The Litchfield County post., 1827-05-10

tentiary system ln other states, nave satIstac- tOrily proved, that system of criminal law may not only be eXecated without expense, but so as to yield considerable income to the state. No reason IS discovered why our State Prison, instead of occasiOning an annual expense of several thousand dollars, by an of it's police, may not be made source of actual profit to the state, while all the objects of punishment will be more effect. ualIy accomplished. This interesting and inn portant subject, occupied the deliberate at- tention of the General Assembly at the last session, and the erection of new State Pris- on was directed.
 The building of the ediice has been com under the direction of the cOmmis- sioners appointed to superintend it, whose re- port will be duly laid before you.-As the building will probably be completed before the termination of the current year, the expe- diency of establishing, during the present ses- sion, system for the regulation and govern ment of the prison, is presented to your con- sideration.
 To the National Government is committed the power to provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the militia. Scarcely any difference of opinion has existed among the most enlightened and patriotic statesmen, as 10 the necessity of giving all possible efficien- cy to this powerful arm, of our defence; and this subject has recently attracted the special attention of the National Government. Du- ring the past year, Board of Officers was convened at Washington, to take into consid- eration the present organization of the militia system, and to propose such alterations as their skill and experience might enable them to suggest, and their judgment should ap- prove. Their report was laid before Con- gress, at its late session, but the principles it expressed were not made the sub ject of de- fnitye action. The report presents the ex- cess of the number of men which the law of Congress requires to be enrolled in the mill tia, as the primary defect of the system and proposes so to alter the existing law that no person shall be enrolled in the militia who shall not have arrived at the age of twenty one years: it being considered by the Board, tEat the public interest and safety in time of peace, do not require an enrolment in the mi Etia at an earlier age. The proposed exemp- ton would preserve the rightful control of masters, parents. and guardians, oyer their apprentices, wards, and children the due ex- ereise of which, is at all times important to the best interests of society. The opinion has also been expressed, by committee in one branch of Congress, in accordance with
  cers, that it is expedient to exempt all persons above the age of thirty-fve years, from the performance of service in the militia. A mod |
 ication of the militia system, which should init the liability to enrolment in the militia, | o the period of life between the ages of l wenty-one and thirty five years, will consid- 'rably reduce the number of the militia, but | will increase its efficiency. It is not deem- d necessary to hold our citizeus enrolled for
 longer period, to accomplish any of the pur- 'oses for which the militia may be called into l ne service of the United States. The ne- essity which demanded the enrolment that vas required, when the population of the U. 'tates did not exceed four millions, no longer 1 xists, when their population is augmented | more than ten millions; and their mara me frontier will be defended by powerful ayy, and by formidable Notifications.
 No public exigency is discovered, which ow demands that masters shall be placed in le ranks with their apprentices, and that fla e trained by the side of their sons, or un- CT their command. The expeeliency ofshor- sning the period during which the citizens of lilitia, must be apparent, and it is hoped the 1easure will soon be adopted by the Nation Government.
 The states have reserved to themselves the of the officers, and the author y of training the militia, according to the discipline prescribed by Congress, and on the legislatures of the respective states, devolves he duty of passing laws to effect these ob- ects.
 The Militia of this state may be safely ! to be equal in organization, e. luipment, discipline, and efficiency, to the militia of any state in the Union.
 The exemption of such of our citizens as 'erform military service, and are armed, c. uipped, and dressed in uniform, according to aw. from the poll tax, has had a powerful endency to improve the militia, and has 'een followed by results demonstrative of the correctness of that policy. The reduction of he tax, by diminishing the induce,nent to a | complete equipment, and full compliance with the law, may impair the efficiency, and | cypress the spirit and ardor of the militia. It 5 therefore worthy of consideration, whether he burthens of that class in the community 1 'ught not to be diminished
 In my Judgment, frequent musters of the | militia, as they are generally, and perhaps ne- ,essariiy conducted, produce no considerable | advantage. They are Onerous to the militia, 1 'y calling them from their homes, and their employments occasion consid- erabie expense, and a loss of time, and un- | 1OubtedIy have Dernicious influence upon