Page:Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of Georgia 1849.djvu/30

Rh If our title to the disputed territory, worthless as it is to us, is deemed clear and beyond successful opposition, we must assert and maintain our rights, or voluntarily abandon them. Whatever action, if any, you may think it prudent and proper to take, will receive my sanction.

Copies of the Reports of the Commissioners of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum, and of the Trustees of the Lunatic Asylum, are herewith laid before you. These reports shew that both of these Institutions have been managed with ability and eminent success. To every philanthropic mind, these contributions by our State to suffering humanity, must be regarded as a source of just pride.—They exhibit, in a wonderful manner, the achievement of science over the heaviest afflictions that befall our species. Founded, as they are, in the warmest sympathies of our nature, it will be the aim, doubtless, of the Legislature to afford to each institution liberal means to enlarge and improve the sphere of its usefulness. In such works of charity, proposing and seeking the relief of the most unfortunate, I know of no limit to recommend to your appropriations, but to explore the field of operation for the advancement of each institution, consult your ability, and if it will not take you to the most distant boundary you could desire, be found on the road as far thither as a proper regard for other great interests will justify you in going. The Militia laws of the State are defective, and the failure under them to inspire officers and privates with a proper military spirit, has been so often brought to the attention of different Legislatures, by those that have preceded me, that the subject is now alluded to with a misgiving of the adoption of any system that will give efficiency to our militia force. If it be desirable to impart to the whole or a portion of our people, capable of bearing arms, that knowledge of their use, which will enable them to perform good service for the State in the hour of need, some other than the present plan of organization and training should be adopted.

I suggest that the whole of our population, subject to perform military duty, be divided into three classes—each of which to be trained and disciplined for a period of six years, and subject, at a moment's warning, to be called into service by the proper authority, and then to be exempt from all duty until all the classes had served a tour in like manner, except in case of insurrection or actual war. Should you adopt this course, or any analagous one, it should be followed by a perfect equipment of arms, suitable to the different descriptions of service that might be required. The plan suggested cannot claim any advantage over the present organization, unless the whole process of training and disciplining is placed under the control of experienced and competent officers. To accomplish all this