and a half, our statesmen were convinced that by extending the elective franchise to the militia, its strength, influence, and respectability would be increased. Their wisdom has been proved in both cases. The elective principle, as applicable to civil rulers, has been adopted in every State, but those who had never seen the principle of the election of military officers practically illustrated, nor witnessed its salutary effects, retained the power of appointment in the executive authority. However correct this principle may be considered in theory, in practice it has been found that those, as well as other appointments, have frequently become the subject of political intrigue; and when that has been the case, that instead of the elections being made by those who are directly interested in the choice, appointments are given to the unworthy upon the irresponsible recommendation of those who are ignorant of their merits and qualifications. The elective principle, as applied to military officers, may be reckoned among the chief causes why men of more distinction and intelligence have accepted of commands in the militia of this State than in others where it is not admitted, and consequently why we have a better militia than in those where the officers are appointed by the executive authority.

"The reverence which is felt for one of the first establishments of our ancestors, the peculiar advantage which the country has derived from it, and its general influence, the committee think, will ever cause its charter to be respected, while the pride of character which distinguishes its members they hope will prevent it from degenerating into an institution of useless ceremony for the amusement of holiday admirers. this should not be the effect of design, it might arise from that inertness in its members which would content itself with upholding the Company to its former respectable footing notwithstanding the public exhibitions of other companies should demonstrate that its relative importance was lost.

Though

"The condition of the Company, in every respect, the committee have found to be as good as it has been for several years back; but it would be in vain for them to disguise the fact that others, not possessed of the same advantages, have illustrated, in their public exhibitions, the rapid progress of military science in the country. Is there no danger, then, that soon we shall find it difficult to fill up our ranks with those who are ambitious of military honors, and that such distinguished persons, who have heretofore hoped to be of some use to their country in this, after they have become exempted from military duty by length of service in other corps, will find no adequate motive in joining it? When this shall be the case, will dwindle into insignificance the institution which contains in its charter the germ of our republican system of government, and which, so long as it holds any place in the public estimation, will be venerated for its antiquity and the wisdom of its founders. To preserve its charter, and make the ranks of the Company objects of the ambitions of those who are elevated by rank and intelligence, it is necessary that its manoeuvres and discipline should advance with the progress of military science.

"The Company should have for its chief objects the attainment and diffusion of military knowledge. It should be able to teach the learned, and instruct the skilful. It is denominated "The Military Company of Massachusetts," and as such it should take and keep the lead of all the military companies and associations in the State, and on its days of election and public parade it should exhibit, as they are discovered, all new improvements in exercise and manœuvres. It should be the tribunal to which all officers should appeal for correct decisions upon theoretical points, and soldiers for practical illustrations of them. When the Company shall aim at these objects, it may

be presumed that the increased share of public attention which it will receive will be usefully bestowed, and that the officers of all grades and corps of the militia will be desirous of joining it; and thus, as a school of officers, it will have an important influence in producing an uniformity of drill and discipline in all the divisions of the State.

"The committee are of opinion that a Company so much signalized as this, for its antiquity and privileges, should also be proportionably distinguished for its extent, knowledge, and discipline; whereas, they are constrained to acknowledge that the Company, though unlimited in its numbers by its charter, does not contain on its roll more active members than those volunteer companies in the militia which within a few years have so much distinguished themselves for their military attainments. Among the reasons why the Company roll is not so large, it is thought the by-law prohibiting the admission of any person into it who is not twenty-one years old may be reckoned. Although some might doubt the expediency of the measure, yet if those who, upon their arrival at the age of eighteen years, were admissible in this, as well as other volunteer companies, it is highly probable that many of those ambitious and intelligent young men who then commence their military careers in other companies, might be desirous of joining this, and that the ranks of our Company would be filled, as well as others. That they do not afterwards quit them and unite with us is not remarkable, for in three years their habits of association and discipline not only become fixed, but, if they joined us afterwards, they would be obliged to lay aside their old uniform and provide themselves with that prescribed by our rules. Your committee do not, however, intend to recommend any alteration of this by-law, other than it regards the admissibility of militia. officers into the Company, as they believe if the proposed alteration in the Company rules should be as successful as they hope it will be, in inducing the officers in the militia to join the Company, that there will be no difficulty in obtaining the full number of private recruits which it is entitled to enlist by its charter. There are two principal reasons, besides the preceding, which your committee believe have operated to prevent the enlargement of the Company roll to the desired extent. The first is, that other companies discover more ambition and military ardor than ours, which is composed of older men, who do not possess their activity of muscular action, and who have served so long as to have lost the excitement of novelty. The second, that the Company, as at present conducted, does not offer sufficient attractions to those who are thus advanced in age, as well as in military experience, to induce them to purchase new uniforms, and subject themselves, in addition, to the payment of a heavy annual assessment. Upon these objections, the committee were of opinion that if the second can be removed, as many younger men would become members of the Company, its esprit du corps would of itself be sufficient to obviate the first. The committee were also united in the opinion that the proposed plan, by increasing the numbers of the Company, would reduce the amount of the annual assessments on its members. But before recommending its adoption, they beg the attention of the Company to a consideration of greater weight in their own minds than the foregoing. This arises from the prospect the proposed plan affords of making the Company a means of great public utility, as a school of instruction and discipline to all the respectable officers of the militia who choose to join it. Militia commissions are frequently conferred on those who would gladly avail themselves of the means of information the Company would thus afford, and many would heartily unite with their brother officers in acquiring the information they need, who otherwise would not have it in their power to obtain.

