
advancement of the volunteer troops Of the
State, or in the wisdom of the General AS
sembly as may be deemed practicable.
The memorial drafted by Gen. McCrady
is a lengthy paper and prays for a general
revision of the militia laws of the State, on
a basis calculated to strengthen the efficiency
of the service. It concludes as follows:
Your memorialists therefore pray your
honorable bodies to take the matter into
consideration and to so amend the law as to
require those of age to render military SER
vice, either to perform the duty or to pay
communication which will support the organ
ization of those who do. Or if this is DEEM
ed impracticable by your honorable bodies,
that your honorable bodies will devise and
enact some law whereby those who do the
duty will not be put to the expense of main
tanning their organizations.
The report was unanimously adopted, and
in accordance with its recommendation that
the President appoint a committee of seven
to whom to refer the memorial and resolu-
tions, the chair then announced the follow
ing committee: Colonel Marshall, Palmetto
Regiment, Columbia; Lieutenant Hyde,
Sumter Guards, Charleston Captain Sink
ler, Eutaw Light Dragons, Berkeley; Cap
tain Bonham, Abbeville Rifles, Abbeville;
General Richardson, Third Brigade, Sum-
ter; Lieutenant Wardlaw, Jenkins Rifles,
Yorkville; Captain McBee, Butler Guards,
Greenville.
BY invitation, Governor Thompson was
present, and was called upon to address the
convention. He responded amid renewed
applause to the invitation, stating that he
had received notice last evening of the in
vitation extended to him to attend the
Convention, but he was too fatigued to ac-
cept in person at that time, and he had Just
left an important meeting of the Agricultur-
al board in order to make his acknowledge
ment of the courtesy shown him. He was
pleased with this voluntary assemblage of
the representatives of the military depart
ment of the State, and trusted that they
would succeed in their plans for the i'm
provement of the militia and that their ac-
ton would be embodied in such form as to
meet the approval of the General Assembly.
He would do anything possible for him to
do, either officially or personally, to aid in
accomplishing the purposes of this Con-
vention. He would cheerfully and heartily