American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-01-30


man in Wilmington can be named who say that such
an act was contemplated thought of week beforehand
by any citizen OF Wilmington. This is shameful and
wanton caumny against the inhabitants of Wilmington.
they spurn II with indignant contempt; and the who
could state this of them, must be- and is, foul and base
cafumniator Let Mr. Walsh him, and his character
will be found sufficient pledge of the tay of his nfor-
nation. WlLMINGTOSIAN.
The following communication did not reach usin
time for insertion in the last Waterman.
FOR TIE wArcRMAN.
TO the Honorable the Legislature Of the State Of
DeiaWare:
The memorial Of the Subscribers, citizens Of the
county Of New Castle, respectfully represents, that
in the opinion ofthe greatest OF American patriots
and statesmen, the chief defence OF our country
from foreign or domestic violence should be in the
militia thereof, and from the threatening aspect
lof the actions and professions OF what is preposte
rousy called the Holy Alliance OF the monarehs Of
Europe, we have some reason to apprehend de
lsgn to put down all free governments; The under
signed approaching The blessings and privileges
they enjoy, flowing from II kind benehcence OF
la most merciiul Creator and Perseverance, thought
is not inconsistent with our continued preservation,
to suggest TO your honorable body, what we conceive
10 be an improved system OF militia defence, that
would in its effect be most economical and at the
same tiiue most eticacious towards attaining so i'm
portant an object. The plan we propose would ex-
empt from militia duty in time of peace, the great
Ter mass Of citizens the poor and needy especially
would be exempted from duty peculiarly
rous and oppressive to them. The plan is as fol-
lows The state of Delaware has ten regiments
Eof militia, the commissioned officers, OF which, ex
elusive Of field officers, according to the United
Estates regulations, make battalion of 400 men.
These men should be organized, stationed, encamp
ed and disciplined, infantry battalion, say one
OF two weeks Of every spring or fall alternately in
the different counties, and 10 be trained and exer-
icised by an officer from the United States establish
ment at West Point, or some other competent OH
Ger. whose expenses should be paid by the state.
According TO this plan, and taking the population
OF Delaware as the scale or ratio by which TO APP
portion the militia Of the United States, would give
an effective force of officers OF more than fifty thou
sand men, who might, if thought necessary, be en-
poyed longer time in time OF peace, or as long as
might be required by law, and would be ready un-
der the authority OF the state to which they res
pectvely belong, to put down any instruction, and
in the event of foreign invasion would be nucle-
us around which the greater body OF citzensiwould
1 form living wall that would bid defiance to the
rest of the world in arms against us. In the event
1 OF your adopting some such plan as is herein pre-.
missed, one of its effects would be the better keep
ing of the muskets and accoutrements belong to the
state, thereby saving the expense OF cleaning and
perhaps saving them from positive and total loss
Another effect (the most important in the eye oil
your memoriasts) would be the formation and con-
ltinuance of we'll disciplined band OF officers, sub
lect to your orders in time of peace, as privates
and in time of war,as oicersas you might require
So confident are your memoriasts of the utility ,o
be derived from plan of this kind, that they ven
ure to suggest your honorable body the proprlety
of recommendation from the Legislature OF tins
state 10 the Legislatures of the other states OF the
q Union, that some such plan should be adopted by
them. They further believe that plan OF this
e kind, enforced by energetic laws, would produce
that confidence in the militia of these states in any
future foreign war; that would ensure success, or
late should otherwise ordan that it would give Il
. 1.-The enemy series OF bloody and dear bought vic
e tories. OLD MILITIA OFFICERS