American watchman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1814-1822, 1822-02-01
MILITIA FINES.


either benefit a nuisance.
| MILITIA FINES.
| Under the Congress head in our last, we gave our
readers detailed account Of the fines assessed in
different states for the non.performance OF military
duty during the last war. The Gentleman (iNr
Lo7prie from Pennsylgapa) who brought this bust
ness before Congress- wishes to vest in the respect.
i've States the right Of the United States to all the
Zines accruing. BY what plea this request can be
Sustained, we are at loss to conjecture ;-nothing
THAT the gentleman yet said upon the subject is at
lal satisfactory sit is true that Pennsylvania is
deeply interested, and so is the treasury of the
IUnion. Pennsylvania furnished, beyond all doubt
1889 men more than required; but il it must be re
colected that very considerable portion of these
we're volunteers, and not drafted from the respective
companies Her readiness to obey the requlsition
has ever done her citizens credit, but admitting all
this It does not go to prove the claim of any state
| to the fines. The President of the United States
IreGured certain quota OF men from the different
lstates-these men were drafted from the muster roll
OF each company, and the aggregate amount brought
into the field and placed at the disposal Of the Gene
| raj government.-1he case may thus be stated -
A, b and G are citizens Of the same state: A and
B are both drafted. obeys the requisition and
conducts himself accordingly; refuses 10 obey
the summons and becomes liable to fine for disc
bedence c influenced by patriotic motives, shout
ders his musket, and voluntarily submits to the pr
vations OF camp. In consequence of the public
spirit OF C the state to which he belongs, is enabled
to send her complement Of men into the field B
must be punished for his contumacy after the draft
he was not citizen Of any particular state, but SOL
+ der in the service of the United States the
muct of consequence belongs to the Uuned States
and OF right should be paid into their treasury.
| The patriotism OF does not invalidate the claim
OF the general government against B, give the
state IN which he may reside, the shadow of claim
to the sum levied. The sum of the fines assess.
ed IN eight states appears to be S48S,685 al a
sum OF considerable magnitude, and of which Penn.
lsylvania is indebted S243,6o9 Al upwards of one
half In New Hampshire but three fines were as
sessed, amounting to S190: It's presumed, there
fore' that her quota of men were furnished how
many more, 1t is not in our power to say. The dis
tribution will not be just should Pennsylvania re-
ceive such large proportion Of the public money
into her treasury.
/ The expense of collection it SEEING, is enormous !;
IT will rest with the proper officers to give the pub
lie the reason for such exhorbtant disbursements
1t would appear from the proceedings of Congress,
tbata strict scrutiny will take place. Mr.. Buchanan
submitted to the honse on January "a, resolution
to the following effect: that committee be APP
ponted to inquire why no part of the money col
lected for nlliia nes in Pennsylvania had been paid
into the treasury: how much had been collected by
the late and present marshals, respectively: the
name and place of residence of their deputies how
much money remains in the hands Of the deputies,
and how much has been paid over to the principals :
what causes have prevented suits being Instituted
against the late marshal,-his deputies and their
sureties; and under what authority and by whom
and to whom the sum of "a ,531 II has been paid
out OF said fines to defray the expences of courts
martial. Should all these queries be answered, we
think it will develope scene of fraud and pecula-
Ition unexamped in the annals Of our government !;
lii is time that this business were strictly inquired
into and the public defaulters exposed to the view
lof their fellow citizens.
n The reasons adduced by Mr. Buchanan for intro
ducing the foregoing resolution are creditabe to
him as an honest man, and public spirited repre-
E sentative. They are as follows;-
SIN offering this resolution, Mr. buchanan said sense of
duty and not desire to give trouble and reflections
on any officer of this government, compelled him bring
before this house the subject of the collection of militia
fines from delinquent militia men in Pennsylvania lie
woud he said state the facts connected with it, and which
were so many why the resolution should pass with
cut doing more at the present time The state of Penn
syvania during the late war; furnished her full proportion
OF men and OF money to the general government
Bile them to carry the contest She furnished than
her quota OF volunteers and militia 1t however happen
led that owing to the pous and peaceful habits of the c
zens of that state conscenously scrupuous of bearing
arms, there occurred, in obtaining the number OF me re-
quired by draft, great number of delnquencesJ which