The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-07

The National government Is rapidly awakening to the value or the Ns- tional Guard organization as an aa- junct to the regular establishment M m time of peace and Is realizing now easily the organized militia can oe turned into regulars. The need ana necessity of such force; ready TOT at all times. was clearly demonstra- ted in the war with Spain. and al though that war was or comparatIveIy little consequence. there can pc 1S nS telling what the consequences would have been had ths, difference been with nation rear the power or the United States.
 Our disorganizet cenc.tnn ana um ,,. prepar .a less for war would have put the country at great disadvantage ana the delay in getting out forces to the field might have prove clsas' ets to us in the end, The intefss in fss Ma. tional Guard has been great since the time of the war with Spain. ana mucn hag been done since that time to en. and its aeproprations have been more than doubled for gem eral purposes and aid has been ex- tended to promote the organized mili- tia in every possible way.
 Tn consequence of all this good feel ing and appreciation of its possible usefulness in time of need, there is no surprise that the awakening or equipment of the National Guard is almost universal in all the States, and is willing for the very favorable at- tention of Congress. In this connec- tional Guard. from the beginning will be of interest.
 It is the theory of our form of government that in case Of war the soldiery for defense, and that large standing army is not, and never can be. necessary That being the theory, observant that the militia should con- stantly receive the appreciation and encouragement of the governing au- thorities Until. within compara. very remiss in its treatment of the militia. Except in most of the wars with the Indians and our recent war with Spain. it has been the voluns, teers. and not the regulars. that did most of the fighting, not that the regulars did not fight we'll but be- cause they comprised but small DOT In all the wars the government has been engaged in. 1t has been handicap ped very greatly by the want of well organized and trained militia.
 First Militia LegiafntiOn.
 Congress very early recognized the need of an organized militia. and took some steps toward encouraging such an organization. But in the
 
 of means made these steps small and inadequate for effective work. The first law on the subject will prove a curiosity in these days of great achievements. One sections reads as follows:
 Every citizen so enrolled and mo- tified. shall within six months there; bayonet and belt, two spare fiints. and a knapsack. pouch. with twenty-four cartridges. suited to the bore of his musket or firefock. each cartridge to contain a proper quantity of powder and ball: or with good de horn, twenty balls, suited to the bore of his rife. and q quarter of a pound of powder"
 This act was passed in 17S9, and 1t will be seen that the militiaman was expected to furnish his own arms and ammunition. and equip himself thor oughly at his own expense. In those days, nearly every man had rife or defense of his family and the commu- nitv against indian raids. But the section in regard to the arms and equipments ot the officers Is more of to some equipments the National Guardsman of today would be at a loss to know the use of. Another cu- riosity in thes section is the provision
 
 arms and equpments exempt from taxes or payment of debts. It reads:
 ''Wth a sword or hanger, and es- pontoon; and that from and after five muskets for the arming the militia. as herein required, shail be of bores suf- ficient for balls of the eighteenth part of pound. And every citizen so the arms, ammunition and accoutre- ments. required as aforesaid. shall hold the same exempted from all suits. distresses. executions. or sales. for debt, or for the paS'nlent of taxes" 10000 Arms Are Purchased. A few years later, there came a breath of war with France, and on the seas several encounters took place hotween American and French war vessels. Tho prospect was so strong that 1t was felt best to strengthen the militia, and the sum of $400.00n , was appropriated to procure 10000 stand of arms to he sold to the sew eral States for the armament of the militia. These arms were to be held for sale. but if not sold, hey were to he delivered to the militia when called into the service of the United States. It was also provided that for Artillery ! and Cavalry the government would "loan" guns and equipments to the 1 States. This was the first direct ap- and it will be seen the government but to sell them to the States
 As early as 1908, the relations be- were so strained it was thought best by Congress to take some active moas- ures toward nrming the militia, and a ' law was enacted making an annual appropriation of s200.000 for the pur- pose of providing arms and military equipments for the whole body of the militia of the United States" The l arms and equipments were to be pur- l chased or manufactured at the gov ernment arsenals In 1S16, Congress providino that the unexpended bal ance of any year should not be placed back into the treasury, but carried 1 forward to the credit of the fund, tC dition of affairs continued for abou 1 forty years without material chan ge | But the militia spirit was not very | strong among the people, and but few Tn der the existing law the arms wore distributed just as they might b' l called for. or as the Secretary "f Wa 1 thought hest.
 'In 1855. an act was passed regulat- ing the method of distribution. pro vlding, among other things, that the arms should be apportioned to the va i rious States in proportion to the num- Der of their Senators and Represents 1 lives in Congress. For the Territories and for the District of Columbia. tho President WIS to use his judgment as to the number supplied.
 | War Finds States Unprcpnred. 'Tnder the act. some or the States not having any organized militia, dit not draw their quota, although they fact that they had taken no steps tc organize the militia force. Other. States however. did draw their full quota un- der exactly the same circumstances