The Mirrour — Concord, N.H., 1795-01-23 00:00:00, page 1

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CONCORD, (NEWHAMPSKIRE,) PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY WJAHRUSSEIJLAND^^
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[VOLUME III."
Political Miscellany.
from the MEDLEY,
the SOLDIER, No. XII.
ONE objection of our Legislature to grant
ing the military a tompenfation, occurs
to my mind, which, in the course of my, re
marks, has remained unnoticed. It was
strongly ty^d against the proposal for in
demnifying the present militia, that the ex
ecution of the plan would be productive of
extreme injustice to that portion of citizens
now exempted by age ; and who had here
tofore performed military duty without com:
penfation ; who it was easy to conceive,would,
in consequence of making the matter a gen
eral expend, be fubjefted to a double burthen ;
viz. their former personal Service, and their
frejent contributions, or proportionate partof
. the tax.—But if we examine this, argument
by the Standard of truth, with a little atten
tion, we Shall find it far from being valid, or
deferring that weight which our Legifla'ure
for want of mote substantial re -foning would
fain impute to it. It is corroding one error
by a succeeding one.—For, fellow soldiers,
if the essential liberties of our ancestors were
flagrantly abused, the penetration even of an
idiot is fufficient to conceive, that this is no
reason why their posterity should tamely sub
mit to the fame unwarrantable encroach
ment. It is acknowledged that our fathers
thus felt the weight of oppression as well as
I the present militia. But it is by no means
granted that the present militia are responsi
ble for thAt oppression : Neither does' this
follow a just, or even rational consequence.
Shall the evil be imputed to the latter ?—
Ridiculous ! Shall the present militia be
cheated out of their rights because their fa
thers were wronged by their Legislators ?—
Had the ~2^f^ f military establishment been
in any measure instrumental to the wrongs of
the past, there would exist some ihadow^
reason that they should fuffer injury in turn,
in order to fatisfy their fathers, and avenge
the injured (hades of their sleeping progeni
tors. But in the present inHance it could
not be the fins which our forefathers have
committed that /^// be roifited upon the chil
dren even from generation to generation : But
what is still more extraordinary, our Legis
lature, by a still greater confinement in ju
risprudence, would wish to entail the inju
ries, which our ancestors sustained upon all
their necessarily guilty posterity. , But it is
hoped that we shall pay a better compliment
to our forefathers than quietly to submit to
the imposition : For, as long as we are not
responsible for the condud of past Legislative
bodies, we are much entitled to an adequate
indemnification for military duty, as though
out fathers who are now either by death or
ace exempted, had uniformly received the
fame..
I come now to my third propbfition,which
was to take into consideration the policy of
fummitting trials for military offences to the
civil magistrate. Here there appears evident
ly too great a clashing of the military and
civil interests and authority; and this is
greatly aggravated by the nature of the pref,
" ent military laws. To demonstrate which,
let us attempt an invettigation of the effeds
of this part of the law. ~ . ,
By a just sense perhaps of the indifpenfi
ble importance of the military establishment
to the security of his own liberty and that of,
his country ; added to the laudable degree of
martial order, which the original spark of
freedom is most immediately calculated to in
spire, and which ought to be encouraged,
the Officer is induced to fubjed himfelf to
a great burthen and numerous inconveni
ences which he might otherwise avoid. The
Captain wishes for the honour of his regi
ment tba,tbis company turn out with alacri
ty. The gratification which he receives on
mufterdays, from meeting a full company
of ambitious soldiers, is undoubtedly flatter
ing: it gives spirit to his exertions, and
promtitude to their exercises: From hence
alone arises his only compensation for his ex
traordinary trouble, expense, and fawe.
But in every company it is reafon^le to
pose there are some malcontents ; some who
are dilpofed to get clear of the burthen by
any means in their power ; which, since the
time devoted to military duty is time com
pletely facrific^d, is not to be wondered at.
Thev negleft to appear on parade at the time
anoointed. ~ #he law leaves the
Stance of the offence to the civil magif
cogniztF dimmed bv l&prof^
FRI DA Y, January 23, 1795.
I^^^^^^—=to^
ecutes the offenders. This being done at
his own rifque and expense in case of default,'
he is generally negligent refpeding the mat
ter, unless his officers become engaged
stand responsible for failure, and to in&mrti-:
fy for reasonable costs. The Justice of the
Peace is totally exempted from the burthen
of the military institution by law. He com
passionate& the situation of the son of indi
gence perhaps, who is summoned from the
arms of a distressed family, and draged to
the field without a fufficiency in his purse te
anfiver the call, of nature for the day ; and
from a flight inquiry into the evidence against
him, upon some inadequate pfeteoce acquits
him, although the law expressly declarer
that every ablentee shall forfeit and pay the
sum of ten (hillings : the whole cost of prof
ecution (which now amounts to more than
the fine) of consequence falls upon the Cap
tain of the company, in return for his exer
tions to support the liberty and prosperity of
his country. This cost, in addition to the
expense of counsel, which, in consequence of
the animosity which arises between the pri
vate and his officers, is generally employed .
on both sides, makes the charge an impor
tant object; difeourages the Captain from
energy in his military exertions, and induc
es the soldier to set his athority at defiance,
the natural consequence of which, is a gen
eral derangement and neglect of the military
establishment.
