Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-11-19
VIRGINIA ARGUS.
ri CT MO ND:
PRESIDENTS NEss,lGE.
THURSDAY. NovEMDGR 10. 1919.
No. III.

In the manner in which Mr.. Madison has
alverted tn the conduct &c the Governors Of
Massachusetts and Come ;.ticut, in relation
u the Militia. we have an nuisance of digni
he'd tirmness and temperate frankness upon
q CONSTITUTIONS! point of vita! Importance of
frnness, III bringing the subject TO the i'm
mediate view Of Congress; and Of franknrss.
in briefly stating to the legislative body the
inevitable consequence Of the singular con-
duct of the chief magistrates ofiwo states at
q time when the country is actu lily at war.
We have always been taught tn believe
that the militia are the bulwark of the natl
en-, that they are species OF military force
saperCc;'ing the necessity ofst3nding armies,
aud lessening the obligation fcn5ad, ing. to
any considerable amaunt, regular troop, for
the leEence OF the cerritorv of the United
States: And most undoubtedly the President
must have relied, in the prosecution OF the
war on the aid TO be derived from the mill
ria; and thus was, we take 1t for granted
one re son Hhy the levy of regulars was IL
niitea BY law t. 50 small Il NUMBER. Indeed,
1t could not have entered the head of any pa
tri &c Statesman wha.e-cr, rs a serious
til usht, that in a period Of actGal hos,ilities,
the executive of any state IF the confedera.
ti0n would withhold the constitutional force
ut his district, by setting up cquivocal claims
II
I:ics, which the constitution does not at least
ia rpirit sanction, which reasoa hnuts as Fri
ro; and untenabic, and which ia hruciice
ms been aIo&t e-ctlr ssh nHtifcd Ey Presi
R~'it Waehipgton. To the general govern
neht is gwen in plain words, The power of
or cSnzms and diSciplining the militia, of
cd ling them forth to suppress insnrrecfion,
to Z ell invasion, and to cnfirce the laws Of
the Jeon We might here copiuls.y dwell
" the SiGrp!e T,lct that declaration OF
W ~, IN most emphatic manner, a iasv If
ID -Igi1H FIR whcn we look at the causes
a-s.tsncd ~ the introduction OF tho federal
con- ,tttion isr trammg aud adopting that in
strH aeHt rs q rule of governance, Ne. see il
Tin ~ stated that it was chiefly for providing
e.. nc co0;na2n d..fence, &c. and il in con-
nertj7n with his declaration, we take the
circumstances that tae power Of making war.
\ IS wi hdrawn from the states and lodged in
che general government. and that the a.Ivho-
rits ct Congress with respect to the militia
was given 10 that body with the sole view Of
enIbling it TO effect the common defencr, as
well against Observation-Disclosures as against
eX crnai foes; When Shese things arc cons-
Cfered, it II impossible to avoid the c )ncus-
on, hat OF al laws whatever a declaration IF
xvqJ- IL, in an especial manner, L17v 5f the
Union and thar, therefore. the militia
:
authorities Of the genera, government tn en-
sorrcit. To orr mld, the CONSTITUTE Jnal pow
er II the President and Congress with res
pect ~ the militia is clear, and it is as clear
TO us that thc re 1edy for disp7c!ic1ce in
a governor iSby arrest, trial and leg, al att
on from military COmnl1tl owe: the militia
OH, stute II D. objected tllt tbs is not
allowable, in1snuch as the Governor Of "a
state is rot responsible to any tribunal but
al ve1ple ofthe state we answer. that when
each TIE catered int, the cjnleicracy,
Il 3. 81 rhc general crBs;it.;tin IA, ana yielded
~ he cowcrs which Il contains It became
tbe luty of every stare 30 to mo;iify it's par
tic ir Constitution and laws to the provisions
Of ~ federal constitution as to prevent all
iarrins NJ clashin5
u not luonstrolly q gurd, that a power
sh~njd be vested IN ( ng -, aud yet DC re-
: incl BIZ the s,asesl ) ~ a hing was ne
YER intended The reason why the Dlii ceriur
~ the nilitiiwIs vestel ~ n soycrhors or
executives ofthe states respect, civ, was not
in iealolsy # the general government, but
ehi,ny out nf Courtesy to the governors, to
whom (being in theclDactv OF generals, sub
&C., 10 the orders of tie president rs com
n,anicr in chief OF thc militia. it vas deem
eA complimentary II refer the choice Of in
frriur officers. This, together with The con
TfGcrAtiDI that II INC Appointment Oi tNisNls
officers was taken from the state executives
t,cy wou,d have no power to orderoni tae
militia 20 put down mo'js an sapy2-t b. f5ece
g,e civil authority in each state, without =
recurrence 10 the general government, we
f. justified in ating were the sole Causes oI
suffering the officers OF tine miii:ia tobe com
u,,..,oncA 81 tic GOVERNOR Slc BI never
g,eiess, q governor Of a safe being notljns
more, Wits respect to this sort o. force. than
a general subject TO the orders of the Presi-
-, there can be uu cause assigned why hg
shoull not tie trel, aud, it found guilty 81
,v;ifni dispbcdicnce, Clustered Ifmconve-
n,.,cc re,nits t. the PARTICULAR state, whose
a,pltisitf Certainly vt me stae authorities.
7,h, have neglected 81 q frame tIeir laws
ust, y.cld obe1ieuce 20 the constituted an
~, yuies &c ;hv felcru government lf an
,,ts bcn9t tyne doctrine then the niedcra
-, e a cEeqt and any state nay keep itsr!i
=, rcocc. whilst tho others are ut var, b, a
F.,,,al or tacit agree uen' wih the enemy
49,, 30 lend he aid OF It's m'ltlt force 70 the
w., ,,roytle I-hc clcny wi Mt nvadc tHe
t.r,;,or,cs If The particular stare making
80, .g,eeucnt Could this condition 81
Wtips. ever haSc bccpia'c de' by toe IRA
s,ers Of tAe federal c0Estitnton' Aud IS &C