Year: 1859

ing for the appointment Of a Military


Commission.


The Committee on Military and Pensions,
TO whom was referred the presentment of
the Grand Jury Of Lexington, presenting
the present Military system "as the veriest
humbug Of the age" and asking for its
adjustment, or alteration in certain particu-
lars and, also, Resolutions from the House
Of Representatives asking for the appoint.
ment Of Military Commission, to whom
shall be referred the condition of the Mill
tary service of this State, beg leave to Re-
port:


That they have had the same under con-
sideration, and find that many complaints,
from various parts of the State, have come
up to the Legislature, year after year,
against the onerous duties now imposed
upon the citizen soldier by the present sys-
tenn. Many of these complaints ask for
changes in certain OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES for
the abolishnent Of the petty musters, and
Others ask for volunteer system, based
upon proper regulations; but none have
gone 80 far as the Grand Jury in Lexington.
as to pronounce the system a humbug. Nor
do your Committee concur with that Grand
Jury, in denouncing the present Military
organization as great imposition upon the
people of the State; but, on the contrary.
they find in the system the wiscst and most
salutary regulations for the government of
an enlightened aid civilized people, and
they are fully satisfied that mach of the
glory that has been achieved by the citizen
soldiers Of the State, both at home and OH
the plains Of Mexico, is due to the spirit
which the present system has infused into
the citizen soldiery of our State.


There are many persons in different part $
Of the State, who are not only loud in their
complaints against the present system, but
have set their face. as it were, against any sys-
tenn that looks to Military organization Of
the people. Your Committee would ask those
persons, who are disposed to pull down the
present system, how would they aid and
assist the civil authorities in the maintain
ance Of the supremacy Of the law2 Were
there not some sort of Military organiza.
ticn, the violators Of the law would put
your civil officers at defiance, e,-the man
dates Of your courts would 60 unexecu,ed.
man would have to arm himself against
his fellow, nan,-the rights Of persons, even
life itself, would become insecurc.-force
and mob-law would supersede all wise regu-
lations, and anarchy and confusion would
reign supreme. Such has become the fate
of those nations which have not preserved
and kept in readiness well organized
Military !; and such would become our fate,
were this Legislature to grant the demand
Of those captious and disaffected persons,
who would have the present system abolish
ed. There never was that law or system
of laws enacted, for the government Of a
civilized people, which was not opposed or
denounced by persons who are disaffvcted,
and by theseswho are unwilling to make
any sacrifices for the common good. and
hence the necessity for this Legislature to
watch closely all innovations upon wise
regulations, which have been tested by time
and experience.


The great fault to any system of laws is
not so much in the law itself, but it is that
the law is not fully and properly executed
by those charged with its execution. This
negligence or incapacity on the part Of Off
GERS, frequently produces in the mind Of the
citizen disgust and contcmp: for the law,
and frequently remains dead letter upon
our Statute Book, and hence we find SO
much complaint against certain regulations
and laws. We know, however, that there
are many excellent and we'll meaning officers
both OF the law and military, who endeavor
TO perform their duty faithfully; but there
are many who, either on account Of iucapa.
city or negligence in the performance Of
their respective duties, bring contempt and
derision upon the law. Hence when we
come to examine into the true cause of the
complaint, we will be more apt to find nc
= fault in the law itself, but in its want of ex
ecutioD. In this country there are few
persons who are so disinterested and patri
otic as to contribute their time and service.
for The good Of the State, without compen
sation, where there exist no apparent neces
city for the sscrifce. This indifference or
the part Of the citizen, or negligence in tn.
performance Of duty, is more often produce'
by not enforcing the due execution Of th'
law, or,h executed, having it performed
py Persons totally incapable Of having th'
lsw executed according to the letter ant
spirit and hence we find the opposition t.
the performance Of the Military duty nov