"Your committee will not take up the time of the Company to discuss the public advantages which would arise from establishments for drilling of officers. As those are well known, it is sufficient for them to observe that in almost every petition which has been presented to the General Court for the amendment of the militia law, this has been enumerated among the most important of those which have been named. The popular sentiment, therefore, as well as the sound judgment of the community, is in favor of such a modification of it. The Company, according to the spirit of their charter, may anticipate the amendment of the law by making the Company what it was designed to be at its institution, a school of and for officers, with confidence that its efforts will be encouraged by the Legislature. But to make it as extensively useful as its powers admit, the objection of many officers, which arises from the expense of providing a new uniform, and paying a considerable annual assessment besides, must be obviated. For it cannot be supposed by any one that if the General Court should adopt any plan for drilling the officers of the militia, either in regiments or brigades, that they would require them to provide a separate uniform for the purpose. On the contrary, it cannot be doubted that they would permit them to exercise in the uniforms which are worn by them in their respective corps and offices, as is now practised by several voluntary associations for the purpose. If a similar principle is not, therefore, adopted by us, it must be obvious that a great proportion of very meritorious officers, who are at as much expense to maintain the respectability of their situations in the volunteer companies in the militia as their firearms will allow of, will be unable to join it, and the very object which the Company has in view, to obtain the advantage of their acquirements in military knowledge and their zeal in displaying it, will be defeated. But although these general principles were admitted to be applicable to the subject, yet, when the committee first entered upon its consideration, some particular objections occurred, which made them doubtful of the expediency of adopting the proposition. A fear was entertained that, if the uniform of the Company was changed, the identity would be lost to the public; and, it was observed that though such changes might be becoming in younger institutions, yet, as the dignity of ours consisted of its antiquity, its distinguishing characteristics, by a change of uniform, would be lost. But as the Company have already had four, and it is supposed six, different uniforms, it was concluded (inasmuch as the plan proposed to be adopted as an inducement for the officers of other corps to join it, is predicated upon the saving of expense to them, while the old members subject themselves to no expense or inconvenience, in the mode proposed for effecting it) that the objections weighed less against the proposed alteration in this than it would against a change of uniform in any other Company. It was also another objection, arising from the singularity of the appearance which the Company would present if the plan was adopted, which recurred to almost every one upon its first promulgation. The universality of this objection induced the committee to give it much thought themselves, and those who urged it time for consideration. And they are happy to be able to inform the Company that the minds of all the members of the committee not only, but of all others whom they have consulted and who have maturely considered the plan, have become reconciled to it.

