Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1828-03-29
Communicated.
THE SIX MILITIA MEN.


States.
Article 7. Any officer or soldier who shall
oeSin, excite, cause, or jim in any muiiny or
seui'ion IN any troop, or company, in the ser
wee oil the United S ates, or in any party, pust,
detachment, or guard, shall suffer death, or such
"lher punishment as by u Court Martial shall
he inflicted.
Article 20. All officers and soldiers who
have received pay, or lave been duly enlisted
IN the service ct the United States, aud shall
he convicted OF having deserted the same, shall
suffer death, or such other punishment as by
sentence OF Court Martial shall be inflicted.
Art. 4s. Any centinel who shall be found
sleeping upon his post, or shall leave it before
he shall be regularly relieved, shall safer
aeath,s or such other punishment ms shall be
in1'cied by the sentence Of Court Martial
Art 55. Whosoevrr, belonging 10 The ar
mics OF the United States, employed in foreign
parts, shall force 4 safe guard, shall suffer
death.
Art. 81. No person shall he sentenced TO
snuer death but BY the concurrence of two
thirds OF the member. Of General Court Mar
tial. N.Y.
For having violated all of these articles were
!he PIX Mhiliamen condemned To suffer death
ny the unanimous voice Of regular. Just, aud
'a'r Court Martial, not member of which pre-
posed to mitigate their punishment The great
question whether Republic can safely trus,
ITS defence in amy degree to Militia was iavol-
we'd in the case
Every Officer aud Soldier of all the armies,
every Citizen Of all the States believed that the
british force would make II desperate effort to
retrieve the disgrace Of the defeat Of January
Sth. Wherever made, Militia only could be
brought up in time to rcpell it. If Gen. Jack
son had really wanted all confidence in militia
force, even as an efficient auxiliary 10 n small
regular Corps, in the way that the Allies ere
to the l.egons in the Wars Of ancient Rome,
ne wonld not have thought the character OF the
Militia, or the confidence of the Government,
ana oil the Nation iu- IL, worth preserving, by
such an example as he allowed to be made, with
!he advice OF all his Officers. But General
jackson HAD always acknowledged his conf
dence in Militia Force, and had triumphantly
demonstrated his own power to render il ctfecla-
al. tie never gave his assent 10 the doctrine
that standing Army sufficient for its entire de-
fence was necessary in a Republic. That most
important OF all political questions MS il re-
CARDS, not only the entire independence of pop
ular Sovereignty, but also the pecunary bur
mems to be borne by the people for the general
defence, had long been decided by him, as an
ardent Republican, both i'll theory aud in pr &C
tice. Washington had decided il otherwise :;
but he had not been brought up in the midst of
The people rs Gen. Jackson was, and moreover
eouid not Know what change in national cha
:. '""' 'eePev'' the iohS ana untnterrup-
ted continuance OF Government purely Repub-
'can was likely TO effect. Washington had
passed the early part Of his life in The COM
mand OF regular troops. He had 5neser been
well supportedby the Militia in any period of
The War OF the revolution. No one could be
better acquainted with the danger to the indie
pendent sovereignty of the people likely to a
rise from numerous standing Army than lie !;
Tor he had witnessed formidable threat which
1t required all his talents TO render Intellectual
and he knew too we'll that such virtne as his
own, on such occasions, was very rare. Jack
son has proved himself his equal in that res
peet, by ever refusing TO exercise pow or, miIit-
airy or civil, one moment longer than was abso-
lut"ly necessary.
Letter from General Washington to Com
gress of March 18th l777. see Marshall's Hi,to
ry.
Tho major part is made up of Militia. The
most sansuine in specu'ation, cannot deem it
more than adequate 10 the least valuable pur.
poses Of War"
Letter from Gen. Jackson to J. C. Calhoun,
January i2ih 1918, see Documents, Seminole
War.
'.'rhe Volunteers that have been invited 10
me hrid are ct tried materials and such M can
be relied on in the day of danger and trial
III is wei known that Gen. Jack son never one
moment desPaired of defending New Orleans
because his force for tai purpose was almost
entirely composed OF MILITIA
IL must DC remembered By all that the Army
defeated by the Indians in November I59I,
which was embodied under the orders Of Wash.
ingtop, aud commanded by General Of his own
deliberaive and uninfluenced choice, was a reg
nlar army altogether. he Militia we're ne!
ihen depended Oh even against Indians. Gen.
Jackson almost alone has thought The Militia
character worth sustaining.
Letter of Alexander Hamilton concerning the
public conduct and character of john Adams.
President Of the United States, New-York,
1900. ...
1.-THE last material occurrence In the Ad-
mlnislration Of Mr.. Adams, Of which shall
take notice is the pardoa Of Fries and other
principals in the late insnrrection in Pennsyl-
vania.
The General opinion OF the friends Of Gov
eminent demanded an example. as indis pepsa-
BILE TO its security. The opinion was well found
ed. IL was essential that salniary rigour
she Md have been exerted. OF This, Mr.. Adams
appeared so sensible, that while the trials were
pending, he more than ouce impruilcutEy threw
ont, that the accused must found their bopes of
escape either In their innocence or in the ienity
OF the jnries' since from him, in case Of convic-
ton thew wnul1 ha nnfhin,. fo oxnocf