The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1891-12-01

forces Of the State. under the laws governing thJ
same. taking up the work as ltt or bv my pre-
ment of the companies which had already been must
cred into service. and were entitled to proper recog-
the appropriation of arms, clothing and equipmen,
goss far as possible, SO as tn have a balance len torI
these companies, it being deemed good policy to enll
courage a limited number of such commands, which,
from time to time, can be taken into active malitiat
as vacancies from any cause may occur. In order To
make these supplies so as far as possible, and also in .
compliance with State regulations, to Keep our forces
uniformed alike, 1t has been adopted as a iulc If ,hi1
Department 10 is sue only the fat suits and leaves
the commands TO supply the gay dress regulationF
suits, with the assistance Of the State annual approx
lriatfon. +
III the present wise policy of the State of limi,ipyt
The number Of active militia c"mpanies-therebll
number of t~roops-is continued. aud of the present.
appropriation from the United States z, vcrnmertk
for arms, uniforms and equipments, backed by q lib
continued. 1t will not be long before we will have nod
only q thoroughly armed and equipped militia force id
tion of the fund appropriated by the State to encourF
age the same set OF men TO remain in each company
whi.h the State can really feel proud, in comparison
with any other. The reduced appropriation for thiSt
year is somewhat iscouraging to The troops and sel{
vice, but , is confidently expected that a more ht.ra
policy will hereafter prevail aud it is hoped that W.
may be able to secure Il regular annual appropriation
done and u proviso inserted in the law requiring a csr-
tain sum to be paid out of the annual apprcpria,!v, To-
actually injured or killed while in the active or actual
service of the STATE, II would make the ANIMAL z
appropriation Act as u sort OF mutual Insurance fund 4
aud insure also the thorough drill and discipline Of
the troops, by keeping the same set Of men continually \
In service. In tho event OF such changes being mady (
now or hereafter l would suggest that the laws be
amended 50 ms to require the organization Of at least "
one company In each County, and also to limit the
number oil men allowed to each company, and thu,f
cpualiZe somewhat the distribution Of the men h
and thereby of the fund also in the state. In would
also require every pay member or each company oibs
the active militia to be ~"regnlatly ,nrollc,la and rresentH
or accounted for or dropped from the Tolls at the reg.
ular inspection. n
In conclusion, allow me to say that my geuer,lN
inspection of the troops of the State, as well as thsl2
military display made at various points, and more
particularly at the Centennial. have very clcary
demonstrated the fact that South Carolina has n much y
better military force ut her command than our people *
are aware Of. 1t is with pride AS we'll as pleasure
that | can announce that in spite Of all the iloublt B
and suffering through which our people have Iatse(kc
within the last thirty years. they now show that
their military enthusiasm and spirit are not broken, n.
and that they are full aware Of and aliyc to, not only
the military record and heroism our people, but an
also prepared for all ordinary emergencies that an x
likely to arise In the present or near future OF tht
State. te
Our military force ranks about third among IL.
States, SO far as actual numbers are concerned, but IL "
proportion to population II ranks among the ir.t d
while 81 lar MS mutcripl is concerned II Is not second 10 r.
any. lthas, toa large degree, armed and equipped p
itself, and our organizations have been really KEEP, up q
by the pride and spirit Of the men who compose them. G
They belong to and are q part of the people. and are -
of course In perfect sympathy with them, and are now Z
the best guarantee the Slate has for the preservation
of peace and good order, and oi the lives, liberty aud
property of our people. II will require but little
more cncUurac cmcnt and assistance than is now given -
by the State To make tia permanent as well as a
thorough and complete organization equal, IL no,
superior, to any of our sister States. rs
II. J.. FARLEY, =
Adjutant and Inspector General ).