Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1813-03-15
MILITARY CONVENTION.


vention of the couaties If Cumberland and
Oxford, WAS held at Gibbs tavern IN Gay.
1t was, perhaps, noiwithltandlne The IN
clemency of the weather, one OF the ma
numerous meetings of The kind evSr al m
bed in this Commonwealth c"hillting
of the General, Field and other officers of
the Infantry, Cavalry AND Artillery, exceed.
ing in number Izo delegates tlom alnoh
every town in the two couutIes.-1 he con-
vention gave a unanimous vote ter brig.
Gen. ALFuRD RICHARDSON, Chairman
and Brig. Gen. JAmss IRISH, Jun. Seerefa-
~.
The objects of the meeting were then
ftated byla member of thee mGiItee. h''h
notified the convention. The petition OF
the ad Brigade, 18th Diyldon, which Is
now pending in the Legislature, together
with the copy of a circular letter, addrei.
FED TO the Brigadier Generals throughout
the Commonwealth, and the report of the
correiponding CON mittee OF the tad Brig
age, were all read-Whereupo 1t was
thought expedient to chooie committee
to take into confederation the whole fnb-
jetf matter before the meeting and to re-
port tn the fame The following gentle
med were unanimously chofer Brig.
Gen. Afford Richardfon, Brig. Gen. James
Irifh, j.. Capt. Samuel Feff-nden. Capt A.
w. Atherton, Col. Jos Z Foxcraft. Col.
Martin Nichols, Col Jofah Hobs, Col.
Thomas Chaie, Maj. Trowbsdee. Maj.
Edward Runell, Capt. Phneas Varnum.
The following refo u,ons were nnani-
mos1, reported by the committee and &C
cepted by the convention without diiien
ting voice -
Whereas the militia of this Common
wealth is inftituted for the common de-
fence, and equal protection OF all its citi-
zens, and whereas the prefent arrangement
relating TO its government, iifcpNne and
materials is manifeiily unequal in its opera
ton upon the people, inaimuch as great
number of exempts are allowed, without be-
| ing required TO pay, 10 money, an equlva-
lent for their perfonal tervice; Therefore.
I. Rejoived-That we have Attended,
for the purpoie of promoting by every
fair and honorable meajure. general pat.
ronage for the militia whereby lis rslpeds-
billy may be Eenred and its ljsfainsf' in.
srealed.
a. RcJofved-That the Object of this
| convention is totally difinet from pol teal
views, having any relation TO the two great
and revival parties of this Commonwealth.
4 ReyolVed-As the opinion of this con.
vcntion that there are numerous favored
exempts contrary 20 the ipirit of the Law,
| and, which the conflituaon of this ftate
and the United States never contemplated,
for in the 10th article of the declaration of
the rights of the citizens of this tate. il IS
ex prelsly provided that " eacb mdiVidaa!
of the fociely has a right to be protected
by it, in the enjoyment of bis life. Liberty
and propryty, according to the ttandine
! laws he is obliged consequently 70 eont,i
J bme bis mare 10 The espenjf 0ffbiJ protection
TO give bi, pe.Joaaije,viee or a" eqmvaiert
THEREFOR"
a. Rejolved-That many of thofe who
are exempted from psrfonal fervices by ap
pointments 10 judicial and other hurative
offices, ough. II pay an equivalent in mon
ey for the benefit OF ihole who do militia.
ny duty for the common good.
6. Rejoiued-That the militia laws now
exiting which require under fevere
penalties certain portion of our cit
zons to arm. and equip themieives at
their own expente, are unequal and inequ
table IN their operation and ought TO be
reviled-becauie they require apart of the
community to bear the military burdens
Of the whole.
6. Rejoi1ed-That we will ufe all fair
and honorable exertons to give the Militia
its due weight in the Legislature by choo-
| Gng fuch mentas know how to appreciate
the iua rights of this important clais of
| citizens.
| i, Relofped-As the fenfe of this c,nven
ton, that any meeting ofthe militia of this
| State for the purpofe of uGng constitutional
means 10 return fuch men to the "legiill-
tive body" as they may think will redrefs
the grievances they tuffer, is In effect an ef-
| for, of the people, to equallze the burihens
which at nrefent are borne by part.
g. Reloiv,d-That we conlider the inter
efts of the militia infeperable from thofe of
the citizens, and while we ufe all upright
and fair means to procure legislative patron
age and protection to our military inttitu-
tions and to place them upon an honorable
and refpeetabe foundation, that we fhall
nveer forget our paramount duties & rights
as citizens of free Commonwealth.
o. Rejoiysd-That the foregoing reiolu-
tons be figned by the Chairman and attelt-
ed by the Secretary and pnblithed in both of
the Portland news papers.
Afford RICHARDSON, Chairman.
6fteR JAMES IRIsH JUN. Secretary.
Gray, March Iafb, 1875.
The Committee through their chairman re.
commended that the officers of companies,
fhcuId make Known TO their men the object
and doing. of Ibis convention, and urge them