Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1814-10-24

the documents accompanying the same. hoo
leave TO report as to so much thereof as relate
to the application made to the Secretary -
war, on the subject of having the militia callod
mo service tor the defence of this State tha,
In their opinion, the application of his Excel
lency TO the Secretary at War, on the seventh
OF September last, on the subject of the milf,
was mighty proper and corresponds with the
watcbiulness and zeal which his Excellence
has always manifested, in guarding the rights
and interests of this Commonwealth.
That the answer OF the Secretary at War
TO the application SO made, IS OF character lust
~ to alarm the citizens of this State, and espe-
cIaly that portion OF them who have been. and
those who may be, necessarily called into ser
vice, and who will also be called on, 10 nav
their proportions, respectively, of the sums as
sessed, and to be assessed, as direct taxes no
part OF which sums seems intended to be an
piled in defending this State from invasion. or
In compensating the militia for their services.
The tenor OF the answer of the Secretary
at War, has induced your Committee TO recur
to the principles OF the compact entered into
between this State and the United States.
1t is provided in the fourth section of tbe
fourth article OF the Constitution, that The
United States shall guarantee to every state
III tins union, republican form of government
and shall protect each of them against inya.
sion. 10 enable the United States IN Do
tins, power is given by the eighth section Of
the first article, 6 to call forth the m;l;ta n
execute the laws of the union, suppress jns,u-
rections, repel inyasions; to provide for orqa-
nlzlng, arming, and disciplining the militia ;ior
governing such part oil them as may be employ
ed in the service of the United States. resery-
ing to the States, respectively, the appointment
q Tie 9Gscers, and the authority of training the
militia according to the discip line prescribed
by Congress" And by the second section of
the second article, it is provided, that CO the
President shall be Commander in Chief of the
Army and Navy of the United States, and of
tie militia of the several States, when called
INTO the actual service of the United States"
Before the adoption of the national form of
government, the state of Massachusetts posses
sed every attribute OF. sovereignty, and the
people OF this state would not have surrender.
ed those relating TO peace and war, negotia.
ton with foreign power, and to the resources
OF this community, founded in taxation. but up-
on the assurance, that the surrendered attributes
would have been used, among other purpo-
ses, to provide for the common defence, to pro-
tect this state against invasion. TO promote the
general welfare and to secure the BLESSINGS
OF liberty to them, and their posterity. At a
moment then, when war voluntarily common
ced by our national rulers, is prosecuted to
conquer the provinces of the enemy. and is
fetaiiated upon the Atlantic states, with DOW
eriul fleets and armies, which according to the
late proclamation of the President of the Uni.
led States, have come to desolate every assail-
able place, the Committee cannot but consid-
er the answer OF the Secretary at War as fur
Their evidence OF disposition on the part of the
present administration to withhold those equal
benefits OF the union to which this Common.
wealth is entitled
1t appears from this answer, that the govern
ment OF the United States, soon after the com.
mencement OF the war, Anticipated that g the
sea board would be exposed to some degree Of
danger, according to the spirit with which the
war might be waged - and although the ar.
mics OF the United States were employed to
eject the conquest OF Canada, and it was, there
Iore certain that the Atlantic frontier would be
invaded, the only provision made by the Uni
ted States against the impending danger, con.
sisted in dividing the IT, States into military dis
iricts, with certain portion of regular force,
artillery and infantry, under an officer of the
regular army, of experience, and high rank,
with Powerto call for the militia as circumstan-
ces might require
II this arrangement was intended as per-
torrance OF the highly responsible duties,
winch the Y. States had assumed towards the
individual states, ii behoves the state of Mas
sachusetts to inquire, whether these acts were
a performance of these duties and if not, TO
seek that redress which is consistent with its
rights : and to ascertain the measures neces-
sary TO be adopted TO meet the dangers which
the policy of the national government has pro-
duced.
The Committee do not find in any terms,
used in the Constitution, nor by any fair con-
struction OF that instrument, power vested in
the President of the u. States, to place the mi
lltia under the command of any officer OF the
regular army of the United States. When the
militia is called forth for any purpose, intend
ed by the constitution, they are to be COM
manded by their own officers subject TO the