Mr. SMITH. I will state again the necessity there is, in the o iinion of the Committee on the Militia, for a clerk. I know that heretofore the Committee on the Militia has been looked upon bythis House as a committee with but little to do. But in consequence of the past 4 years war, the difficulty exericnced in 1861 in getting out forces to defen the Government, and in ascertaining what was the real fiting strength of the country, the SecyWar has recommended a complete and thor ough reorganization of the militia throu hout the U.S., in order that there should be a uniform militia system among the several States. GenlGrant, the commanderin chief of the Army, has recommended the same thing. In conversation with me the other day, he informed me that it was veryimportant that should be done, and he has interested himself as for us he can to give us whatever information was possessed by him and other distinguished generals under his command. There has also been referred to the committee a resolution instructing us to find out the number of a certain kind of arms in the country, for the purpose of making a fair distribution of them among the loyal States, not including those States in the South that now claimto be loyal. The committee propose to collect all the militia laws of the several States, in order that we may have the information necessary to prepare a system which will be general, and y means of which the POTUS and the generals under him may know exactly what is the force subject to the call of the Government at any time, for any given length of time not exceeding 6 or 12 months, as the case may be. Now, having these important subects before us, and understanding, as we thin we do, their great importance, we consider that no one committee can be expected to be willing to enter upon this investigation and correspondence without any assistance; and therefore I am instructed to ask for a clerk, that he may take aportion of this labor off our hands. I think it at fair and just, under the circumstances, that the House should ive us this assistance.