The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1823-02-25
PAYABLE YEARLY.

regular troops. If warfare is protracted, dscia
pune will 10 due time supply the place of this
rcslstless but transient arior And | hazard
nothing by the assertion, that one week in ac-
tual service will do MORT for discipline than the
whole life Of a man who is dragged from his fam
liy balfa dozen times in the year to expose bis
health to the elements, bis awkwardness to the
public gaze, and his morals to the contamination
OF electioneering treats.
IL 40 real good is effected, are no positive evils
produced9 Fifty thousand men drawn away
from their homes and occupations, six times in
the year, deduct from the useful businesses Of
lie, labor that's worth, at moderate estimate,
one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Ii 9TH
er-words, the Industry Of North Carolina is an
lars, for an unattainsbIe object. No substantial
benefits are obtained, and the injury inflicted
upon property and morals is incalculable!!
woald Hereford, take the liberty respectfully
to recommend as measure eminently calculated
to promote the public veal, that the Militia be re-
strcted 10 muster but once in the year, and then
merely to continue their organization aud to
bring officers and men 10 knowledge Of each
other.
These observations are the result Of deliber-
ate Judgment, formed with all the lights afforded
BY twenty-iour years Of eKperiehce in different
offices in the nilitia, --on muster grounds in the
halcyon days Of peace, and in the tented field III
tue stormy season Of war None will consider
them as intended to apologize for any former der
fciency Of zeal in myself entered the Militia
service with tire most sanguine expectations of
introducing reform and when in the Legislature,
nv most strenuous exertions to promote the
same object were sustained by the confidence Of
success. But the sober lessons of experience
have taught me the futility of all such hopes and
attempts, not only here, but in every state where
have had knowledge of the Militia.
!" In peace to prepare for war" is good max
i'm, but at all times to inculcate the principles
and promote the arts Of peace" is a better.
The expense of the means misapplied to pro-
mote the first object would, Improperly directedi
do much to advance both Il: and from the enlight-
ened and liberal principles which are prevailingJ
and from better estimates being now made than
heretofore Of all the objects Of human ambitions
/ look forward with pleasing anticipations TO the
more improved condition of human society in all
its relationship the essened frequency and miti=
gated horrors Of war, and TO the multiplied en-
bellishments and increased enjoyments Of peace
In rendering this resignation, which will prob
aOly be the last official act Of my life, cannot
withhold an expression of the deep sense of graft
tnde feel for the honors the Legislature aud the
constituted Authorities of the State have bestow
ed upon me, especially for the Office now aban-
don, and for giving me, in virtue of it, the COM
mand Of the military force Of the State, when
called into service at an interesting period Of the
late war, afording me thereby an opportunity
Of demonstrating my zeal for the public welfares
CALVIN JONES.
Raleigh, Dec. %, 1920.
IC Tnra a. an NJ nLt
afforded by twentyour years of experience in differ.
cut Offices Of the militia" has become fully convinced
that the popular system Of trainings and reviews is not
adapted 10 its end-that no Substantial benefits are
obtained" and that the injury inflicted on property
and morals is incacalable and if the same opins
ions are entertained by many officers of rank and ex4
perence is time that the subject should be inn
partially examined by of intelligence in all parts
OF the country?
Even the principles Of war and military defence,
if The calculations Of the General are correct the
practice of training must be regarded useless ex@
pense There is little danger that our country will
ever be inv led with less than months notice and
if l0esk in actual service will do more for discis
pline than the whole life Of man who is dragged from
his family half dozen times in the year for traiuE
ngs and reviews what possible need there be for
this enormous and disproportioned tax We say Dig
proPOrtiOned because grnds the poor while it is
scarcely felt BY the rich.
It is now 50 years since the close Of the Revolns
tionary War TO the whole Of the United States ths
various expenses for militia trainings and reviews
including time and money, have probably amounted on
an average to five millions Of do.ars annually On one
hundred and ninety millions for SO years If instead
Of this vast expense for improving men in the art Of
human destruction tenth Of this amount had been
iudicously employed for advancing the science al
" peace on earth and good win among men," how
happy and glorious would have been the result Be-
fore this day. the character and policy Of the United
States would have commanded the respect and admir-
ration Of the world.-Friend Of Peace.
Good beginning.-A law passed at The late session
Of the legislature Of Massachusetts, removes of
the greatest grievances of the old law the requisitou
Of an unnecessary number of company trainings. By
the new act, officers only obliged parade their
companies one day in the year in addition to the in