Litchfield enquirer., 1830-05-13

c,rh;tiden by the nature and genius of our sr"rernment and the principles that animated she men of the revolution, and disenfhralIed from foreign bondage an oppressed people. That large standing army is incompatible with repnbl ,Ban institutions, is deemed an ak ioro in politics. On the contrary the Militia constitutes the safeguard ofindvidual and po- Iitical liberty. Embracing the body of the community, it may be confidently looked to, as an insurmountable barrier against the op- of power on tine one hand, and the agitatiOns and tumuIts of anarchy on the other. It is at once the guaranty of the Un- ion and the sovereignty of the States, execu- ting the laws of each, as occasion may require, on ihe Fundamental principle of submission 10 r;rhfft,l authority. In this strictly republican establishment. honorable distinctions are open fl, all. and should be conferred in free cleo lions. as rewards oflaudablc ambition and vir- tuous efforts in the discharge of an important public duty. The Militia system. by the ex- ercise. discipline and associations it prescrIbes' may. and should he made effectually lnstrn- mental in cultivating the becoming clvllties of social intercourse, manly and correct deport. ment. patriotic sentiments. just estimate or character "a due sense ofreproach,c ,commenda- ble desire of usefulness and distinction, m pro- nooting tranquility and order in the commu- nitv. and ardent attachment to the freedom II was designed to protect and maintain. 1.-The Militia he so essentially connected with the nnblie safety, peace, liberty and happiness, its osrran;zation. discipline and efficiency cannot cease to be objects of paramount concern.
 With these views it is painful to observe any indications of indifference towards this arm of our national defence. or an unwilling ness to perform a light militia duty. SD direct lv affecting our best interests, and the inde- pendence and liberty in whose achievement and maintainance the Militia have borne a conspicuous and honorable part. This spirit is too strongly manifested in the returns of the Militia of this State for the last year, which exhibit considerable diminutiOn of its num- bers. With gradually increasing population, inc aggregate of our enrolled & enlisted corps. has been reduced in one year, from twenty eight thousand to twenty-three thousand two hundred and ten. The munitions of War provided by the national government, in con formity to tie act for armns the great body nf inc Militia, being distributed amongst the resnec&iye States in the ratio of the numbers of thpir Militia, returned to the war depart
 n,ent. This result will materially affect tho interest of the State, by dimini shing its quot;
 of arms to be recei, ed under that act. There ;s reason to fear that the irregular, unequa
 and arbitrary exemptions from the perform ance of militia service thus indicated, may oc- casion dissatisfaction among the remainder of fine enrolled Militia, and general reluctance to comply with the requirements ofthe Mili- tia law. An evil, obviously ofso much mag nitude, and so threatening to the quiet of the Militia. requires an efficient corrective.
 The organization of the Militia should be carefully adapted to the condition and wants of the country. not subjectng it's citizens to unnecessary military service. Its liabilities and duties should be imposed and prescribed. and it's privileges and exemptions extended and allowed. on those principles of strict e. quality and justice which characterize our republican institutions. A limitation of en- folnents to the period between the ages of twenty one and thirty-6ve years. will produce in an the States an equal, just, and desirable reduction of its numbers, now unnecessarily large. It will also remove the alleged req sons for sanctioning scheme of classifying the Militia. whicle would be burdensome to the citizens of this State, and especially injurious to our enlisted corps ofinfantry, cavalry, ri- Aemen, and artillery. The complex machine " of annual details, drills and returns of de- tachmcnts, s0 often proposed, would thus be reud cred entirely unnecessary. Embodying men in the prime and vigor of life, the militia would then constitute an active force, sufi- ciently numerous and powerful to meet every emergency contemplated by the constitution.
 The proposed reduction will probably still leave the Militia of the United States at least eight hundred thousand strong. It is recom- n,ended alike by its salutary and just influence on the domestic relations, the mechanic arts, and the private business of society, and by considerations ofpublic economy con venience and policy, and whenever it shall be present. ed so nnconnected with provisions of question: able expediency as to be the subject of direct action. it may be reasonably expected to re- ceive the sanction of the General Govern u1ent.
 The Constitution of the United States wise- ly reserves to the respective States tn Ouy cOnfederacy, the authority of training the Mi litia. Each State likewise possesses the pow CT to exempt it's citizens " from Militia du;y,'' in such manner, and to such extent, as its laws may prescribe. It is important to inquire, whether, in the exercise of these powers, ad- ditional inducements to the prompt and reg ular discharge of military duty, may be right. fully presented, the interest and convenience of our Militia promoted, and it's discipline and efficiency improved.
 Agreeably to an act of Congress, one hun dred and seventeen copies of "a system of Exercise and Instruction of Field Artillery" have been forwarded to me hy the Secretary of War, to be distributed among the proper officers of the Militia of this State, for their ipRA. and the use of their successors in 0ifica