Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-06-21

,rmng and equippng the whole body OF the
militia of the u. States; all d whether any, and
Il any, what alterations are tcesSary, as to the
time when the arms procure by virtue OF this
act shall be distributed in ,ch state and ter
ritory; and that the commitl,s &c have leave To
report by bill ur otherwise.
Mr.. 1'roup said that, no do,i bt, the gentle
man from Connect Iut, in offeri ng this resolve,
had been actuated by the most lair and pstrio- |
tic motives; but he was well NV are that they
would be liable to Observation-Disclosures the
motion would be liable to be consi dered as cal
culated to excite distrust and jealo usy between
the general and state COVE rnmcits. ltwas very
true, as the gentleman had stated, that IN 1903,
tae Legislature did make an appropriation to-
wards complete arning of the milit tia of the
United States. 1t appeared in Deem her, 1912,
from official information to the House, that an
amount of 10000 dollars had actually been
expended under the law, and that $4,000
stands OF arms had been placed in the hands OF
part of the militia. This number OF aims to
be distributed among the great body oft,e mi
litia, bearing but small proportion to- the
whole, it became question, how these arms
should be distributed. What was the fair
standard presenting itself to the government!
TO whom should these arms have been distri
buted To those states, surely, in preference,
which stood in the greatest need OF arms moi
TO states not threatened with Invasion, not &C
tually invaded but to those which were threat
ened, to those which were actually invaded
The government assuming TO itself this rule,
did distribute the arms among the states, con
fnisg the distribution principally to those
states which were most jeopardized. In eS-
aiming the apportionment of these arms, we
shall find that nothing like political prejudice
has operated, rs the gentleman has seemed to
insinua,e. To three federal states, 450O OF the
$4,000 stands distributed, We're given. True,
ALL.
cut, two federal states; but, let it be recollect
ed, none were given to New York, always de
cidedly republican in the mass of its people,
not single stand was given to Pennsylvania;
the centre, the sun Gf you willy OF democracy,
who has Nays supported the present admin
stration by majority Of about thirty thousand
votes. Virginia, the ancient doninion, whose
influence is said to be every where present, did
not receive a single stand. He submitted 10
the gentleman and to the House whether, il
this distribution tIer, had been any hing like
political partially. Gentlemen in opposition
from the Eastern States, did themselves de-
clare, when the law of 500 was on its passage,
that it's principle was incorrect and radically
wrong; because, under the present system of
militia, having carried the law INTO execution,
the militia of the Eastern States were COM
pletely armed. We wei. gecoilect that gen
tieman from New York got up and stated, that
their militia were not fully armed but the gems
tlemen on the other side cOntradicted him, and
declared that their militia were we'll armed
When this fact was repeatedly stated on the
floor OF Congress, and was perfectly well known
to all, Whist was the executive 90 do in regard
to the distribution OF the few arms which had
been procuredI PROFESSIONALLY to distribute
them IN the first instance, not to those are ady
armed, and who could we'll wait, but to those
who stood In need of them. This course 1t had
Pursued.
Mr. Pitkin said he was not q little surprised,
that he gentleman should have taken wide
range in opposition To resolution, the OBJ
ject of which was merely to- enquire into the
propriety of amending law He was very
sorry also that the gent, man should have IN
troduced distinction between federal and de-
mocratic states Sure I've was, Mr. p. said,
that he had said nothing which could lead to
the OBSERVE ions which the gentleman had made
-,aonthis head. The gentleman himself Certain
lyvould moi pretend that dissemination ought
10 be made between states according to their
political complexion Mr. p. said he had made
mo charge of psrtiality He had stated that a
construction had been given to the law differ
ent from that witch the Legislature intended !;
and this + ct, which IS the very object OF ths
enquiry, the gentleman seemed TO admit If
the Secretary OF War could d signate the state
to which he would now give arms in preference
and to the exclusion Of others who are cquSll
enti lee, he may do SO for any length Of time 4;
and particular iavorit- states ct he might ssy
SOY might have the woe oi II cir militia arm
ed, whilst to others not a single musque
would be gwen. This WAS never cont template
by hose VINO passed the law. Each state paid
its proportion of the revenue which was apps
ed 10 the purchase Of arms: and each star,
whether we'll or ned previously, ought 60
have it's proportiO. arms. Mr. p qunie0
the reporl made att st session, from viii l.
1t appeare that 1880. IDS OF arms only haC
been istribu.ed under the law.--Some Ia
been loaned, 10 the amount OF about eight thou
sand stands but the government was certain
ly not authorised to loan arms procured under
special appropriation for different purpose
The loaning was in violation OF the law. III
object nf this resolution WAS not to excite Jea-
lousies or draw invidous distinctions, but &C.
enquire into the execution OF Il law AIR. g.
said the gentleman might, in speaking Of his
motives, have spoken IRONICALLY; but he was
mistaken if he had attributed to Mr. Z. other
motives than those which lac had declared To-
hav. induced him to brng forward dis mott
ON was fair subject Of enquiry, and lie
contended proper ope. Tie militia Of the
Eastern States might he ar ed hctt.r than
those Of the South, and those arms lad e.
procured at their own oxpence. But that was
no reason why they should not claim the arms
TO which they were entitled. You night as well
say that rich man should not recover a debt
because hiss neighbor wanted money more than
himself----lf Tie exposed situation OF states,
however, were the sole criterion, he lad shown
that some states which had received no arms
were exposed more than Others which had.
Mr.. Troup said tie gentleman had mistak-
en- the import Of ms observations. lie had not