The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-02-19
FOR a MILITIA LAW.
Col. IL L. Fast Makes m Appeal to u,
Legislature for Justice to tho SntIvnr

Legislature for Justice to tho National
Guard
70 he Lhrt'tdhrs n lFeSi ITginid'
Whom tho section In house bill No. 10,
tho military bill, relating to taxation,
was stricken out, tho members OF the
national guard iolt perfectly auro that,
as tho passage OF tho bill carried with it
no appropriation there would DO no
objection to its passage. But for somo
unaccountablo reason, after adopting a
substitute for tho original bill, Il Repub.
lean caucus resolved to pass no bill at
all in relation to tho military. Tho
substitute as printed In tho House Jour.
nal OF February would have boon ac-
ceptablo 10 tho members OF tho guard,
Indeed, 1t would DO difficult for tho
legislature to pasa any law on tho cub.
lect that would not bo an improvement
over the present Inv.
But 1t Is decided to make an appro.
priation OF $4,000 Tor tho militia. This
still further adds TO our confusion, Tho
legislature then docs not seem 10 DO
opposed to maintaining the guard.
Then why not pass law whereby IL
may DO moro efficiently governed2 Can
any mortal man offer any living reason
why the bill, stripped OF tho feature OF
taxation, should not pass?
ii tho legislature had withheld the
appropriation, wo should hayo under.
stood that thoy wore opposed to main.
tanning national guard. and wo should
have taken their action as an invitation
to disband. We do not understand
that any ono (outsidoof tho legislaturo),
is obiecting to proper law, looking to
tho organization, armament, equipment,
administration and contract OF the ma.
tional guard. There might be an hon.
est difference OF opinion as to tho sum
Of money, to BIO appropriated for main.
tanning the same. Some people op.
posed to tho very existence OF the mil
itia might objectto any appropriation at
all. But who would object to the en-
actment OF proper law on tho subject,
which 10 dependent entirely upon such
appropriation us the legislature may
mako to carry it into effect?
would respectfully invite tho atten-
ton OF the members OF tho legislature
to the second amendment to tho consti-
tuition oil tho United States, which savs:
"a well.reCulated militia being neces-
sary TO the security of free state" &c.
President Washington in his message
to Congress. 1904, said:
Tho devisinc and establishing OF a
well.regulateG militia would be a genu.
inc source OF legislative honor, and a
perfect titio to public gratitude"
General Sherman said:
81 cannot help plead to my country.
men. at every opportunity, 10 cherish
all that Is manly and noble in tho mill.
tary profession, because peace is enerva.
ting, and no man Is wise enough to fore.
tell when soldiers my be in demand
again"
l feel sure that the action OF tho Re.
publican caucus in deciding to pass no
bill arises from Misunderstanding OF
the objects and purposes OF the bill. |
appeal to them to tako of the restraint
laid upon the members by this action
and let the bill become a law BY the
unanimous vote OF all members OF all
parties.
Tho personnel Of the mili.ianen of
this state is about equally divided be-
tween the two leading parties. There
Is nothing political in its organization.
The party that puts itself in opposition
to tho passage OF a jus. and proper law
for the government and administration
OF tho affairs Of the militia, mus.
answer for their action to every law
abiding and llberty-loyinr citizon of tho
state. Remember. gentlemen OF the
legislature, re OF the national guard,
are not Wooded to any particular bill.
We submitted our ideas. You offered
substitute. We accepted your substi.
tutc. You thcn refused to pass oven
your own substitute. Will you right
the wrong you have done? | appeal to
every member. no matter what his poll
tics may DO, TO unite as ono body and
pasa this bill. L. E. FAST,
Colonel First Infantry.
Aoyaasopn. Eel. Is, 1895.