Mr. WILSON. I desire to take up for consideration the bill (S.No.262) to provide for the national defense by establishing a uniform militiaand organizing an active volunteer militia force throughout. the U.S. With the permission of the Senate, I desire to say a single word before the motion is put on taking up the bill. The bill has been prepared with the greatest possible care. The 1st 9 sections of the bill take the place of the act of 1792, which is not at all applicable to our present militia system, and to which very little attention is paid. The residue of the bill, 11 sections. provides for the organization of on active mi itia force, which, if full, would make a force of about 240,000 men in the whole country. The bill was submitted to several eminent officers of the Army, to GenlGrant, GenlSherman , General Meade, and General Thomas, who examined it very carefully, made one or 2 slight suggestions, and stated that the bill would accomplish the object desired, to have a small, etfect (ive, well organized, active militia force in the country, and recommended it very strongly. Several of the most eminent men connected with the Army and the militia of the country have indorsed it. The present is a good time, as we are just at the en of a war, to bring into the militia many officers of eminence who have distinguished themselves during the war. The bill allows the establishment in each State of a number of regiments, containing from 600 to 1,000men, equal to the number of Representatives in Congress of that State; so that the number of regiments in the country will be equal to the number of Representatives in the congress of the U.S. It. seems to me that we require such a volunteer militia force and I should like to take the bill up now and put it on its passage. The bill is so carefully and well prepared that I see that the Committee on the Militia of the HoRep have adopted it as their own, with 2 or 3 amendments upon it. They have killed the Army bill in the HoRep, and it seems to me this much we ought, at any rate, to do. I know that there is a desire to go into executive session early today, and that there is a lar c amount of businessin executive session, but should like to have this bill taken up now and call attention to it that Senators may be willing to take some little time to act upon it. I therefore move to take it up for consideration at the present time.