.MTU0MA.MTU1Njc

293 [Governor's Message] by a board of officers of which Major General Scott was President being under the laws of the United States system of discipline for the militia in several States, it is desirable that the same be generally promulgated and introduced. The Legislature will perceive the [impractcability] of carrying this system into effect and conforming to the discipline therein prescribed unless some measures are taken to place it in the possession of the officers. It is also equally desirable that the officers of cavalry and artillery should be enable to avail themselves of a more perfect knowledge of the best systems of discipline for their respective corps. The frequency of courts martial and the expense incident to military investigation under it desirable that the causes from which they originate should be so obviated so far as may be neither the power of legislation. A great proportion of the complaints arise from the misunderstanding of rights and duties, which depend more upon usage then positive law. These usages by difference officers may be understood differently and so long as there is no written authority to which they can appeal and to which all opinions must yield collisions will frequently occur. In most cases it is believed there would be less difficulty, certainly less expense in preventing such collisions by legislation, than in settling them by courts martial. I lay before you a copy of an agreement entered into between the commissioners of this and the parent State, under the law relating to the separation of Maine from Massachusetts, by which a full and final settlement and adjustment is concluded, and division made of all the personal property to