Gentlemen say the bill does not give us detail sufficient. We can fix all this when we have once passed upon the principle. This I repeat; nearly one year has elapsed since the outrage committed on the Chesapeake, and yet no return of volunteers or militia. This goes to show that volunteers are not to be relied on, and also that the militia laws are defective.
I hope we have shown that we have strong reasons to suspect that the present militia system is not the best that can be devised. We have shown this from the best testimony in our power from the adoption of the constitution to this day. From the communications of the President of the United States to Congress, and from State Governors to the State Legislatures, it may be seen that the subject has almost always been introduced and recommended to the consideration of the Legislatures. If this is not the best system that can be adopted, I am willing that any gentleman should propose a better. Let us see any other system, we will examine it thoroughly and act with our best judgment on it. This is a time when the whole United States are in danger, and some modification of our present system must be made.
Towards the close of the last war the militia began to fight very well. In Kentucky the fighting men were numerous. After the attempt of the army at the close of the war, to turn their arms against their country, Government placed their soldiers when out of service on the frontier, with the natives on their borders, with whom we were then at war. Virginia gave lands to her soldiers which were in the background. Why? Because it would not do to fix these men of seven or eight years, standing among the body of the people. We will give them this land, said the officers of Government, and let them go and fight the Indians. The reason was, that they had served seven or eight years in the regular army. This fungus, a standing army, was applied on our frontiers as a breastwork and safeguard, to keep off the savages; we wanted to keep them out of the way. We could have burnt up the Indian towns and put an end to the whole race immediately; but we did not wish to do it; we wished to keep our old soldiers fighting till they cooled off from the habit of inactivity acquired by service in the war.
We have endeavored to show that volunteers will do but for a moment, and that when there is nothing to do, and they can have both male and female waiting upon them. They cannot be relied on in war. They are not the kind of troops for service when invaded by a powerful enemy. Volunteers may do for sailors or marines, if they choose to go to sea. We have endeavored to show that classification is the only mode by which they can be relied on for the real service of their country; that old men are not the best for service; that young men under twenty-one ought to be kept at home till they get enough of experience to serve them through life; and that young men, over twenty-one and under twenty-six, have a propensity to be in action, to serve their country and to acquire fame.
Some gentlemen make objections to the mode of officering. I have no doubts upon that subject; the thing will work well—this the constitution has reserved to the States themselves. When officers are wanting, young men can always be found peculiarly qualified to conduct their companions to the fight—young men of high standing and weight of character. The soldiers, having themselves choice of their commander, will choose one out of many candidates, as there always will be, in whom they can confide. I presume, young men of first talents and enterprise will have preference. Let them have a man to command them of their own age. They will say one to the other, I know this man; I have known him from my youth, and can confide in him.
As a reward for the services of these young men, after a campaign is ended, let them keep as their own property the arms with which they fought, which will be handed down from father to son: “This is the piece I fought with.” Let it be engraven on the barrel, this belongs to such a one, he earned it by serving his country at such a time. After men have served one year, sufficient numbers will be found to replace them, who will be anxious to see the country, and travel over the Union, emulous of fame: and when they have served a tour will long to return to their kindred, loaded with an honorable pledge of the service done their country.
It is certainly a desirable thing that the physical strength of the country should be applied in the most advantageous manner to the protection of the country. We admit that some men marry early. In this case let them hire men as substitutes from their own class. This substitute may serve out his time and return. By that time another young man may have married, and his substitute, being accustomed to service, may go out a second term. By the adoption of this principle of classification you get the best blood of the country, that which you can rely upon. You will not see your hospitals filled with old men disabled by the rheumatism and gout; nor will you see children in the ranks, trembling at every leaf that falls around them, not sufficiently hardened to lie out upon the ground covered with ice and snow. If we go on in the same bungling manner as heretofore, we shall never have an efficient militia; you will annually receive the President’s Message recommending the subject to your consideration.
I hope gentlemen will think with me, and not impute impure motives—the fact is, I have two sons that will soon be twenty-one, and I love them as much as any man can, and perhaps can say what few can. The first property I gave each of them was a gun; and have enjoined it on them in my will, that it I was given them to defend that country which their father had assisted in delivering from bondage. My son’s gun will impress on his mind that he must fight when his country calls for his services; it is his fortune.
I hope gentlemen will take a serious view of the subject—that every man will lay his shoulder to the wheel, and rise up to the East and West, South and North, to prepare for the protection of his domicil. Gentlemen have said that this was a new project, that it will create confusion now, when the service of our militia is most wanting. It is because of the crisis that I have at this moment brought the matter forward. The present system is acknowledged to be defective; we wish to make it as efficient as possible—that our countrymen may know who must march at a moment’s warning.