Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-06-18
REPORT.

mgton, March 18th, 1913, III ahS"I'
to an application, made by his excel :
Iency in compliance with resolve OF
the honorable the General Court oil
the Commonwealth OF Massachusetts,
Co the Executive OF the United States,
reoues sting such supply OF maskets as
Nigh, be considered The propoftien No
which the Commonwealth was entitled
under law of the United Statss, pass
ed in April 1903 by which law the
annual su,s OF two hundred thousand
dollars was appropriated, Tor the pup
pose Of providing arms for the m'iit'a
OF the United States, to be transhi,'
ted TO the several States in proportion
to the effective militia in each State,
L &spEc rruLLy REPORT,
That the law of TIC linked States re-
Ferrcd to by his excciiency the governor
aad entitled +" an act making provision
Car arming and equippiag The whole DO
ay OF the militia OF the U States and APP
prontiating annually Saooo0o tor that
purpose, provides thu, the arms procnt-
ed in virtue OF thai act. shall De srcaSH'is-
ted 10 the several states composing ne
union, and the terr!turies thereof, 10 eacA
state and territory respectively, IN pro
portion TO tue number OF effective tn'ii-
ria therein. under such rules and rcgu-
la.ions as shall he by law prescribed by
the legislature of each state or territory.
In The apprehension of your commit
tee, the terms Of the law are simple
precise. and iainite, admitting scither
of a perYers;on OF purpose nor latitude
Of coDstruction--of the tavorltisin OF par
,ialitv. or an indulgence OF caprice.
The pco7'c Of the United States Tor
he better defence thereof, by an act OF
their constituted authorities, set aside
trn,n their revenue the annual sum OF
two hundred thousand dollars, iur arm
ing anu equ!pping TIE whole body o' the
militia ef the United States, All cX-
pressiy directed that the arms provided
in virtue Of that act should be transmitted
to the several states composing the u
Mon & territories thereof; 30 each state
and territory, rcspectivciy, IL propo:iio
10 the number OF lis effective militia.
Hence it became the du.y OF the govern
mcns not to wait for the application OF
the scyera! states, but on Tie receipt OF
such supply Of arms, as would admit ct
reasonable division, p,oinp'is TO trans
nit The same 10 the respective states s
territories.
Whether this has been done conform
ably with the provisions of the law. or
consistently wi,h those principles OF res
psct, equally and iuipa,1iaiiiv. which
ought ;n regulate the conduct ct the ge-
neral 9 yc,nment towards each member
of the couiederacy-ti.e history OF tie a.
r,oun, Of this iund-;he Distribution :.
the a,ms-aad The letter ct the scC.eta:.
Cf var viii determine.
The ace having passed in April, 1903,
it Is evident tina; g, this time one million
OF L.l.srs maSt have accrued under Ii,
ard ough, to have been appropriated To-
Ha,ds aiming the whole body oil the milf
IA Of The United States. OF this SUN
or the proceeds oil il, on The ratio OF her
contributions 10 the revenue OF Inc =.
States, Massachusetts would DC entitled
TO about oae-S!;h Part, having paid up
wards Of to-.y millions TOWARDS the two
acnd.ei AID ffeen millions OF dollars
duriced by ite United States under the
operation Of the federal gove:nment
but peedica,ed upon IHe more un'ayora-
bic satin IF ne law, which m ms case
n,.Sl govern, Massachusetts, although
capable Of Bringing into the feia an eli
frcilre force Of one HvDdfed and tweniy
thousand free white Citizens, for tic
purpose Of sustaining her rights, OF
checking uznrpa,ion. or Of repeiliDg In
"a ion, Wopld be entitled oaly 10 the
nd,ntrr o! a rs procured under the act
OF April, 1873 la tho ra-io th.t 1850,
Tie num5er 81 militia sgfceably to Inc
a.; rsiYsn 10 toe general govern eBt
iron ai;sss chrsest,s, bears IL 7o9.449,
she wrote rriatn OF the n4iTi;ta Of the L.
States Is cognal uaiCAted 10 cCRgress by
the President, Oh tire 18th Q! February OF
TIC prcsela ,esr-tEus Z rlng 10 ai&ssa-
ci.Eseus al ,8aIseulsbie claim, . vested
r,ssst- NAsIut the postr oi aiiSDacoii or
diversion, IL aay 6.psri ..-rEt of lhe sxD-
er4l gosera1Dsia, 10 sboat oae.iensh 81
lie sid sun Of one miii,on u -doii4rs al.
rssdy acipG4 pi2lsa. or 81 a5oDt Que tenth
81 ts= tnsa5er Of arms that have Scen
g1gucp I'd isetelrOsl.
And yoar comnA.ee furtiier report,
thai, ison The returns maze 20 congress,
" lac slr department ~ Decen5er
last, II zppesrs, tBaa contracts useer tbe
is~ oi TAG Cnised States Of April q,
1893, haze been asade for loo. 200 stands
OF arms, n jOco stands were contracted
for IN Mzss.c hnsetis, ALI 9-S75 were &C.
fuzlly delivered By tte manufacturers
within The state, prior 20 October iasla
and isz,, from these contracts, there has
been received By the general govern
usa:, six nonats klace, Sl,e4S stsnds