Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-11-19


to prevail. we are "not one nation for the
purpose most If all reg,aringR ?"
This - novel and unfortunate exposition
the provisions of the constitution relating
to tie militia" arises, we apprehend, from
n trout mistake. We say hr9xt!, because
it has its origin in the passion of hriae. The
mistake consists in an erroneous extension
If the notion state sovereignty, If men
would ATTEND but to the common import of
words. they would be able to discern, with
sufficient precision, the particular cases
wherein the states are absolutely and re,a-
lively sovereign. and where not. NoooJy
pretends thas n state is sovereign 70 the
purpose Of war. or that it eau levy ANY sort
of military force for that purpose Then
where is the reason for all this affectation
of paramount power with respect to the
militia? Are the governors OF the states
placed ar the head of the militia, respec-
tively, merelv Cor the sake of empty pa
rade@ Do they not rather mistake their
powcrss Can any state ;,ilcdge that Con-
gress. or the President, will make an unau-
thorised use of it's militia, Certainly not
because the people of the states have their
interests and rights guarded in the national
legislature bv represe natives chosen by
themselves, and, in proportion to their nun
bers. have their weight in the decision vt all
questions which involve the employment OF
the militia. Are such men as Messrs Tai
nadgc. Llovd, pitkin, and Q lincy. not con-
pctent tn enforce the opinions of the people
they renresentl Assnrellv they are And
# thew failed in preventing war, that only
proves that they are ia the minority. BUT
whar does the term minority imply Gin com
nunitv which is governed bv the principle
of majority. but obediencef If. after the
majority have pronounced their will, upon
fair discussion and lay IL enacted, the mi
nNritv can totally evade the operation of
that law. and by that evasion even aid The
enemy, can his be called government ru'-
ed By majority of the pcoples And il it
is NOT government ruled, what sort of
govern nent IS it, We say nothing of the
lo7v and seifsh cunning of the states which
can thus take advantage of the liberal frame
of politv under which we i've they wonld
be great gamers Nv keeping aloof from the
war, and would come in al the peace, with
their resources unimpaired, to the enjoy
ment of all the advantages which il m,ght
bring, won by the population uf the other
states. Such hucksterirg calculations are
not 70 he INDUCED. The question assumes
a more high and sole mn character; and il
no other mode of enforcing obedience to the
provisions Of the federal constitution can be
devised. If 30 Deremtory amendment can be
effected, Congress mus. act with becoming.
vigor upon that existing clause of the con
s.itutiNn which authorises them TO provide
for the organization and discipline of the
| militia of the United States We imagine
that, in th1t way, very sufficient cure NAV
be found for tho evil As occasions occur,
the dormant sections of The constitution
| mus. bc acted upon; and most sincerely
| applaud the president for that part of his
nessage wherein he states that "a revsion
of the militia laws for the pur pese Of render
ing them more syste matte, and better adap :
| ing them tn the emergencies of the war. is
at iris time haeticulariy desrabie' When
| The national Legislature do take up the sub
an eve to its bearing on the future illegal con
duct ofthe governors Of states who neslec,
their duties.
| il il beyond all doubt that The conduct
IF the governors of Massachusetts and
| G nnecticut is the result of 9ayty feeling ;
| OF feeling which, more than once we have
! had occasion to observe IS too strong for pa
| -, ltis'n t. conquer. IF proof were wanting
tiia5 1t is the result nf the spirit of party, we
need only g back to Inn Adams's French
war At that tine both the states of Con
necticut and Massachusetts, were ready e.
nonSh ~ lend their aid and to turn out their
militia to carry it on. This will fully an
pear on refc ence TO the newspapers of tina,
time. The reason of their aiacritv then wa,
| the coincidence of party feeling between the
| government of those states and the genera
| government. What wonders the proof strong.
| er, IS the circumstance that in the French
| war spoken of. there was no necessitu Tn
the services of the militia, fer there was no
the least danger of invasion. Then, for
soNth. Connecticut and Massachusetts were
ready to pour forth their warriors Blu
no7v, when the British are the enemy
ns5v, that shere is actual danger ofinvasinn
| naY, now that invasion actually exists, the 81
two states start up with their constitutions
| ahiectinns Whence arise these inconsist
| encies but from the shi,it ofharfv; a spirit
which has often made humanity weep, an,
at this moment makes reason shuIdeg.
| When we turn to the correspondence be-
tween governors Strong and GriSwold, am
the Secretary Of War, what scene is dis
| 1llyed! First shutting letfer from the
executive Of Massachusetts, informing tina
the returns of the detached militia had no
vet cone to llaui; and usxf, an nrguBirnla-
fiDe QjtOt1gy for not obeying the President
reqris;tion. Before we go any further. wC
nus here express oar most decided dsap
probation NJ the mate adopted at the wa,
Office of addressing these refractory govern
ore. The requsitiou ought TO have beer
fHreratiUc. a military o'dcr sllouId neyc
so into explanatory remarks: 1t should h,
mandatory, ADD aim directly at IFS object
Governor Strong has taken advantage Of th,
arguuentative sty Of Mr.. Eustis's letter
aud e that fGen. Dearborn, to enter into
frivolous commentary, sich as that "fh
Pr0sid Hi's order nYst hare 6ecn issHed be
(oro -ear nus acciarrd,'' &c. " ii cag hqrd
In BE suhhoReT rim frfhfa efnfe Lnd L-clr I,