Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1812-12-28

a FRIEND TO THE MILITIA
40 the Honorable the Senate ann the Roase o
Repyesenfafi-es Of the Commonwealth D
MIssachaseffs.
TIE undersigned Commissioned Officers
IN ne End Brigade and 18th Division of the
Militia OF this Commonwealth--HUM
REPREsEST-That they have for series Of
years witnessed with much regret, the un
disciplined state Of the Militia and their nj.
most total deficiency in uniformity of arms,
equipments and dress, throughout the state,
which your petitioners cannot attribute TO
any want of exertion on the part of the off.
GERS, but to the followpg causes -
First-The general inability Of those who
constitute the Militia, properly to arm, c.
quip and uniform themselves.
Secondly The few opportunities provi.
ded by law, for their exercise & discipline
When the honorable Legislature take in
TO consideration, the necessary ard unavoi
dable expense, attendant on eveyy iiidiufdual
who is subjected by Law, to military duty
he loss OF time. the cost Of arms anG equip
ments and Incidental charges-your petit
tioners cannot hesitate TO believe, that il
will be considered as tax on this class of
our fellow citizens, distressing in its conse-
quences and more unequal in it's operation
than any other tax paid by different mem
bers Of the community. The train bands
are composed, generally, of hard lsboring
men, without inheritance, and dependent
entirely on their own industry and exertions
tor maintenance and support; each Of whom
must expend annually on the most moderate
compul alton, Ten dollars, exclusive OF the
frs cost of his arms and equipments.
Did such oppression exist under des
potic government, we should have no reason
tor surpize- but that it should have been so
long patiently borne and tolerated in gov.
eminent purely Republican, is to your pc
fitioners matter of equal regret and aston
ishment-Shall then the voice of one hundred
thousand men, your +0hoIe military strength,
and one eighth of your population, be raised
IN vain Are the Militia bulwark and
security to free state IL so-they are
worthy the consideration of those, whose
rights, property and freedom they are desti-
ned to protect. Are they otherwise =
They justly merit the aerision and contempt
with which they are nOs5 treated, and ought
forthwith to be disbanded.
The patronage, which your petitioners
would numbly and respectfully ask, for those
who constitute your physical strength, who
would be looked up TO, IN the hour Of dan
ger, as the protectors of the Commonwealth
las the guardians Ofthe rights and liberties
OF our Common Country, Is neither unpre-
cedented, unjust or novel in its kind, but
founded IS they conceive on honorable and
objectionable cldimS-Such patronage, as
would m short space of time make the SOL
dIery of this State equal IT not superior 20 a.
nv militia in the world To attain this mo.
menious object your petitioners beg leave re.
specially 10 submit for the consideration of
your Honorable Bucy--the justice SIS well a.
the necessity of furnishing as The expence of
the State, the whole of the militia, with sults
bic arms and equipment S, and 10 allow them
one dollar per day, during the time they per
form military duty, for not less than six or
eight zvhole DAYS in each year.-AS an in
ducemenl for the soldiers generally to uni
form themselves, your petitioners would
suggest The proprIety OF provision that
such only as do un form shall be entitled TO
the arms and equipments-this would be a
sufficient encouragement for every man
forthwith to provide himself with a uniform
Your petitioners are well aware that he
contemplated provisions will be represented
BY some as agreat public burlhen, whereas
II will De only equaiislng am lng the whole
an ex snse now exclusively sustained by
those who can the least stfnrd 1t
Your petitioners beg leave in the most
respectful manner o offer for consideration
the mode by which a considerable part Of
the money necessary for that purpose, might
be raised and without doing an injustice to
those VINO are 10 reap the benefits and en-.
JOY The security, which would certainly re-
suit from a well organized and disciplined
militIa-.fH dr7uaI TAX on al SsA0 are nor con
sfifatiOEalLy exempted from Military day, Of
erery description. 1t IS considered but Just
and proPel, that every member in the CON-
munisy, nog liable to do duty, should contri.
butte an some way or other, IN equivalent to
his exemption, as \ remuneration for the
protec ION and security afforded 20 himself,
his { mily and property.
Your petitioners beg leave 10 hint at the
unequal operation of tue militia laws gem
orally, but more especially such part there
of a. renders IL easy f almost any cum
ming or unprincipled lnd.idual to obtain
certificate of emp,lOn.-That the in
crease of Engine m2anies, in large towns.
TO an extent far beyond what heir securi-
~ and safety require, is another evil which
can find It's remedy only with your Honors-
bic Body We can cite an iastsnce IN a
town where ont qusr,er pari of its etficis Mt
strength have screened them elves from
MilItay duty. under the caayrsai~ur --'sl pro-
gectng certificate and licence OF The Select
men, thereby reducing Companies to mere
plsioons
Your petitioners would suggest the util-
tiy, 70 the Mlilis, offiIIIng EugIne Comps-
MES from among the exempts by law, he
young men not yet liable 10 perform Mill
tsry du'y between The ages of sixteen and
eighteen years, and such as have passed the
age Of foyty. and from among that denomina.