The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-06-22


law IN question. For the purpose of exa
mining whether it vas not the intention Of
the law that the arms should be equally
distributed To each state, and To bring the
subject generally before the House. he
offered the following resoution-
Resolved, That committee be appointed to en-.
qure whether apy, and ii ,ewhat alterations are
necessary be raaje in the act Cor sriuins aud e.
qI,ppi.g the whole body OF the militia of the u
States anil whether any, and it any, what ste-
fstisns necessary, To the time when the
procured ny virtue OF this act shall he distributed
in each state and territory and that the commit.
tee aave leave To report 10y bin or o,berwise.
ar. Trouh said that, no ,doubt. the gen
tlem.au from Connecticut, in Offering this
resolve, had been actuated by the most
fair aud patriotic motyes-but he was well
aware that they would be liable to miscon-
sttuction-that the motion would be liable
10 he considered as calculated TO excite dis
trust and jealousy between the general and
.otate governments. 1t was very true, as
the gentleman had stated, that in 1905, the
Legislature did make an appropriation to
ward a complete arrning os the militia. of
the u. States, l. appeared in December
1912, from official information To the House
sifar an amount of 100000 dollars had actu-
a,lv been expended under the law, and that
$4,000 stands of arms had been placed IN
the hands OF a part OF the militia. This
number of arms to be distributed among
the great body of the militia. bearing but a
SIN all proportion to the whole, IT became
question, how these arms shonld be distri-
Suited. What was the far standard pre-
senting Itself to the goyernment To whom
should these arms have been distributed
To those states, surely, in preference,
wlicS stood in the greatest need oi arms
not 10 states not threatened with Invasion
not actually invaded----but to those which
were threatened. TO those which we're actu-
Iof
itself this rule, did distribate the arms a.
rnong the states. combining the distribution
principally TO those states which were most
jeapordized. In examining the apportion
ment of these arms, Shall find that no
thing like political prejudice has operated,
the geutemaa has seemed TO insinuate.
To three federal states $500 of the 16, 600
stands distributed, were given. True, none
were given to Massachusetts or Connccti-
CUT, two federal states--hut, let it be ecoi-
lecyea, none were given to New York, al
ways decidedly republican in the mass Of ITS
people--not single stand was given TO
Pennsylvania, the centre, the sun Of you
why of democracy, who has always sup
ported the present administration by ma
Joritv of about thirty Thousand votes. Vir-
giuia. the ancient dominion, whose influence
is said to be every where present, did not
receive single staod. He submitted TO the
gentleman aud 10 the House whether In this
dis, ributicn, there hal been any thing like
political Partially. Gentlemen in OPPOSITE
O. from the L istern States, did the mselves
declare. when the law of 1908 was ON its
passage, that its principle was incorrecI &
radically wrong ; because. under the pre-
sent system Of militia, having carried the
law into execution. the militia of the E.as-
tern States we're completely armed. We
we'll recoilect that a gentleman from New
York gos up and stated, that their militia
we're NOT fully armed; but the gentlemen
on the other side Cont aiict>d him. aud de-
ciarSa that tl.eir milita were seii armed,
When this fact wa repeatedly stated
the foor Of Congress, and was perfectly
well known To ali, what was the executive
40 do i'm regard 20 the distribution of the
few arms which had been procured -
Unquestienably to distribute them in the
first instance, hot To those already armed,
and who could we'll wait, but chose who
stood in need Of them. This course it had
pursued.
Mr.. Pitkin said he was not little SUR
priced that the gentleman should have ta-
ken SO wide range in opposition to reso-
luton the object of which was merely to
enquire into the propriety OF amending
law, He was very sorry also that the gen
tleman should have introduced distinction
between federal and democratic states
Sure lie was, MIR. p. said, that he had SAID
nolhlDg which could lead TO the observation
winch the gentleman has made on this head.
Ihs gentle nan himself certainly would not
pretend that a discrimination ought to be
made between states according to their po-
litica Complexion Mr.. p. said he had
made no charge of partiality. lie had sta
ted that a construction had been given to
the law different from that which the Lee
gislaiure Intended; and this fact, which is
the very object of the enquiry, tn, gentle
man seemed to admit. Ii the Secretary of
War could designate the states to which he
would now give arms in preference and to
the exclusion of others who are equally en-
titled. he may do so for any length Of TING
aud particular favorite states (if he might
say so) might have the whole of their mill
liz armed, whilst to the others not q single
nusket would be given. This was never
contemplated by those who passed the
law. r. tch state paid It's proportion Of the
revenue wDicb WAS applied to the purchase
Of arms and each state, whether we'll or
alarmed previously, ought to have its pro-
portion OF arms. Mr.. P. quoted the report
made at the lsst session, trum which il ap-
pelred that To- coo stands OF arms only had
been distio ed ehdsr the Law. Some bad
been toagsG, 70 the amount Of about 5000
ftapda--a q - eSstFBeut was certainly
not Authorised to f0an arms procured under
q special appropriation Tor different pur-
nose. The Ioanipr was in vioIaftoo NJ fha