The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-07-09

Extracts from the ReU. Mr.. PlerpOnfS Ser
mon, delivered at Boston, before the Ancient
and Honorable Artillery Company at their
one hundred and 1lanetieth .4nniversary.
The Commonwealth has more than fifty
thousand men on her militia rolls. Grant
that these are called out for review, drill,
elections, and parade, no more than three
days year, and we have 10000 days
devoted to military duty by those who do
that duty. Allow, then, only one spectator
for one soldier-and it must be very stu
pld affair if there are not as many to, see
the show, as there are to make it,-and there
are 10000 days more. Allow, moreover,
only two-thirds as much time for each indi-
vldual to prepare for the feld-for fatigue
or frolic-and to recover from its duties, or
its debauch, as there is spent upon the
field and we have 100000 days more.
Now, allowing that there is truth in the re-
mark of native citizen of Boston, who
passes for a very sensible man, viz. that
"Time is money" and allowing one day to
be worth only one dollar, the militia Of
Massachusetts costs the state of Massachu-
sets, half million dollars year. make
no account here of the money spent upon
arms, ammunition, uniforms--the ammunition
that is burned up-the muskets and swords,
and the costly coats ofmany colors that are
tad ap-treasures that are kept for the
moth and rust to corrupt, three hundred
and sixty days, that they may glisten and
look gay for five I'll make no account of
moneys, or the morals, that are thrown
away in the low revelry of tents and tav-
ems, though of these things there is fear
full account made by "the Judge of all tie
earth 81 estimate even the time of the
militia-men at less than one-third of the
value which, in the form of. fines for non-at-
tendance, the law itself gives it, and the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts pays half a
million of dollars year for the protection
which it seeks from its militia system.
Now, what is the danger against which
protection is purchased at this rate There
are but two forms of danger against which
military force can protect the people Of
this Commonwealth danger from irsSar-
rectlOn, and danger from inraSion. What is
the danger to the citizens from insurrec-
ton? You have already answered this ques-
ton, my hearers, in the view you entertain
ed the sanity of that good farmer whom we
just now supposed to have made his house a
| castle, fortified and guarded according to
the usages of feudal times. And if there
icere danger from instruction, the insur-
gents will have gained, from militia drilling,
the same advantage in the use of arms
against the loyalists, as the loyalists would
have gained against them ;-and it is worth
our while to inquire what benefit, in time
Of civil war, would result to the whole body
polite, by having previously strengthened
each Of the hands of which both are using
all the strength they have, in tearing the
body to pieces. From the danger of insur-
rection, then, how are you protected by
your militia, granting that there were dan
ger from that quarter?
And what is our danger from invas;orp
that we sacrifice so much of our substance
to be protected from it?--What is the dan
ger of Massachusetts What if this Sam
son of the New England family rest,--ay,
sleep even,--on the lap Of Peace +? Who are
the Philistines that are going to be upon
t'sn before he can wake up and shake his
locks at them3 Are the Winnebagoes, and
the Pawnees, and the Flat heads, coming
down to argue with us the title TO the hunt
ing grounds Of the Pequods and the Nara
gansetts ? And are we willing to COM