The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-06
CITIZEN SOLDIERS.
Militiamcn Would BE Enlisted i'm the
United States Army.

lniteI states Afml.
Some question has arisen in regard 10
the power Of the President to summon
any militia regiment for duty outside Of
the State in which IL was enlisted. and
Inspector-General Thomas s. MumfOrd
has already stated I'm an Interview In the
sun that experience has indicated that
the President had no authority to order
the State National Guard anywhere out
SIDE OF the boundaries Of the respective
commonwealth. he called attention to
the fact that the policy Of the United
States in the past had been to appeal 70
the patriotism Of its citizens and 10 call
for volunteers when II wished TO raise
armies for general defence. This pro-
cedure was followed in the Mexican war
and also in the war between the States.
Brigadier-General Lawrason Riggs said
yesterday that the augmentation Of the
regular army would naturally he the first
step taken by the War Department II
war should be declared. The enlistment
Of volunteers would begin at the begin
ming and continue until there was no
more volunteers in evidence. The Presi-
dent would likely call upon each state
10 furnish its quota OF troops, and Cen
eral Riggs considers II likely that the
National Guard would be the first men
selected by the various Governors.
They are men, he continued. who
are trained in the art Of war. and would
require comparatively no teaching I'm COM
parison 10 what would be necessary 10
make a good soldier Of a citizen who had
never before handled musket or a
sword. New militia companies might be
organized when the existing State troops
had gone to the front ard thus men Of
at least some experience might be kept
within call"
A few days ago the military division Of
the office of the Acknowledgement in
Washington issued a memorandum con-
corning the calling out OF the militia.
II was prepared by Lieutenant-Co
George b. Davis. deputy judge-advocate-
general, in reply To several questions
which had been asked. II will be seen
from this communication that il IS prOba-
bic that, If militiamen were placed at
the disposal of the Government by States
which had been called upon to produce
troops. they would be regularly enlisted
in the United States Army before they
went 10 the seat OF war, after which
they would be entirely in control of the
Government authorities. and could be
sent wherever they were wanted.
The questions, in general. which were
asked, were
!. II the President should call upon the
militia OF one State for duty in another
would It be necessary that IL be mustered
into the general service by any oath
other than that administered 10 the men
as militiamen In their own State?
2. Does the call Of the President neces-
sarily have 10 be made through the Cow
ernor of the State?
3. In calling out the miliatia. would II
be within the power OF the President 10
designate certain organizations or would
he have 10 limit himself TO making a
requis ton for certain number OF men?
The decision OF the Adjutant-General's
department in the first case is that, I'M
der the practice OF the War Department
an oath OF allegiance Is essential 10 the
mastering in OF militiamen. The practice
however. Is not required or especially
sanctioned bylaw and is subject TO modi-
fication by the department. The princi-
pal reason for the imposition Of the oath
OF allegiance is to test the loyalty OF indi-
viduol members OF the militia
An act OF July II. 1862, provides that
when the militia OF more than one state
is called into service of the United States
by the President he shall apportion them
among such States according to repre-
sentative population An sct Of Febru-
airy 28s 1895. allows the President 10 call
forth any militia he may deem necessary,
and to rivc 10 any militia officer any or
ders which lie may think necessary. An
act OF February lS 1885. saws that the
Presidents orders may be given to the
chief executive az the State or 10 any
militia officer The call would ordinar-
ry. the memorandum says. go to the
Governor and THROUGH him TO the officer
ccrnrnan ding the militia.
To the third inquiry Colonel Davis rs-
niles that by an act OF February q 1926.
II ia entirely within the power OF the
President to designate particular ,organ-
atoms To- ser'-ice u~d-r tha coli q Their,
be no organized militia the call must. OF
receseitv he addressed 20 the Governor
OF the State. This course is considered
tho only ore proner 10 be pursued under
ordinary circumstances ard Is seldom
~e-ied from. exc~~t when the President
hos rsason n believe that the executive
w,I, no. accede 10 his request.
No one can tell when the process ~
drafting would begin. but II would very