Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-09

In these times, when SO much attention is
not be otherwise than interesting to know how
the earlier Presidents OF the United States
looked upon the militia question. Gen. Ord
way has gathered together extracts from
messages of several Presidents to show how
earnest and anxious those administrations we're
that the volunteer service reach its highest
possible efficiency.
| wAsHINGToN's INTEREST IN THE MILITIA.
President Washington. in 1890, says:
Among the many interesting objects which
will engage your attention that of providing
for the common defense will merit particular
| regard. To be prepared for war is one of the
| most efficient means of preserving peace. A
| free people ought not only to be armed, but
| disciplined. to which end a uniform and we'll
| digested plan is requisite"
| In 1871 and 1898 President Washington again
| referred to the militia and in 1894 once more
| spoke to Congress as follows:
| The devising and establishing Of a we'll
| regulated militia would be genuine source of
| legislative honor and a perfect title to public
gratitude. / therefore entertain a hope that
the present session will not pass without carry
| Ing 10 Its full energy the power OF organizing
| arming and disciplining the militia, and thus
| providing, IN the language of the Constitution.
| for calling them forth to execute the laws Of
/ the Union. suppress instructions and repel in
yasions."
! Very forcible, too. were his remarks in 1895,
| the last time he mentioned the matter Off
cially. Then he said: with the review of our
| army establishment is naturally connected that
| of the militia 1t will merit inquiry. what i'm
projections in the existing plan further expe-
rlence may have unfolded The subject Is of
| so much moment, IN my estimation. as to ex
cite constant solicitude that the consideration
| OF II may be renewed until the greatest attain
| able perfection shall be accomplished Time
| Is wearing away some advantages for forward
| ing the object. while none better deserves the
persevering attention of the public councils. )"
| NO LESS INTERESTED WAS PRESIDENT JEFFERSON,
for in six different messages did he point out
| the way to Congress. In 1901 he said: These
| considerations render it important that we
| should. at every session, continue to amend
| the defects which from time to time show
| themselves in the laws for regulating the
militia, until they are sufficiently perfect. Nor
| should We now or at any time separate until
we can say we have done everything for the
militia which we could do were an enemy at
our door.
In his closing message. in 1903, is the follow
| ing paragraph: For people who are free.
and who mean to remain 80. a well-organiZed
and armed militia their best security. 1t is,
therefore, incumbent on Us, at every meeting,
| TO revise the condition of the militia, and to
ask ourselves If 1t Is prepared to repel pow
erful enemy at every point of our territories
exposed to invasion. Some of the states have
paid laudable attention to this object; but
every degree of neglect is to be found among
others. Congress alone has power to produce
a uniform state OF preparation in this great or
gan OF defense; the interest which they SO
deeply feel in their own and their country's
security will present this as among the most
important objects of their deliberation."
PRESIDENT MADIsoS's IDEA.
President Madison had the idea which has
been brought out in the Henderson bill provid-
ing for encampment amalgam9 ton of regular
troops and national guardsmen. He said, in
1910: These preparations for armng the
militia having thus far provided for one of the
objects contemplated by the power vested in
Congress with respect to that great bulwark of
the public safety, II Is for their consideration
whether further provisions are not requisite
for the other contemplated objects of organiza-
ton and discipline. To give to this great mass
of physical and moral force the efficiency which
1t merits, and is capable OF receiving
1t Is indispensable that they should be
instructed and practiced in the rules
by which they are to be governed. Toward an
accomplishment OF this important work
recommend for the consideration of Congress
the expedlency of instituting system which
shall in the first instance call into the field at
the public expense and for given time, GER
tam portions OF the commissioned and non
commissioned officers. The instruction and
discipline thus acquired would gradually Diff
fuse through the entire body of the militia that
practical knowledge and promptitude for active
service which are the great ends TO be pursued
Experience has left no doubt either of the
necessity or of the efficacy of competent mill
tary skill in those portions of army in fitting
it for the final duties which it may have to per-
form"
PRESIDENT MoSRoE's NOTES OF WARNING.
Seven times did Madison endeayor to i'm
press upon Congress the necessity for action
and then the strain was taken up by President
Monroe who, at three different times-lSl7
l822 and lo23-gave utterance respectively to
the three following sentences:
IAN improvement an the organization and
discipline of the militia is one of the great
objects which claims the unremitted attention
of Congress-"
Il have to add, that in proportion as our
regular force is small, should the instruction
and discipline of the militia, the great re-
source on which we rely, be pushed to the
utmost extent that circumstances will admit 4"
las the defense and even the liberties of the
country must depend in times of imminent
danger on the militia, II is of the highest inn
portance that it be well Orga nized, armed and
| disciplined throughout the Union"
PRESIDENT ADAMS FoRcIBLE REMARKS.
President Adams was strong believer in
the citizen soldier and he showed his feeling
| by the following, which he sent to Congress in
I 1925:
The organization OF the militia is vet more
indispensable to the liberties of the country
1t Is only by an effective militia that we can at
once enjoy the repOse OF peace and bid defiance
to foreign aggression; it is by the militia that
We are constituted an armed nation, standing
| in perpetual panoply of defense in the presence
| of all the other nations of the earth To this
| end 1T would be necessary so to shape its or
ganlzatlon as to give 1t more united and active
energy. There are laws for establishing a
| uniform militia throughout the United States
| and for arming and equipping its whole BODY
| But it is a body OF dislocated members without
the vigor of unity and. having little of uni
| formity but the name. To infuse into this
! most important institution the power of which
| II Is susceptible and to make IL available for
| the defense of the Union at the shortest notice
! and at the smallest expense of time of life and
i Of treasure are among the benefits to DO ex-
! pected from the perseyering deliberations of
| Congress"
THE HERO OF NEW ORLEANS.
President Jackson Was another who thought
the militia subject one to which the attention
of Congress should be directed, and in 1882 he
wrote:
| IF, in asserting rights or in repellng
| wrongs war should come upon u.s. our regular
| force should be increased to all extent pro-
pOrtioned to the emergency and our present
! small army is nucleus around which such
! force could be formed and embodied But for
| purposes Of defense, under ordinary circum-
/ stances, we must rely upon the electors OF the
government was instituted and is supported
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