STATE OF MICHIGAN.

No. 11.

LEGISLATURE, 1857.

ANNUAL REPORT of the Adjutant General.

Kalamazoo, Dec. 1, 1856.

To His Excellency KINSLEY S. BINGHAM, Governor and Commanderin-Chief:

SIR:-Agreeable to the Act of May 18th, 1846, entitled "An Act to provide for the organization of a more active militia, and for other purposes," I have the honor to submit my Report embracing the years 1855 and 1856. In entering upon the duties of the office of Adjutant General, in March, 1855, I found it in just such a condition as might be expected from the trifling legislation it receives, and the absence of sympathy on the part of the people with which it has ever had to contend.

From my predecessor, who has faithfully discharged the duties of the office for nearly a quarter of a century, I have been apprised of the fact, that instead of encouragement, which he wished to receive and had a right to expect, he has had indifference in high places on the one hand, and obstacles in various forms on the other, to encounter. My first year's experience at the head of the Department, extorts from me a similar opinion, but I am happy to have it in my power to state that the last twelve months presents an aspect of a more cheering nature. Why the

whole system has not been the recipient of more wholesome and efficient legislation is, indeed, a matter of surprise.

Has it not always, in the hour of necessity, answered fully the object for which it was designed?

Has not this branch of the public service always proved reliable and effective, whenever our country has had an enemy?

Was not the war which consummated our Independence nobly and successfully fought by the National Militia? Did not the same force prove equally reliable during the stuggle of 1812 against the same proud foe-and that, the chivalry of Europe? And more recently still, did not the same character of troops reflect credit upon their own country and win applause from others, during our contest with Mexico?

Was not our struggle with that country, from the first blow upon the Rio Grande to the last one at the Capitol, a continuous scene of splendid triumphs, and attributable as much to the Militia as to the Regular force? All this has become matter of history, and we can refer to it upon suitable occasions with emotions of pride. These remarks are elicited by reason of the ridicule which is so often heaped upon the system, and the haste with which it is thrust aside for the time being or dismissed entirely, when presented for legislation. If by any energy of mine it can be elevated from its present low estate, and a proper appreciation be earned for it, by reason of wholesome legislative action, I shall not regret that I permitted myself (without solicitation, and indeed, with reluctance,) to be placed in charge of the Department.

Entertaining, therefore, such views as these, it is not traveling out of the legitimate sphere of a Report to seek to impress upon your Excellency, and through you upon the Legislature, the necessity of co-operation, by attaching more importance to this branch of the public service.

To this end, all past enactments are virtually a dead letter, and weaken rather than furnish it with strength and availability.

The framers of our State Constitution dismissed the whole subject from their consideration with an article headed "Militia," and embraced in less than 20 lines, while to matters of half the importance days of debate and pages of sections were faithfully devoted.

The couclusion cannot be resisted that the system should be either recognized as a feature necessary to Government, and so treated, or else be entirely blotted out.

Impressed with such opinions as these, I would earnestly recommend that a Board of competent officers be selected, with reference to an immediate re-organization of the entire system-and that they pursue such a course as will give to it credit, character and availability.

It is not the wish of this Department to revive the farce of a promiscuous assembling of the masses for drill and inspection, once or twice a year, and thus render it odious as of old, but to adopt some plan by which the State should again be laid off into Divisions, Brigades and Regiments, and within the bounds of each Division a limited number of officers be properly and effectually drilled, in strict accordance with the tactics of the Regular Army. The expense to the State (that great source of opposition) need be but trifling. Two or three drill-sergeants under a moderate salary, would be sufficient to diffuse an amount of military knowledge throughout our State, that in the hour of exigency would be invaluable.

Such officers properly instructed, and widely scattered as they necessarily would be, would in time of need, form nuclei, around which the citizen soldiery might rally, and be made formidable with little loss of time and slight expense.

An arrangement of such a character, together with the volunteer corps now permanently organized, and such others as will from time to time be formed, would give to Michigan the honor of having within its borders all the elements of a standing army, without the contingency of an enormous expense.

