Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-09
Value Of a rained Militia

To the Editor of The Times Dispatch:
Sir,-The Constitution OF the United
States is very Wis instrument. and
/. contemplates that the States shall
have we'll organized militia. Our in
dependence was won by the militia OF
the States acting together under the
control Of the Federal power. Section
& If article ! OF the Constitution OF the
United States provides that Congress
shall have power Ito provide for or
Eanizing, armng and disciplining. the
:niiilia. ana for governing such parts
q! them as may DE employed IN tho
service ot the United States. rescrvinE
u :he States Tcsr cctively. the ar point
rncnt of the :tacn,s. and the authority
OF training the militia according TO the
discipline prescribed by Congress-
The second amendment to the Con-
stitution provides: "A we'll regulated
rIilitia, being necessary TO the security
of a free State. the rights of the peo-
pie to keep and bear arms, snail not
he infringed."
1t IL manifest that our country
should have and maintain a we'll drilled
and efficient militia under State con-
troll. except when in the service OF
the United States.
Ibis is the real source of our free
dom, n militia well-drilled and ready
for scrvicc--not n mere handful OF
mcn--hardly enough to keep down riot,
but a vast army of well-drilled men,
cultivatinE the farms and conducting
the various lines OF business in the
State. If our young men are drilled
few weeks each year they would soon
learn the real necessary features OF a
soldiers life. viz: to drill in company
formation. to shoot and the manual
OF arms. Then, once or twice year.
the battalion and reEimental drill
could be taken up. In this manner our
country would have a large number Of
troops ready trained for service and
would only need slight preparation
for national defense.
This character of national defense
was founded by our ancestors in Wis
dom and foresight, and we need only
use the same plan in order to protect
our country. The schoolboys could be
easily taught military life 80 as to fit
them for militia service. This would
be better than having a standing army
Of several hundred thousand men.
But Mr.. Editor. we have no militia
Of any strength. The old ashioned
muster day has gone and there is
nothing left to take its place. We are
no longer martial in our character, but
are commercial, and unless we take
warning, we may have to pay heavy
toll for our lack of martial education.
The State of Virginia should have
no less than 100000 well-drilled young
men. Young men from eighteen to
thirty should attend the state military
camp school several WeekS III the
year. at the expense of the Federal
and State government. We had bet
ter prepare for our country's defense
in the way pointed out by the Con-
stitution This same plan adopted by
our forefathers was the plan which
God gave the people of Israel. and
which was always effective as long as
they followed the instructions given
by the Lord
Take it up, Mr.. Editor. and revive
the old-time spirit Of martial valor,
and have muster day" In an advanced
form and 1T our country so that II
can defend itself.
p. A. L. SMITH.
Cardwell, Va, October z, 1915.