Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1815-01-19

ofbad administrations, il should, ifpossible.
be the work of peaceable times, and de-
liberate consent. Some new form of con-
federacy should be substituted among those
States, which shall intend to maintain a
federal relation to each other. Events NAV
prove that the causes of our calamities are
deep and permanent. They may be found
to proceed, not merely from the blindness
OF prejudice, pride of opinion, violence of
party spirit, or the confusion of the times
but they may be traced to implacable com
binations OF individuals, or of states. TO
monopolize power and Office, and to tramplo
without remorse upon the rights and inter-
ests of commercial sections of the union
Whenever 1t shall appear that these causes
are radical and permanent, a separation by
equitable arrangement will be preferable
to an alliance by constraint, among nomin-
al friends. but real enemies, infiamed bv
mutual hatred and jealousies, and inviting
by intestine divisions, contempt and ag-
erosion from abroad. But a severance of
the union by one or more states, against
the will of the rest, and especially in time
of war. can be justified only by absolute
necessity. These are among the principal
objections against precipitate measures
tending TO disunite the states and when
examined in connection with the farewell
address of the father of his country, they
must, it is believed, be deemed conclr.
sive
Under these impressions, the Conven-
ton have proceeded to confer and deiber-
ate upon the alarming state Of public affairs.
especially, as affecting the interests Of the
people who have appointed them for this
purpose, and they are naturally led to q
consideration, in the first place, of the
dangers and grievances which menace an
immediate or speedy pressure, with view
of suggesting means of present relief; in
the next place, of such as are of more re-
mote and general description, in the hope
of attaining future security
Among the subjects of complaint and
apprehension, which might be comprised
under the former of these propositions, the
attention of the Convention has been oc-
cupied with the claims and pretcnsious adj
vanced, aud the authority exercised over
the militia by the executive and legislative
departments of the National Government----
Also, upon the restitution Of the means Of
defence in which the Eastern States are
left; while at the same time they ara
doomed to heavy acquisitions of men and
money for national objects.
The authority of the National govern
ment over the militia is derived from those
clauses in the Constitution which give
power to Congress to provide for calling
forth the militia to execute the laws Of the
Union, suppress instructions and repel in
vasons. Also "to provide for organic
ing, arming and disciplining the militia;
| and for governing such parts of them as
may be employed in the service OF the y.
States, reserving to the states respectively
the appointment of the officers, and tho
authority of training the militia according
to the discipline prescribed by Congress"
Again, "the President shall be commander
in chief of the army and navyo the United
States, and Of the militia Of the several
states chen called into the actual service
of the United IN these specific
ed cases only has the national government
any power over the militia; and it follows
conclusiyely that for all general and ordin-
ary purposes, this power belongs to the
states respectively, and to them alone. 1t
is not only with regret, but with astonish-
| ment. the Convention perceive that under
color of an authority conferred with such
plajn and prec v limitations, power 10
arrogated by the executive government and
in some instances sanctioned by the TIVE
houses of Congress, of control over the
militia. which, if conceded, will render
nugatory the rightful authority of the in
diyidual states over that class OF men, ana
by placing at the disposal Of the NATIONAL
government the lives and services OF tho
great body of the people. enable 1t at
pleasure to destroy their liberties, and erect
a military despotism on the ruins.
An elaborate examination OF the princi-
pies assumed for the. basis of these extraya-
gant pretensons, of the consequences to
which they lead. and of the insurmountable
objections to their admission, would trans
cend the limits of this Report. few
general observations. with an exhibition OF
the character OF these prcsensions. ana
Recommendation of strenuous opposition
10 them. must not, however be omitted.
I, ,y;ii no, he contended that by the termg