Jenks's Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland [Me.]) 1799-1802, 1799-10-28
On a Permanent Military Efa5Eibmeat
in the United States.

"SOME people have very fhallow way of
vindlcating the government opon the meaiire
OF permanent military force. They, fay,
France, or prbaps some negro chef Of an y2and,
apW invaas The Southern jqate5. If It queye not for
thai danger, aooaM etpejs The military fire a, es-
fsn,ivs, utels5J and dangye-s 10 liberty II is nei
Their the one nor the other. The public fafety,
liberty and tranquility are worth more than the
becaufe they prevent fedi,ions, civil WAS, AID
revolutions-not dangerous TO liberty, becaufe
without them there would be no liberty, or at
least no fecuTity for il.
What civilized aate fubfias without pernia
nent troops? None. Some barbarous nations,
as the French, Creek indians, Mamelukes, and
wild Arabs are all folders. When was Amer
lea without permanent military force Never
tince fha had The Independent right to ufe her
own force, and TO provide for her own peace
and iafety. The old Congrsfs had no revenue
and almoit no power, yet they had two or thrc:
regiments. Without a public force there will
be no public tranquility. A minority, little
iedition of one Gstieth part of the nation would
not only dilturb, but hazard the life and being
of the Republic. How then ihall a majority
rule, as it has good right to do in a republic,
but BY providing military force adequate to
the fuppreiIion of mobs, Pitiburg rebelions, and
the rihngs of thick headed Germans aganlt the
houie tax. If a majority will govern, it mutt
provide The means Of governing, the means will
iniure its authority, otherwife minority, and
very fr,all one, could array itfelf, get arms,
officers, and diicpline which with the help of
France the Jacobins could do. Faction could
thus get the fart, and take the upperhand of
Government. The Jacobins would be regulars,
the friends of government militia. An army
OF 10000 United lriihmen, and twelve thoufand
Frcnchmen could be multered in the United
States. The Jacobins could furnilh as many
more. Who would not tremble at fuch force,
although nine tenths of the nation ihould be
oppoied to them
Though France or Rigaud fhould not invade
US, we have nevertheless all the hoa of internal
enemies to keep down. What can do it 10 eff.
colt a twentieth part 10 much to maintain this
army as civil war; for then there would be
two armies to maintain.
To keep thieves off, have gun or fword at
your bed ide. To keep traitors, United Irih.
men, aud Fienchmen, and Wei India negroes
in awe, have forne troops ready to repel the fri
invaders, to cruth the firf rifugs and feditions.
An ounce of prevention is worth a ton ofremedy.
Military force they tell Us is fometimes abu-
fed. What power is not Civil power certainly
is. Our troops are too few to oppofe the peo-
pie, and the people have too much ipirit, are too
well armed, and too Numerous 10 be fubdued.
But military force more frequently turns a
gainlf its employers than it betrays or oppreGes
liberty. That is indeed a itrong argument "a
gaina uGng it. But remote dangers are to be
diiresarded when greater are imminent. Jaco-
bins are to be kept out of the army and militia
Government mutt ufe its belt courage and vig
lance, aud we mna all humbly rely on Gods
TIC protector of our country aud its
liberty.