In remarking upon this article, it is n€cef
fary to notice a most unhappy defeain the
paragraph stating the exemptions ; where
we are told that " all persons coming under
the denomination of Christians, called Qua
kers shall be exempted." I wish not to be
understood here to cherish a disposition to
encroach upon the prerogative of heaven,
by withholding from any member of society
the liberty of conscience. This would be
counteracting the obvious intention ofDeity,
who original!/ designed the intelleaual c^-
conomy to be wholly independent of legal
coercion. I feel no prejudice against any
particular denomination, and certain a most
profound veneration for the principles of
unconstrained exercise and liberty in relig
ious sentiments ; and so far at least as not in
compatible with the peace and good order of
society, shall ever be a warm advocate for
univerfill toleration. I complain not of the
Friends because of their particular profef
fion ;—on the contrary, so far as my know
ledge extends, I heartily venerate the genu
ine principles upon which their Senary is
founded. But Ido what every true Quaker
would do ; I utterly abhor the principle which
prompts men to make their religion sub
servient to their schemes of interest. lad
mire the genuine principles of Quakers, but
deleft the use which mankind daily make of
them, and which rebounds not a little to the
disadvantage of the profeffion. It is evident
therefore that I complain slot of " Quakers
because they are Quakers" even if their feo,
timers interfere with military affairs; but
I loudly complain of those Pharisaical hypo
crites, those mercenary mortals " who pre
tend to be Quakers and are not so and
who, not from Principles, as their daily con
du& incontrovertibly evidences ; but from
motives of Intepeft, by that means fcrene
themselves from military duty.
One instance within my adual knowledge
will serve to set this complaint in a very di
verting as well as confpicious light. A citi
zen who had come to refine within the lim
its of ^ company, and whose common deport
ment by no means indicated either fandity of
manners or tenderness of conscience, was en
rolled by the Clerk agreeable to law. But
the company being mustered he negleaed to
appear'agreeable to legal warning, and ac
cordingly was repeatedly called on by the
Clerk for a fine. His constant plea was his
belonging to the society of Friends, But
his manners in life not corresponding with
the profeffibn, led the Clerk to doubt the va
lidity of the &cufe, who consequently threat
ened him with legal profecution.J Upon
which being queftiohed by some other per
sons refpe&ing the matter, to eftablilh the
truth of his assertion, beyond further cgntro
verfy, he makes no scruple to accompany his
declaration with an oath, by laying that "be
noeuld be damn'd if bf noas not Woofer ^
which words the Clerk found literally veri
fied on summoning him to court, where
there appeared a number of elders who de
clared his parents to be Quakers : conse
quently being a Quaker by Profeffion, he
was cleared by the luftice and the cost
thrown upon the Clerk. Indeed the want of
precision and perspicuity in the sentence
which states his particulaf^xemption, has
opened the door to consequences which ouf
Legislators could be little aware of. I need
only notice^the recent instance within the
compass of my knowledge to set the matter
in a very obvious point of view. Ara late
divitionary court martial holden at Middle
borough, Captain Daniel Howland of \he
zdreg. ad brig. „h div. had been arrested by
complaint of the Commander of the regi
ffie% Col. Claghorn. The charges were
neglea of duty, and disobedience to orders:
Ttyhralidity of which were readily acknowl
edged by the defendant: Biffl the course
oftetrial it appeared, that by accept ing his
commitfron he had involved himfelf in a most
difagieeable dilemma ; that he was disposed
th perform the duty of a Captain agreeable
to his oath, but that the present cpuftitution
of the law in contepiplation, totally divested
him of the power. That hi, company confin
ed of 69 men,not a&ualthembetyffite foci
ety of rffafytat who from the double mo
tives of exemption from military duty, and
freedom from the expense of contributing to
the support of public worfliip, attended those
meetings more than an, other. It appeared
th< he had repeatedly prolecuted numbers of
lfe|pmpany for absence on muster days ; but
that the Justices, by construing the words
" the denomination of Christians called Quakers ,
to mean all such persons as attend that meeting
more theft an, other : bad as repeatedly acquit
ted them ; and thrown the whole cost of
prosecution upon him. His whole company
to an individual being in the fame situation,
it further appeared, had taken advantage of
the imbecility cf this clause of the law, and
had set his authority at defiance, which ren
deriri it absolutely import! ble to difeharge the
dutres of his office, or obey the commands of
his Colonel. A number of companies in this
regiment are in the fame predicament ; and
jt is the source of universal complaint thro'
the Rate ; from which it appears that an ex
planation of this part of the military law is
indifoenfibly necessary ; and that such char
a^ersas ought to be exempted from religious
scruples ought to be particularly defined,
which might effectually be done by requiring
of every one who made the excuse, a certifi
cate from his elders, stating that he was an
a&ual member of that Society ; or in other
words that be belonged to the Meeting.
