The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-03-25

act OF 1878. And who, in this wide coun-
try, does not feel thankful that the down
ward course of life of these aged and ven
I cradle men is cheered by this tardy art of
Justice? Now, permit me to ask, gentle
men, whether the militia are less deserving
OF regard, and whether they have not as
strong and imperative demands upon this
government AS those, for whom it has pro-
! vided They belonged not to the line /;
they were not called continental but, if
glowing patriotism, if personal sacrifices, if
perlling life, if the most distinguished SER
vices, and the most brilliant achievements,
constitute any claim, then have they de-
mands that are unanswerable. They were
the voluntary advance guard Of nation
coming into existence. They waited for
orders from no one fer there were none to
give orders, none to command but each
stood forth in the cause of liberty, deter
mined to live free or to perish. Under the
impulse of these sentiments, the farmers
rushed from their ploughs to avenge the
blood OF their fellow citizens at Lexington,
and to chastise the invaders of their rights.
This contest, which was the opening of the
great drama of seven years war, was
brought to successful issue by the militia
alone. Next, came the battle Of Bunker Hill,
as much and as justly celebrated as any in
the annals ofthis country, for the militia here
convinced brave and disciplined army,
that the unerring aim of the huntsman WAS
not to be despised or disregarded. The
glory of the 18th of June belongs to them,
and to them alone. Who enabled your
army to arrest the progress of Burgoyne !?
The militia here stood, shoulder to Shout
der, with your regular troops, and mingled
their blood with theirs in the eventful bat
ties which terminated in the capitulation of
that gallant army. The country, too, has
been proud of the laurels they won at Ben
nington, and at Rhode Island. 1t has, sir,
on almost every page of the history of that
war, acknowledged the splendor of their
achievements, and paid homage to their
vaor. Sir, the Committee has not time to
spare, that would allow me to enter more
into a detail of their services. | must lie
permitted, however, to inquire who it was
that constituted the physical force of the
nation, in the darkest and most doubtful
periods of that war? Who protected your
population from the ravages of the enemy
when the resources of your country were
so exhausted that she could maintain no
regular army? 1t was the militia. They.
at all times, entered your service when the
sacrifice what it might; and it ought to he
remembered, that their services were gen.
orally required when the peril was greatest,
and the danger most pressing. They were
every where sustaining the honor, the glo-
ry, nay, unfolding the very existence, of
the nalion- Sir. many men in this capacity,
were in the ranks from two to four years,
and some even longer than that. When |
say this, ] speak from authority which can
not admit of doubt. Who, permit me to
ask. were the militia Who the men that
performed such gallant service, without
which we should not enjoy the free air we
breathe, the free territory on which we
stand They were the bone and muscle
of your population, the farmers and mechan-
les Of the nation-men who left behind them
their families to seek precarious support
without their aid, and their private affairs
to go to ruin-men who brought their all to
the altar of their country, and offered them
selves as a sacrifice. rather than submit to
the sway Of unjust power. Sir, how have
these men been rewarded for such distin-
, guished services and sacrifices Your
thanks, your gratitude, your bounty, has
been poured out upon the regular army.
OF this | do not complain, for that army
deserves it all but the militia has been
forgotten. The obligation of the country
to them mas never been fully appreciated
and of this they complain, and Justly. Sir,
, they received the miserable currency of the
country at that day, currency almost
worthless. The regular army, speak now
: of Massachusetts, for | am better informed
rs to the mode of furnishing troops from
: that State than from the others, were bet
! ter paid for the last three years of the war
5 at least. The taxable inhabitants of that
State were, by a resolution of the Provin-
5 clal Congress, divided into classes, and each
class furnished its quota Of men for the reg
ular service, either by enlIstlng some Of its
: own members, or Ivy hiring and so little
was the credit Of the nation relied on, that
the classes were obliged to give their own
, personal security to the individuals enlist
ing, payable in gold or siLuer, before they
entered the service. Not so with the mill
I tia. They took the field, either voluntarily.
or by draft, under the most pressing emer
| gencles, when there was no time to make
contracts, or to execute bonds: when the
: question was, how shall we save the coun-
: try, and not how shall we get our pay.
They received in return what bankrupt
States could give, the unfeigned gratitude
OF their fellow citizens, and paper little bet
ter than rags. will admit, sir, for the
purpose Of argument, that the debt is can
celied in form-that you have their re-
; cepts-that they have discharged you from
) the legal obligation; but you procured that
; discharge Cor nothing; and ask, if it be-
comes the honor, tine dignity, the character,
of this nation, to shelter itself behind such
an apology? 1t Will do for plea in a
court Of law, hut not in court of con.
science. You were poor, and they were
generous; for they gave you the hest pc
Rod of their lives. You now are rich, and
they are both poor and old, and their labor