American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1827-10-30
FOR THE wATcnMAS.
TIE .Wi:,.;a Lac Of the State Of Dplumor,

The ,Uitrta Lac Of the State Of DptdWore.
If the eril overbalances the good resulting from
any law that Iaw itself an erit and ought to be
repealed or SO amended as 10 he beneficial to seci-
lety.
| propose examining the disadvantage and in
Justice of the present military system OF the state
Of Delaware not that am opposed to whole
some and just system; (or consider the enlight-
ened militia Of our country the best and surest safe
guard Of our liberties,) but because believe the
present system is unjust and oppressive. 1t is I'M
Just and oppressive because it severely taxes one
portion of the community, and that small por-
tion for the benefit of the whole state. | consider
it further an evil, because it is dcleterous to the
morak Of the community.
For the purpose of showing the Partially and
injustice Of the law, it will be necessary to exam
me. ho PAYS the expense Of the military estab-
lishnent and who is benefited, Gf any benefit
arises.) At the last census, there were upwards
of $4,000 free white persons in this state, one fifth
of whom are considered subject to military duty;
which would in round numbers be L 900 men
Each man is required to perform military duty
-four days in every year. or pay tne OF two dol
lars each dav. Now, it would be very reasona-
Bile calculation to suppose that the loss OF time and
expenses each day would be worth to every man
at least one dollar a day this would amount to
the enormous tar Of $4,000 dollars, to be paid by
the 900 arms bearing men of the state, annual
" and if these 900 men do not see proper
to lose their time and expend their money to the
amount Of 1000 dollars, they are subjected to
fine of two dollars, each day, amounting to the
sum of $4,000 dollars Laws enacted for
the purpose Of dispensing equal justice to the citi
zens. and for the protection OF property and each
citizen is made to bear the burden IN equal pro-
portion according to his means and the amount OF
his property to be protected.-Ihi IS Just--but
this militia law taxes every militia man alike,
whether he be rich or poor. The man who has
900 dollars worth of property to protect, pays
no more than he who has no property at all ask,
is this Justice? But this is not the only unjust
feature in the Law. In other laws for raising rev.
enue for the support of government, every man
pays poU tax, which is considered tor the pro-
lection of his personal rights independent OF
that property paws in proportion to It's assessed
value but in this militia law ll,0G0 militia men
nav at least $4,000 dollars annually, not for the
protection Of themselves alone, but for the protec-
ton of 70 or so thousand inhabitants, and all the
public and private property OF the State. 1t could
not be expected that women, children, or aged
persons, should do military duty but it would
be lust to expect that all persons who had proper
ty should contribute their Just proportion OF the
tax for keeping up a military establishment, ct
such establishment was worth the expense) as well
as for any other public purpose. expect to ex
anime some other bearings Of the law. for the pur-
pose Of testing its utility. JCsllCE.
Remarkable Fact.--Al the evidence produced
by Buchanan, Isaaes Eaton. and other friends OF
Cen Jackson. in regard to the intrigue respecting
The Presidential Election, most amply prove that
the onlv actors in the plot were the sworn friends
and voters for Gene,a! Andrew Jackson