Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1813-11-29
From the Boston Gazette.
Standing Army.

port OF Committee of the Vermont |
Legislature, appointed 70 examine into |
the doings OF the Canyassing Commit
tee, and to report facts, relative 10 the I!
rejected votes for Governor, 81. of the, |
state. mis- report Is TOO long tor our
paper; bnt we extract the following
summary of the manner IN which the I
votes of soldiers in The standing army o|
the Uniled Sfates, were given II. after
pei using this detail, the truth of which
Is supported by SeUen dehosiaonS, any
man can doubt the proprlely OF reject
ing such votes, he Is fitted ior the state
oil slavery which must result from suf
lerin6 military dlctali0n at our elections.
"Your committee consider 1t much to be
lamenled. that in times of ex,raordin
| eonmotion, the > irit of party should rise 80
| high, as 10 lose SIGH, of the frs, principles,
which form ihe basis of every free govern.
menI. To such an origin. however, they
cannot but r. ,,r any W, which pc nlits The
| aDdng army vt the Uni,ed States TO exer
clse eqnsi rights, with the ciiseas of the
'N"'N W 'eihphNb wv ihNh CbINiuHs.
Such l@~ has a dtect tendency to place,
Ii the power OF The military force, an abso-
| ute contrcui over ,he government of the
! state; and puts IN imminent danger our
| republican lnstI ,utions. The man, who ex-
| changes the character OF a CITIZEN for that
| OF a soldier, lncucs Temporary suspension
oil most OF lhe rigkn of free man of The
s.aie. lie is no longer governed by bis own
will; but becomes subject to the ccntroul
I'D direction Of others. Obedience is hi.
ii 81 and his last duty. lie lives on tie IA.
YOUR of his superiors and, while urder
their displeasure, is subjec, to msny mise
rles and privatluns. Thus situated. tie will
of his comm ander becomes his only law *
II ia hopeless 10 expect, that ihe right of
snfirsge will be exercised, but in obedience
% the wishes Of hose, on whom he is de-
pendent. IL was, ther. foe, fully 10 be an.
IelpaIed. that ,Ae political opinions Of the
commander OF sn army, would give an ex.
elusive character 10 the suiffages of his
solders. lhstre,Aining an entire authority
ser them, lhIse only, would be permitted
- me The privilege, allowed them. by such
law, who would submit 10 lis dll sction.
In this msnner. an immense influence over
government, would De placed in the hands
1f single Individual /; who, perhaps. might
no. be an inhabuant Of ,hrs state ,tor &C,
iuainled With its civil ms buttons.
~, -, r..,ra, u, o,,:.
ipa,ions have been fuzzy realized in the case
of the votes Of the town of Chichester,
which were rejected by he late canvaosing
committee and TO which the suention of
your committee has been directed. They
have thought il 10 be their duty,o present
his case 10 the House of Representatives., as
II appeared bet re that committee; as at.
ford,ng complete illustration of the opin.
IONS they have expressed. The evidence on
his subject is contained in seven deposition,
which a. = snnexed aud make par. of this
rep.rt and also in the testimony Of the
Hon HEnAN ALIEN, which was given
orally before the Csnysssing Com nit;ee.
Your Committee have applied 10 Mr.. Allen,
o reduce 10 writing this ,ef''mony given
IN that occasion lie has complied with
heir n quest, and his affidavit Is also sn-
nexed. f.om this testimony the following
facts appear 10 your corlmiuee TO have been
proved
"Thst az the time of the late election of
Governor, and other officers, in Septe m ber
last, en army of the United Stetes, of whit
aumber it does M, appear. were stsuoned
At Burli2g,on and in its vicinity. That on
he d Of such election, no eenei VI indi,-
crimipate license, were given 70 those ofthe
army who belonged 10, and were freemen
of, this state, TO appear at The polls 40 elect
ors On he contrary, special license was
granted to certain NJ NJ Neil, a citizen
II NewsHampshre, 10 select a volunteer
par,y. to march. under his cornmand, to the
town Of Colchester, 10 vote at the election
In rssing this party none were reqaes' ed
20 volunteer. bu, those who would vote in
conformity TO the wishes Of MAJOR M'Neil,
who IS uniers oOd to DC attached to what
=. denominsted The T. .puhlicsn or war patty,
nj that severe aud pIotsne menaces we're
sxpiessed against those who manifested a
ais,osi,ion TO act Otherwise. Having IN this
manner mustered about one hundred and
niue.y soldiers, he marched them IN military