Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-08
MILITIA LAW.
MAJOR JOHN n. pINNEEN DISCUSSES
THIS SUBJECT.
A Pleasant Gathering of Military omcers
at tho Regimentai Armory Last Nigns-
Refreshments and Cigars

A meeting of tho Military CLUB OF VIZ,
einia was held last night at the kegimen,ai
Armory aud despite the inclemency oi 'no
weather was we'll attended.
Major w. T.. Slmons presided and Gap
tain W. L. Mosby was at his desk as secre-
tary.
Those present were: General Charles J.
Anderson. Colonel II. @. Jones, Colonel D.
v. Bideood, Colonel G.. p. Halves. Major
william NJ Evans, Major w. II. Simons,
Major Moses ID. Hoge (surgeonl, Major
Corbin Warwick, Major Henry q. Garter a
Major John II. Dinneen, Captains "; l.
Wosby, w. Fred. Peasants, W. MIX MA
thews, Meriwether Jones, Lewis u, oren.
shaw, James T.. Phillips, and Lieutenant
II. l.. Vandeventer.
HAD REFRESHMENTS.
A bounteous supply of wines, cigars,
fruits. and other delicaces served 10 make
the occasion more agreeable TO the oncers,
who discussed military affairs with great
interest amid still greater CLOUDS OF cigar
smoke.
Major Simons introduced to the meeting
Major John II. Dinneen, who read an IN
teresting paper upon Militia Law.
In commencing his address MAJOR
Dinneen gave brief synopsis of the mill
tary law of Great Britain. dealing both
| with her knights and peasant soldiers.
AMERICAN MILITARY LAWS.
In reference to America he said:
AT the close of the war which establish
ed the independence of the American people
and entitled the United States to take her
place at the council-board OF nations the
great soldiers and statesmen whose courage
and genius founded the republic saw that
next TO achieving liberty and independence
their most important work was to. take
order for their preservation and trans
mission to posterlty. Realizing that
the government they were about 10
found to be worthy of the name must
possess a power back of the laws to secure
their enforcement, and with firm con-
yiction that standing army was danger
Gus to the liberties of the people, In llSl,
when they undertook to reconstruct the
articles of confederation, they made 1t
obligatory upon every state always 70 Keep
q well-regulated and disciplined militia.
whilst the necessity for well-organ,
lied and disciplined militia was recognized
and admitted by all, there was great diver
sity of opinion among the delegates to the
Constitutional Convention as to the means
by which the end might be accomplished.
TO SUPPRESS RIOT AND AID CIVIL AUTHORITIES.
1.-THE object of the trainers. as l under
stand it, was two-told First-To provide
in the STATES separately for the organization
of q regularly disciplined force to suppress
riot and instruction, and to aid the civil
authorities in the execution of the laws, to
be commanded by officers appointed by
the States respectively. and TO be subject
to State control.
Secondly. In the States respectively
to provide for the common defence by the
transfer of the militia TO the service OF
the United States upon the call or order or
the Federal authorities.
"Of such Importance was the leglsla-
ton necessary to give effect to these con-
sttutional provisions considered that
General Washington in his first message
to the first Congress said:
THE devising of a well-regulated mill
tia would be genuine legislative honor
and perfect title of public gratitude"
In 1892 Congress attempted to exercise the
power conferred upon it by the constitu-
tional provisions just read, and the United
States military law. as 1t now exists, ex-
cept the provision creating the annual APP
preparation, which was Incorporated In
is0s at the urgent request of MIR. Jefferson.
was enacted.
GUARD DUTY AND DISCIPLINE
Concluding, Major Dinneen said "Proba-
bly, the greatest defects in the volunteer
service are in discipline and in guard
duty. 1t is difficult for men who are on
terms of greater or less friendship and in
tlmacy in the duties of everyday life to
Law aside these relations when they don
the uniform and role of the soldier. Mill
tary discipline is of slow growth. 1t is the
gradual development of a military career.
When we reflect that large percentage of
the men are recruits with but few weeks
or a few months experience, we should
wonder not that the discipline is often
very lax, but rather that it can be main
tanned at all.
1.-THE relations which now exist between
the War Department and the volunteer ser
vice ore of the most cordial nature. Every
courtesy and encouragement is extended,
and it is reasonable to expect that this
great reserve force of the country will, at
time not far distant, contain quarter
of million of as fine young soldiers as
the world has ever SEEM"
THANKS TO THE MAJOR.
At the conclusion of Major Dinneen's
address he was literally applauded, and
upon motion of Major Evans vote of
thanks was extended him.
Major Dinneen stated to the club that he
did not pose as lecturer by any means,
but had simply made the address to stimu-
late further debates among the officers
upon military questions.
Several of the gentlemen present then
entered into discussion of martial mat
tiers. and the evening was very pleasantly
spent.