The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1821-09-12


prevailed Of granting certificates of inal.ilitv
without sufficient examination, has tended
still further to aggravate the evil. How IA
tally these circumstances tend to lower thu.
character, and destroy the spirit of the mill
TIA, is too obvious to require any Illustration.
In the opinion of your committee, this me
quality might be much lessened, by exempt
ing from the poll tax every officer and soldier
who completely equips and uniforms himself
by diminishing the number of absolute and
conditional exempts, and increasing the sum
annually paid by those who are conditionally
exempted.
The effect of an exemption from the -poli
tax as proposed, has been fully tried in Com
necticut; and would, if here adopted, not on
iy be the means of doing an ast of Justice to
the soldier, but would greatly improve The
appearance and the spirit of the nlilita In
the opinion OF your committee, there would
be a manifest propriety in aboIishng nearlv
the whole OF the class of absolute exempts.-
1 ne number OF officers in the militia. who be-
long to this class, shews that there is in many
instances no necessary incompatibilty and
II there are those whom it may be improper
to compel to perform military duty, that fng.
nishes no reason why they should not be call
ed upon to constitute their proportion towards
the expense OF system, established for the
common benefit, and in which, as a body.
they have greater interest than those, upon
Whom the service actually devolves. WITH
regard to conditional exempts, the annual
tax OF two dollars is less than the expense tn
Whlch nose are subjected who actually per-
form military duty.
With regard to the second point, it is be-
heved that company trainings, as they are
/ UPnpr9IIV manaood IN, Dr.;.. H. ~ r
we are correctly informed, the case is the
same with few exceptions throughout the
Commonwealth do not tend much to impa1t
knowledge OF tacticks or discipline. The
company are usually together but half a day
!, at a time and they~are so long in organizing;
that very little opportunity i loft for other
and more important parts of military disci-
pine The same remark is in a great degree
applicable to reviews and the important
branch OF camp duty, and the other subjects
connected with it, is of necessity altogether
omitted. 1t is believed, that meeting in
| Regiments or Brigades for successive DAYS. en-
camping out during all the time, would, for
all the purposes of military discipline, be
much preferable to the present practice. The
interruption to business would not be much
more than is experienced at present !; and IL
the provisions, tents, &c. should be furnished
at the pubhck cost, the expense to individu-
ais would not be at all increased. By This
system, much real knowledge would be DIFF.
fused, spirit OF emulation would be excited.
and the soldier would perform his duty with
| cheerfulness; because he would feel, that. in
complying with the acquisitions of the law, he
was acquiring that knowledge which would
enable him, upon moments warning, sue
cessfully to array himself against the enemies
of his country.
With these views of the defects of the
present system, and of the amendments OF
which it is susceptible, your committee rec
| ommend the adoption of the following res
olutions.
Resolued,- That, in. our opinion. the present
militia system Of this Commonwealth is sus-
ceptble OF amendments, which would render
It more equal in its exactions, and efficient in
its operations.
<e01usoci, That, 81 cur opinion. every or =
Ger and soldier, who performs military duty.
and is completely equipped and uniformed.
ought to be exempt from the payment of a
poll tax.
Resoired, That, in our opinion, the number
OF absolute and conditional exempts ought to
be greatly reduced and that conditional ex-
empts ought TO pay larger annual tax than
is now required of them
RESOLVED, That, -in our opinion, Regiment
al or Brigade meetings for successive days
would be much preferable to the present
method of training and review.
Resolred, That committee of four persons
be appointed to confer with the other officers
OF the militia throughout the Commonwea lth.
to ascertain their views in regard to an amend
ment of the present militia system, and to
concert with them, and adopt measures to pro-
cure the desired amendments to be adopted.
BY order of the Committee,
ASA ROWLAND, Chairman.
This report being communicated to the off,
GERS of the Second Brigade of the Sixth Divis-
ion, meeting was held as before mentioned,
and the following resolutions adopted -
ResOlred, That the Officers now assem-
bled, do most cordially concur in the senti-
ments expressed by their Brethren of the Cd
brigade 4th Division, respecting the present
detective militia system, and of the expedi-
ency OF Legislative interference in the correc-
tron thereof, m the particulars therein speci
fed.
Resolred, That the Officers now assembled,
do highly appreciate the publick spirit and
patriotism OF their brethren, who were pres
ent at said meeting, and that they will most
cordially and zealously concur in adopting
similar measures, whenever they shall be
satisfied that there is the least prospect Of
making any favourable impressions on the
| Councils of the State.
Resotued, That it is inexpedient now to
no Iizo fbo / Al r