"The Company, it is supposed, was first uniformed in 1738, and for a long time it was the only uniformed company in the State. In 1772, when they adopted a new uniform, considering themselves as a company of officers, they had distinct regard and reference to that worn by the militia. And in 1810 the uniform then worn was entirely

laid aside, and that which was established for the field and company officers of the militia infantry, upon the same principle of convenience and accommodation, was adopted by the Company. In searching its history your committee have, besides these, found continued instances of a disposition in the Company to meet the views and wishes of the militia officers, who, until a few years back, it must be inferred from the records, have had the principal regulation of the Company affairs. In illustrating this remark, we might cite the record to show that the field officers of the Boston regiment used to be appointed members of the regular standing committee of the Company as frequently as its own officers are now, and that in one instance a committee was appointed "to wait on the field officers of the regiment, to know if they either of them would take the command of the Company the ensuing year." This vote was passed in 1773, and shows that until that time, at least, the Company was chiefly composed of militia officers. Since that period very great changes have taken place in our military as well as civil institutions. Our militia is not now confined to artillery, cavalry, and infantry corps, but light infantry, grenadier, rifle, and sea fencibles companies have been established and incorporated with it by law. As these are composed of such as voluntarily enlist into them, they are generally distinguished for the beauty of their dress, the excellence of their discipline, and the extent of their military attainments. Can any good reason be offered why the officers of these companies, as well as others, should not be admitted into the Company without being at the expense of providing new uniforms? The committee know of none, and from personal communication had with many of them, they believe that most, if not all of them, who reside in the capital and neighborhood, would join it, if they could be admitted upon terms of equality with others. Not only so, but many of the officers of the cavalry and artillery, and the staff officers of the different corps, would be able and willing to join the Company; and some of them who, by having been admitted into it as honorary members, now seem to be excluded from its active duties, the committee learn with pleasure will solicit permission to appear in the ranks. The Company would not only be filled and enlarged, but a competition among those who are emulous to excel each other would be excited between the officers of different corps, which would increase its spirit, respectability, and usefulness.

"The objection under consideration, arising from the singularity of the appearance which the Company would present, it is admitted, might be urged with great propriety against any other company than this, for they consist principally of privates; whereas, this is principally of officers. This distinguishing feature of our institution never should be lost sight of in the consideration of this subject; as it is, this only which makes the proposition at all admissible. But, composed as it is, we can see no reason why it should not appear to be what it is denominated, "a company of officers," and why, by its appearance as well as its charter, it should not be distinguished from all other incorporated companies. Other objections were made against details of this plan, which it was supposed the adoption of the proposition would necessarily involve, but which the committee think are so entirely disconnected with the subject that they do not bring them distinctly before the Company for their consideration.

"Under the general head of authority given to your committee to inquire into the expediency of any measures that it is advisiable for the Company to adopt to advance the interests, promote the honor, and increase the number of the members of the Company," they have taken into consideration various projects which have been suggested for the purposes mentioned. There is one only, however, in which the committee are

united in opinion, which is that, after the present year, the squad meetings of the Company at the houses of the officers and non-commissioned officers, - which have been found to be both expensive and troublesome, should be dispensed with. Upon the whole, then, as the committee, upon mature consideration of the proposition submitted to them for examination, can see no objection to it of any great weight; and as they believe the adoption of it will be attended with great advantage to the Company, by enlarging its numbers and increasing its respectability, by making the ranks of the Company an object of ambition to the elevated, and producing a spirit of emulation among its members, by adding to its influence in the community, and of course making it more deserving of the consideration of the government, they are unanimously of opinion that the proposition submitted to their consideration should be adopted, and that the following alterations in the Rules and Regulations of the Company should accordingly be made :

"Members of the Company who hold or have held commissions in the militia may appear in the uniform of their respective offices; provided, that the commissioned officers of the Company only shall be permitted to wear in it the insignia of their militia offices.

"The number of the officers of the Company shall be proportioned to the number of its active members, and shall be fixed previous to the election of officers annually.

"The members of the Company shall wear a herring-bone, or the number of them to which they are entitled by the rules of the Company, at all times, on their military coats, as a badge of membership.

"Officers of the militia, though under the age of twenty-one years, may be admitted into the Company as members.

The above report, after slight amendment, was adopted by the Company, and a large number of gentlemen immediately applied for admission into the Company.

In the summer of 1820 the following paper was presented to the Company : — "Understanding that the 'Antient and Honorable Artillery Company' are about adopting a plan whereby the General Field and Staff Officers and also the officers of Light Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery will be permitted to perform duty in said Company, wearing the uniforms of their respective Commissions or Corps under proper regulations and that arrangements are expected to be made to render the Antient and Honorable more extensive and useful as a school for officers, —

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