Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1814-12-26

,onnded at night by rutflan soldiers, It's
..nctity violated, its doors burst open, and
me strugg ling child torn from the arms of
~. distracted mother Another instance, 4,
Itnow. where q child, entleed away and
Enlisted, run 10 the arms of his father for
safety ;--.he father and son were way laid
= hv armed soldiers in the woods, were at
.acked with swords and pistols, and the SUI
fering child forcibly taken Fl ON the wound.
ed parent.
Ifthese cruel,ies are inflicted contrary to
law. what accumulation of distress, may we
not anticipate, when they shallbe authorised
hv law. Ispesk OF facts. which do know
oflnstresses OF daily occurrcnce--of crimes
which have wrung the falher's heart with
anguish, and filled his house with misery
and woe.
This act, sir, authosisss your recruiting
officers to enlist into Your army. any free,
effective, able bodied man, between the
ages Of eighteen aud fifty Now, sir, what
Kind of free, able -budied man, is a strip
ling of eighteen, urder the authority Of his
paren,, or bound to a master! agree
with the honos able gentleman from Ken
lucky, Mr. Hopkins] whose zeal and in
,elligence have often admired [they
think were misapplied here] that the minor
contemplated by this bill is not
g The infant
Mewng and pulling in the nurses arms"
No, sir, can or ought he TO be-a soldier,
"Ful! of strange os,hs, and bearded Ike the
rard,
Jealous in honor, sudden and quick in quarrel,
\ Seeking he bubble reputation
Evea in the eanaon's mouth J"
would ask that honorable gentleman,
What such stripping would do in battle,
opposed 10 his huge. frame, and nervous
,rm Could he turn your bayonet, or stop
he descending sword Believe me, he
eould not. No, sir, boys Of this agt can.
pot bear the hardships OF camp, much
I kss can they Withstand the shock Of battle,
I q breast the storm of war.
II what have urged will not induce you
b arrest the progress OF this bill lappeal
y you'll bcceech you, as friends OF hui
y .msnity, 10 spare the tears which the pas
ssge Of this law will cause to ilow ap-
peal 10 you as fathers, by every endcaring
llie which binds you to your children, not
10 deprive The aged parent OF the child OF
e his youth the support and solace Of his
declining years., lest you bring his gray
hairs with sorrow to the grave. cntreat
you to make the case your own suppose
4 darling child, an only son, sns,ched from
you by the scourgs Of war in the Ian
guagc Of grief and Of nature, you will
4 then excialm !" Would 70 God, l had
died for thee, q Absaiom, my son, my
] .s1h - $ -
Il James Madison, President ofthe United
States is the father OF this system of con.
,criptisnNtcr America Gas his unfortunate
friend Bonsparte was Of Frsnce) this he
announced IN his message before referred
%, Is follows: IS l earnestly renew, at the
aame tim., Recommendation of such ehan-
/. Res in me system Qf mthtia. as by class,ag
jiscirining t1rths most prompt and active
service the portions most capable OF It, will
| give to that great tesource Tor the public
! safety, all the requisite snergy and effcien
\ 81" His plans therefore, substantial y en-
bnced by these conscription bills, were al
\ &twafds submitted 10 congress, by his Sc
}Mtlarv OF war, James Monroe, and ny him
lenpted TO be recommended 10 the A..
&erican people, by The plea of necessity:
"a s1aks the fiend and seth necessity
~ 10sf's plea. excuse d his devlhsD Deeds"
Tour President furthersays, in the same
0&age: I" We see the people rushing
yhenthusiasm to the scenes whc danger
duty call. In Offering their blood,
g.! give the surest pledge, that no other
| ulhnss will be withheld If this be true,
~ where is the necessity OF violating the
eogtauion 70 impose upon the people q
9l1tary despousm, and French eonscnp-
ia! That it is true, in one sense, the &C
mesldged and ,risd virtue and patriotism
q ~ people are proof But it is at the
esII cf the slate authorities (now our only
hcisut rulers) that they A. to srms, to
ssisad the soil, and every shisg dear TO
oen this they are able, this they are rea-
this they are determined to do, against
u msadsrs-uot however - a tribute 20
eto, but as sacred duty 10 themselves
= their country
Llote c0netuaed IN our ner'