Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1817-01-08
From the Albany Daily Advertiser.
I he Mintia.


secretary Of War" for chasing and arm
mo- the Militia. So far as we recolisc''
sppears 10 be very yearly, it not exact
|iy. like that winch was before the House
the last session, and which was postponed
|toa more convenient sea.un We have
published il at length fec the beneht Of
|aur readers. because il is one OF those
subjects in which every man in the cou,
musity, let his politics be Of what ca
|they may, has di ect and highly imPof
ltast interest. The great features OF this
lp'an are;
/ I. To divide the militia Of the U. s. in
Ito three classes-to be called the mino',
liupier, and SENIOR classes. The mine
class, to comprize all persons betwee'
eighteen and rweuty.one years Of age
the junior cIsss, all persons betreet
ltwenty.one and thirty.one years-snt
the senior class, al persons between tia
lty one aud forty FIVE years.
Tho minor class shall be liable tc
lbs called into The service of the U. :.
within the State or territory TO which
l,hey belong, for term not eScee,llag-
lmonths-the senior class shall be liabls
Ito be thus called into service, IN the
State or territory where they belong. aud
int the adjoining States Or tsFri'orir-'
mt e1cesd,ng-months--ardt the nil
lila Of the iurior class shall be liable tn
the performance Of any duty rcquirabi
| of the militia, under the Constitution oil
the U. 8. not exceedipg--months.
S. The miusr and junior classes, OF
each division, sail be Annually assembled
at not more than TIVE environments eaG
division. t. be trained under the auihnit,
Of he States, accord az 90 the 'y'tem 81
ld.seiyine which is or may be adcpte'.
Tor the COVE nment Of the army and Of
ticcrs of experience are to be detailed b.,
1.-THE EXECUTIVES d the several states, to
organic and command them Sc assem-
bIrd. ,nt il is made the duty of al.
h,'hee officer, between t".nty one an
thirty one years ut age. 10 attend such ~,
Icampmcnt. aud TO act in any capacity u,
.;af or non colnmis.ioned effcrrs whic.
may b. assigned them. Cavalry all"
lbelorgiag 10 those classes are to atleni
aud be instructed a, inianty.
4, he militia empuy ed in the service
If 'he U. states, shall be subject 10 the
rules aad a; ,ieles OF war.
5. Every officer non c"mmis stoned Of
fcer, or private, when ca ed into the
service ofthe U. s. by the President who
shall refuse to sbev the orders Of q SD
perior officer OF militia. ,hall be Liable II
be tried 10y court martial, aud receive
.uch punishment as i, pointed sut by the
martial law for similar eIfeuces \ If any
r~soa Il. ach.l a, af,rAs aid, who ,ha.
refuse or neslec to march, and JOIN nis
Icorps, v hen ordered so to do by his ~.
Ipsrlor officer, he shall be considered as a
Ideserte,, aud shall be dealt with accor.
Iding!y.
The above are some Of the INST i'm
portap, Parts of this plan. Web en-
dea,oured TO simplify them in such &
manner. that they may be easily under.
stood bv every person who may feel il.
ltere.ted in examining the subject 1t will
of ceurs 90 before the military commit
Itee of the House, who undoubtedly will
report bill to carry it into effect. We
shall expect shortly to see in what man.
ner they will treatit. About this, how
erer. there probably, need be but it'll,
doubt, as it is faveurite measure with
1.-THE Admin stration-one which they pro.
badly mean tn pursue until they have &C,
comPllshed it, or are fairly beaten of
from it by public opinion:
| We presume bill is already prepar.
led {: IL so, IL will soon b. before the couu.
tr,. Indeed, It is more likely tl,an not
THAT the one before the House the las1
session wilt be re produced. That biz
snd this plan, If carried inte execution
will transfer from the States, to which
they belong, to the U. States, the whole
effective militia, and whenever the Presi
tdeis shall so will it to be, will change the
militia into regslar soldiers. This is a
pretty seriou- consideration, not only for
individuals, nut for the States, because
II is, In ouh view, a direct inva ,ion OF
their sovereignty, which. if submitted Ia
in one instance, will soon be called fav
in all. It's also tae most outraseausly
Impressive scheme that was ever inyent.I
,for the purpose of burthenng free poo.
iple.
However, as il our purpose to examine
this subject a little more 10 detail hereaf
ter, we will not extesd these remarks
further at the present time. We believe
1t more intimately concerns the right.
and privileges oil the militi,. and the in.
dependence of the State governments,
than any other MEASURE that i. likely, al
present TO occupy thri' attention.