those performing military duty, and a forfeiture of one dollar each be paid to the state annually as an equivalent for relief from duty.— Now, under the existing laws, every non-commissioned officer and musician are exempt from road tax for two days, and the members of uniformed companies are exempt from both poll tax and jury duty, and privates are made liable to pay a fine for non-appearance at any company parade of two dollars, and not less than two nor more than ten dollars for non-appearance at any regimental or battallion parade. So, that in this respect the principal relief objected to in the proposed bill for non-commissioned officers and musicians,and for uniformed companies, is already afforded them, and the mass of the militia cannot escape the performance of military duty without forfeiting at least four dollars a year each, which the one dollar proposed in this bill as an equivalent would reduce three-fourths and save one day's time and expense in attendance on a court martial. This is considered an intolerable burthen, and it is certainly under the complicated machinery we are forced to put in motion to reach delinquents, neither of service to the state, the militia as a body, nor to individuals, for the expenses attendant upon courts martial and the collection of these fines dissipates the whole amount. And again, it is contended that if the duties imposed by the present laws are performed by the mass of the militia, they have expended at least two days in the year, with their attendant expenses, without, as it is asserted, learning even the first position of a soldier or being of the least service to the state, and under the present organization general officers who have made close estimates declare their conviction that at least $100,000 is thus annually expended. The advantages then intended to be derived from the voluntary payment of one dollar each, as an equivalent would, if the constitution admitted of its appropriation directly to the object, have relieved the larger proportion from what they look upon as a burthensome and useless duty, and have enabled the state to keep up an efficient military organization, as required by both the federal constitution and the constitution of this state-afforded camp instruction to non-commissioned officers and musicians and to uniformed companies, for which this fund would have proved ample, paying them at the rate of fifty cents per day each for six successive days in camp. If, for instance, twenty-five thousand of the fifty thousand militia of this state could,

appro

for one year, pay into the treasury their one dollar each, to be priated for such purpose, it would not only enable the state to defray its ordinary militia expenses but at once erect a state arsenal and other public buildings for the preservation of military stores and the repairs of arms; and it certainly would not be urged that the offer to receive this one dollar as an equivalent was enforcing a severe tax, when they were otherwise left subject to a fine of four dollars or compelled to do duty.

But as the constitution appropriates "the money, which shall be paid by persons as an equivalent for exemption from military duty," to the support of township libraries, it is questionable, without an amendment to that instrument, whether such means could be made available, either in the shape of voluntary contributions or regularly levied fines, and the suggestion at once arises whether such amendment is not worthy of consideration, when it is evident under the present system that the township libraries will never derive any support whatever from this source.

The bill in question has also been thus particularly alluded to for the purpose of showing some of the many disadvantages under which this department labors from the want of an efficient system; for, notwithstanding the joint resolution of the legislature of 1839, making it imperative on the township assessors to make returns of all male citizens, liable to military duty, to the clerks of the respective counties, whose duty it was made to transmit the same to the Adjutant General; and notwithstanding the law of 1841 imposing the like duty on assessors, and to make similar returns to Colonels of Regiment, little attention has been paid to the subject, although this department has caused copies of the law with blank forms of return to be furnished the several town clerks to supply all such officers, accompanied by all requisite explanations and instructions. And so complex are the duties of officers, or so confused and disheartening, that it is almost impossible to obtain the returns from one half the state from any legitimate source except, after repeated solicitations, as matter of personal favor. Much of this difficulty, however, arises from the negligence of officers, who have sought for and accepted commission as a relief from military duty, and who have never uni

formed and equipped or used the least exertion to organise their Di, visions, Brigades, Regiments, Battalions, or Companies, and the total disregard of duty on the part of many of these would seem to require exposure in order to command facilities to remedy the evil.Ignorance of the fact that they must be fully uniformed and equipped, and actually perform their duties in good faith, before they can receive a discharge under the law releasing officers from military duty, seems to operate upon them as an inducement to hold on to their commissions, and it may well be a question whether such of these as have deliberately subscribed to the oath of office, and are wanting the del-, icacy to tender their resignations, should be stricken from the General Roster with or without the ceremony and expense of a Court Martial; for it is not to be wondered at that a disregard of the duty on the part of a General of Division should produce a corresponding. negligence on the part of Generals of Brigade, and that the contagion should thus reach the field officers, through them contaminating. the company officers and spreading disaffection throughout an entire division, when in fact there are in every community highly respectable men both capable and willing to perform these onerous duties.

