Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1814-12-22

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| Ii operates 100. most oppressive up-n
those of,hs Mj,itla "ho have no religious
| sctupies rs TO 5earirg arms. lhe h"m'
Der drafted frem ans particular com2a.
nv is in proportion TO ttc whole hun'hst
! o!,ac company; although II Il competed
hall Of men v:ose cunscjeDccs iorb:d
military service, ana Who, Of course ne
yer DO, aud never will serves yst the
anu.e nu.ubsri- ca!isJ !otth, and thus
While tbe.e Cbv;stiAas IRE -r:acl BY ac-
cumu!a,ed penalties, the residue have u
most oppressive share Of pc.aansl ser.
vice.
N;r. l.. said. in the ,l;striet he re-
presented, this description Of thcir
conrii.ien had. lately, 10 q great extent
been realized. Tie fines had nc.
cumula!cd 10 an amounf, which the
property Of tIiase oppressed people
coui.. nnt satisfy. II OF course must
be sacrificed undcrt,~e mars!lals ham
mpr ;anI 10 ease Of. deficiency. their
persons committed 10 prison 10 cxpi-
atc the sin Of serving their God with
perseverance and pure conscience.
Mr.. L.'said. when ha viewed Tie bono
velcnt genius Of the constitution of
his nntive state. the liberal spirit Of
her general laws. and the Eiasnani-
NOUS justice. whie:, she was in tho
habit of distributing to her soHs, I've
could not bni wonder. that this sam
Oh her policy. and her justice. was
suffered 10 remain. II was in direct
hostility to her own spirit. views, aid
declarations. In 1888, when ratify.
in. the constitution Gf the United
States, her coDventinn rendered bill
of rights to the union; and this was
the 10Th article ofthat bin "that a.
ny person religioasIy scrura!ous or
bearing arms ought TO be exempted.
npaa payment OF IN equivalent, and
heremploycd in his stead" MIR.
L. said. he cited rrsm rsemary, but
WAS sure that br vas Substantially
correct, How different from this is
the present practiee' The present
law is most unequal in IFS operation
The mass ofthe militia. having no
religious restraints. could perform
Ihsir duty in person. or al worst by
!ireins a substitute and a tour Of
duty performed. in either way. ex.
oneraiej them from further calls. mn
til every militia man. Of every class
had in his turn. gone through the.
same rrocess-l'hesc peaceful chris
iians, could not as they bc!ic led. un'
der the penalties Of eternal pcr:lii:on.
eater ysur ranks in arms. anil Ihey
are not easn;sts enough to believe.
,ha, they may inuocently do that by
substitute. which heprinoe Of peace
has forbidden them to parsora,
in person. They cannot there
fore deliver themselves from the con-
slant harrass;ay Of msrsl.a's. an5
!;nes and Imprisonment. liz every
ulass. they arr bound tetake \ chance
fer draft, and II unsuccessful in eve.
~ class. anti upon c.tTy draft, they
are subjected 10 II rouHd Of suffering
and oppressio,. Ms. l.. said il might
DO objected. that his amendment
would interfere with state militia
laws and regulations. Hc denied il.
orifit should, so he said. did all the
provisions ofthc bill. The bill con.
ta;ncd principles in open violation Of
the state rights; i, went not through
TIE state executive. but direct, to
the ranks Of the militia upon certain
contingency. Ii made iireet reqni
siiions upon those ranks, and annexed
penalties and puaishnents TO neglect.
or refusal 10 obey those acquisitions.
II was, Mr. l.. said against this as.
sump,ian Of power ha wished TO pro-
teet those people. Mr.. l.. said. il
gentlemen weu!d lcok at the hill.
they would lind that n power was
assumed. frsm which no state cxemp-
ton could deliver The citizen you
Impose fines aHd penalties in a NAN
Ber, which tho states alone have the
constitutional power to do. You
make call apan the militia, and
you doom those WHO 10 not obeylyour
call. without Discrimination. 10 line,
Imprisonment. aRd probably ruin.
In this way you approach directly. a
class Of citizens. who you kaow
would setter cruriffxion. sooner than
obey your requisition, and you leave
them ne refuge but in Your peaa!iies