The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-08
VIRGINIA'S VOLUNTEERS
THEIR NEEDS AND Why THEY
SHOULD BH SUSTAINED.
The Necessity for Eeorganization.and.t the
Need for Neutrality-suspicious.
Encampment.

Gldtt. the Trainers OF oNi h't~'N'
stitution, with their characteristic fore
sight, declared that THE right OF the
people TO keep and bear arms s"ai'
not be infringed"
Under this authority every state IN
the Union maintains volunteer force,
organized upon the principles and regu-
lations Of the United States army, win
such notifications as the eAisehcies oi
its service require.
The active militia OF virginia com
prsos four regiments Of infantry, OF
forty-fye companies; one cavalry regi-
ment Of five troops and one battalion Oh
light artillery, OF three batteries.
For the year 1885, the Legislature ap-
! propriated for the maintenance of the
volunteers for all purposes. Sio,5'5.is.
| The total inadcquacy Of this sum VIII
be appreciated when we remember
| that $3.50 of this amount Is devoted 10
tho Adiutant-Ccnerars salary. and II we
! mistake not, 500 10 each reslhehlai
and battalion commander FOR stationery
! postage, &C., the balance belhs dpp"i-
| toned among tho hfty-tWo companies
| provided they make the required per
| cent. at the annual inspection, and II Is
with this pittance that each company
/ has 10 meet the expenses OF arInory
rent Except where cities supply them),
| maintain their uniforms and equipments
deficits. and that, too, with none othcr
! expenses.
The result is. the men inevitably have
| 20 take money from their pockets. twhlch
| they have done time and again with un-
complaining patriousm to meet these
deficits and that, too, with none otner
than patriotic interest i'm the mainten-
ance of the guard. because hardly one
in ten is a propcrty-holder.
OBJECTS or pRGANIzATIoS.
The objects for which the volunteers
were organized are 20 render assistance
TO the civil authorities In the protec-
ton of life and property; tho malnten-
ance OF the peace and dignity OF the
Commonwealth, and TO suppress riot
and Instruction when these emergencies
are beyond the ability of the civil au.hOr-
tiles 10 cope with.
Thorough organization. drill. and dis
cipliue are necessary for the effective
accomplishment of the objects FOR which
the guard is designed. Under its present
organization and misery support, without
meaning 10 dcpreciate the courage OF the
rank and file, we incline 10 the opinion
that in the event Of an emergency or
very grave proportions, is unadcquacy
and deficiencies would be made seriously
manifest Therefore the two propositions
are simply these. If the guard IS
necessity (Which is being demonstrated
all over the country to-day II should be
an object of serious legislative concern,
and ample provision made 10 put 1t on
an effective footing; otherwise any APP
pro- ration IS a useless waste. and, in
justice TO tho people the guard should
be dsbandcd. Taking FOR granted that
the people of Virginia fully appreciate
the importance and necessity of a we'll
lIf en.
would presume % offer briefly some sug-
gestions for its better organization and
efficiency.
NECESSITY FOR nFoRGANIZiTIoS
Money is the first essential towards |
the accomplishment of almost every OBJ |
ject I'm life. and therefore, until the Leg |
islature provides this necessary basis |
By ample appropriations. any effort to-
wards change and Improvement Will |
be useless. While. Of course. Virginia
cannot De expected 10 make such aupro-
priatons as are made by New York,
PENNSYLVANIA, and other northern States.
she can, without difficulty, and should |
do much more than IN years past.
Every effort towards the increase OF our
regular standing army nas been met
with "a persistent opposition, because 10
is believed trat a large standing army
would bee iuimical 10 our Institutions. and
the necessity for such. owing 90 the pro-
lection afforded by our geographical sit
uatiOn, would not justify the enormous
expenditures cOincident ro the mainten-
aIce of a large standing army. ANA
therefore the general government has
ever been solic.tous Tor the welfare of
the miiitia-its principal reliance in the
event OF hOst.lties with foreign power
For this reason. and the preservation
~ fHf /
which are being menaced more and more
each year. iI bchOOves every State 10 sus-
tain In n high degree Of proficiency her
volunteer troops.
The infantry 9nd artillery, rs organ
lied at present are sufficient in num-
beers. but 90 each regiment OF infantry |
there should Doe attached a Calling gun |
battery. because this is the most indis-
pensable and effective weapon that can
possibly be used in street melee against
rioters. The cavalry is not a very neccs-
sary branch of the volunteer service, ana
because OF IFS eXpersivencss and charac-
ter. cannot become, on the whole of-
lcient or effective. Therefore the best
interests of the guard would De attain
ed 81 an the cavalry troops were ais J
banded. and the appropriation hitherto
given the 1--WE. be devoted TO the equip
neut and maintenance of one frst-class
should DE located ia the city OF Rich
nOnd as the Governors Mounted Guard.
New York state. with all Of her wealth
md greater necessity for troops, has
'nly two troops OF cavalry. the second
IF which was organized very recently !
My upon the condition that il should
quail the standard OF the first A part
n this sum might be used with prOnt m T
he organization Of a signal corps, which
las become an Indispensable factor IN
III modern military operations since me d
Of the heliograph. ana cleo
rlcity as applied IN the use OF the tele- [
hone, and the telegraph in the mod'rn
clence Of war; q
NAVAL RrsERvfs.
Every encouragement IS being offer
q by the general government for the or
OF naval reserves I'm the sea-
GARD states by providing every such
fsinizaiiOu with arms and equipments,
rSNFFyplying a vessel each summer. Tor |
ten days cruise al sea, for the pracii-
al instruction Of the reserves in the '
utics and drills of seamen q
Virginia. though having moro need Tor
naval reserve FOR the protection OF ,
or oyster possessions, has manifested ;
o interest i'm the Governments over 81
ares or shown any disposition TO en- q
)urage such organizations. An apprO- III
Ration for tho organization Of a naval 4
eserve should receive the attention OF q
ar next Legislature u
Too many duties have been imposed
pom the Adjutant-General's department ! {
'r it's prompt and efficient sery re- TINS 3,
apartment should be- confined to its le- y
timatc functions. and q regular Quar- az
'rmasters department organized under n,
n officer with the rank Of colonel for | n