The accompanying returns show an increase in the numbers of the militia of about 3,400, but the rapid increase of the population, of the state, and the imperfect manner in which returns have been made, leaves no room to doubt that several thousands have been omitted. It may be well to remark, however, that the 1st, 3d, 4th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 14th 17, and 18th Brigades are entitled to credit for their returns; and that the 3d, 9th and 10th and the efficient officers of their respective commands, with their splendid uniform corps, excel this year as last, in their efforts to make good and effective troops; whilst the first Brigade has greatly improved and been honored, within the year, by the organization of the first battalion "Frontier Guards," a uniformed corps equal to any the Union can boast. The 12th Brigude has also been reorganized and has added to it a new regiment and newly created uniform companies, whilst the 14th is nothing backward in her preparations, and from the short time her General has been in commission has made rapid progress; but the 9th Division, composed of the 17th and 18th Brigades, which have been or

ganized within the year, and in a district where one year ago the bear suggestion of a militia organization was treated with contumely, has exceeded the most sanguine anticipations, returning a division inspection roll of 4,681 men, including eight newly uniformed companies; all of which is but another evidence that we are only wanting legislative encouragement to challenge competition, if not to excel our sister states in our preparations for reliance on our own resources for protection and defence.

The instruction of the officers and non-commissioned officers has I am happy to say been well advanced in many of the Brigades of the state, and with excellent effect. While the officer is made acquainted with his duty, and taught to feel confidence in himself a proper degree of respect is also necessarily felt towards him by his subordinates-the consequence of the knowledge thus acquired by him. It is greatly to be desired, at least where an encampment for some stipulated number of days is desired by the officers of a brigade or division, and decided on by a previous vote, that such encampment may be reconized by law in place of the officers drill of three days now directed by law. The consequence of such a change would undoubtedly be highly beneficial. To the individual officers the encamp. ment under proper regulations, say for three days and nights would be much less expensive and less onerous. If the legislature could consistently authorize the transportation free, within reasonable and proper limits, on the railroads of the state, of uniformed companies and all officers going to or returning from such encampments, it is believed that without any loss to the state this highly desirable object would be greatly advanced.

It is to the uniformed companies that the great body of the military force of the state is to look for example in times of quiet, while the people of the state must rely mainly on them for support in time of sudden emergency caused by foreign invasion or threatened domestic difficulties; and while the organization of the main body should in no event be neglected, it cannot be otherwise than judicious to encourage by all means the formation of these companies. The most efficient means would be doubtless granting to members increased exemption from taxes, or an equivalent; but even such regulation

would not entirely effect the object, if the ordinary parades and trainings of companies and regiments are dispensed with entirely, for were they wholly dispensed with nearly all would prefer remaining in the body of the militia, where they would be exempted from the necessary, though to some apparently useless duty of appearing occasionally under arms.

In conclusion, it is hoped that the legislature will by some additional laws aid the militia of the state in their exertions to attain the object of all previous laws-efficiency and respectability. Even a few slight amendments to existing laws, with no increase of expense, can be made, which will prove most beneficial; and surely, whatever the reckless may say, no subject can be more worthy the attention of the law-makers, than the enactment which, by placing our population in a state to meet war, shall permanently avert that calamity and secure to our country the blessings of peace. A large standing army to be supported by our citizens would undoubtedly render attention to her militia unnecessary; but while the country wisely refuses to sustain such a burthen, or countenance such a violation of the spirit of our institutions as a standing army, they cannot, it is believed, refuse to adopt the wise alternative-an efficient militia. To this end the projet of a new bill has been prepared in this department, which after undergoing the supervision of a convention of highly intelligent officers of the militia, to be convened on the 9th January next, will be respectfully offered to the consideration of the legislature.

The report of the Quarter Master General will furnish your Excellency with a detailed statement of the disposition of the public arms, with the exception of those in charge of the Monroe Guards, the Adrian Guards, and the Washtenaw Guards, previous to their being supplied with new arms, which have been turned over to new companies raised within the respective brigades to which those companies were attached.

All which is respectfully submitted.

E. J. ROBERTS,

Adjutant General.