I shall close this number by observing that
there would be a much greater propriety in
submitting trials of militaryoffences, to the
commanders of regiments than to Justices of
the Peace ; who, being by law exempted
from the burthen, feel not Sufficiently inter
ested in the honour and prosperity of the
military est bliihment, to pay that attention
to its support which its importance seems to
require. If the former are so far worthy the
confidence of Government as to, be intrufted
with a cummiffion; we have nothing to fear
from the effe&s reposed in them the further
trust of deciding in cases of military trans
gressions. This would five much expense
and animosity ; and from their superior in
terest in, and acquaintance with military
matters, have a powerful tendency to pro
mote the taw pfite country, and refpe&a
bilit, of the MILITARY EST ABLISHMENT.
, Miscellany.' \
FOR THE MIRROUR. ^
I OBSERVATOk, No. XI.
QTAND amazed, O! Americans,
) and hear the difmat tale !
(weet Sons and Daughters of Liberty,
into what depravity are they fallen!
—When we take a comprehensive
view of mankind, of all ages and ,ex
es, what various matter for serious
meditation doth fach a fervey afford
us ? To fee the aged and hpiry locks
of the times, following intoxication,
and the most fhaty^ pursuits! To
fee young and blooming men, in the
most delightful ^ra of life; given to
intemperance, lewdnefc, debauchery,
and the most infamous vices I To fee,
the most gay, the most delightful,
and the most charming of all the cre
ation, (even the female youth) follow
ing the most abandoned, Oifreputable
and loathsome of all purfuitte, &=-
Wh—m. Shudder, O! Humanity,
at the recital of the behaviour of this
depraved age !—O ! ye venerable
lock; who (perhaps) are but a step
this fide the eternal world !—What ac^
count can you render to your Judge,
when you muff appear at his awful
tribunal! OI ye bloomirig, lafcivi- ,
out, lewd young men, to which of
the Saints will you coin, when the
right-aiming thunderbolts, go abroad !
go abroad with a dreadful commmil
fion to drive you (not into the hor
rours of a moment, or the tortures of
an hour, but) into all the restless ago
nies of long despair! O! ye gay,
wanton, and ungovernable females !
how will you hide your shame, when
the Heavens reveal your iniquities, /
ang the ^r:h riles up against you !1
Or what will screen you from the
piercing eyes of an all Seeing God II
FALL PROSTRATE IN THE DUST,
O! YE GUILTY!!!
FOR THE MIRROUR.
[The following is the continuation of a piece pub-
Itfad in Mißrouß No. 11§, signed FRER
THINKER]
IT being proved, by scripture,, in
the former piece, that all the hu
man race, so (efficiently called, as to
leave them^ithout excuse—l proceed
to the next point, which is, to prove 1
that all are juftified ; for whom he
called, them he also juftified. This
justification is in the Son, the human
race being considered in him ; the
Apostle fays, Therefore, as by the of
fence of one, (viz. Adam) judgment
came on all men, unto condemnation,
even so, by the righteousness of one,
(viz. Christ) the free gift came on all
men unto justification of life. Tho'
men are condemned in themselves for
fin, yet they are juftified in the fight,
of God, by union with their head,
Christ Jesus ; whom he juftified,
them he also glorified : Now to be
glorified, is to be freed from fin.—
Christ pofilively declares that he hat
finished transgression, and made an
end of fin : that being the case, surely
man is freed from fin, as to its being
imputed to him as fin; for the Apof
tledeclares, that God hath committed
unto us the ministry of reconciliation,
viz. that God was in Christ, reconcil
ing the world unto himfelf, not im
puting their trespasses unto them.—
That the human race are in a Rate of"
glorification, must be an undeniable
truth, if it be a truth that God is per
fed in knowledge, which can't be de
nied by any rational being—lt being
a truth that God foreknew every one,
he surely predeftioated every one, call
ed every one, juftified every one, and
glorified every one : then how is it,
that so many of the fouls of. men go
to eternal misery?
The precious falof mat,
fc Will ter go te bell ; •
But the, will rife above tbe jkift.
With ,efes Christ to dwell.
The dust will return to dust, as it
was ; and the spirit will return to God
who gave it, and there it must and
will remain to an eternity of ages, and
join with every Restore in Heaven,
and on the earth, and under the earth,,
and Inch as are in the fee, and all that
are in them, faying, Bfefogrh^
otarv and rower be unto him^hM'^
[number 118.]