We have even now, in the hands of Independent Companies-in our Armory or to our credit upon the books of the Federal Governmentarms, and the necessary equipments for five full Regiments-and this amount of military property is continually accumulating. Already the arms of the State have reached $100,000 in value.

The condition of quite an amount of this property, I regret to say, is such as to require an immediate appropriation, with a view to its proper care and future preservation. Some of it, years ago, was issued to Com panies, since disbanded, and now remains uncared for in the hands of irresponsible persons, or exposed to the weather, with no one willing to interest themselves in its protection or safe keeping.

No species of property, your Excellency must be aware, suffers so

much as arms and accoutrements neglected. When not in service they require oil, frequently, and protection at all times.

Two instances within the last few days have been brought to my notice in which cannon, valued at $2,000 each, have been left unprotected in the public parks for months, suffering seriously from the action of the weather; and still another instance, even at the Capitol of the State, after having been used for celebrating a political triumph, has been thrown into the river.

As far as I could, I have endeavored to wrest them from total loss. I repeat, therefore, the necessity of an appropriation with a view to a collection of this neglected property, and its immediate protection. Small arme also, in some localities, are suffering from like want of care, and have equal claim upon your attention.

Censure for this state of things cannot, with propriety, rest upon the Adjutant General, nor upon his colleague the Quarter Master General, inasmuch as these arms were issued in good faith, and strictly in compliance with the Statute. It only furnishes proof that legislation has not been sufficiently stringent and complete.

For instance-agreeable to law, any 40 men, between the ages of 18 and 45, may organize themselves into a Volunteer Company-procure uniforms similar to those used in the Regular Army-choose their officers, and upon announcing their progress thus far to this Department, Commissions necessarily must be forwarded, and then follows a demand upon the Adjutant General for a requisition upon the Quarter Master General for the quota of arms to which they are entitled. To refuse, would not only be to manifest partiality, but a palpable violation of law.

For the protection of these arms, and for their safe return, whenever the organization ceases to exist, all that is asked or expected is the Bond of the Commissioned Officers of the Company, though property valued in many cases at $2500, passes from the hands of the State. This Bond in the eye of the law, is deemed an ample voucher, notwithstanding cases sometimes occur in which the issuing officer may entertain serious doubts in reference to its furnishing proper security.

The sequel to such a loose manner of transacting business too often is, that in a few years their military ardor burns low, or entirely evaporates, the officers go to heaven or Kansas, and no responsibility rest

ing on any one, the arms corrode and become useless, and the State is without a shadow of redress.

To remedy this glaring evil, legislation is sought in some form or other, either by exacting more available security, or giving discretion to the officer having charge of the property.

By the terms of the present Bond, the arms are to be returned in good condition, and without any expense of transportation to the State, upon the disbandment of the Company, but up to this time I have yet to learn of the first strict compliance with the tenor of the obligation. Although the attention of the Legislature has more than once been called in this direction, yet it has failed to receive action. The pittance granted to the Quarter-Master General for his services, will not permit of his defraying from his salary the necessary expenses to be incurred in remedying the evil complained of. We throw the responsibility where it belongs, on the law-making power.

You will permit me to ask some legislation upon the subject of a State Armory. Not a State in the Union has less facilities for the safe keeping of its military property than Michigan-not a State needs them more. Our peculiar situation entreats attention to this matter. A moment's glance at the Map will show more than half our border exposed to the aggressions of a nation, which in every respect is our rival, and which, upon the slightest pretense, and with little or no warning, may become our implacable enemy.

Steps, it would seem, should be taken without delay, to procure at or near the city of Detroit, such an Armory as will answer the necessary purpose. And not only to protect the arms of the State should a building be obtained, but to furnish suitable rooms for the drill of the various volunteer Companies now in existence in that city. I do not hesitate to designate Detroit, because, whenever the hour of danger comes, every eye will be directed to that city, as the point most imperiled-the one' most certain to receive the first attack, and consequently the one to be always kept in the most thorough state of preparation for such an emergency.

None are so well convinced of such a prospective issue as the citizens of our Emporium, and they unite with me in inviting legislation accordingly. Already have they organized within their limits 6 corps, which, for soldierlike appearance and proficiency in drill, will vie with the same