--All able-bodied male citizens of the United
States and males between eighteen and forty-five years of age who have
declared their intention to become citizens are regarded as the militia
force of the country. As a matter of fact, there are at present only
about 100,000 men enrolled in this service. But in the case of an
emergency the President may compel the governors of the various States
to furnish the troops needed. The militia may thus be called into
service, under their own State officers, for a period of nine months.
The War of 1812 and the Civil War furnish the best illustrations of the
enforcement of this provision.
Volunteers of 1898.--We should note here the manner in which
men were secured for the war against Spain. We see, according to
Clause 15, that the militia may be called out only for the purposes
of executing the laws of the Union, suppressing insurrections, and
repelling invasions. Now, in the case given, the war was to be
conducted in foreign territory, and President McKinley called for
200,000 volunteers.
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