The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-07-27

of Tyngsboro', Adams of MarOieneau' r-u"1'O'
Oh b''gh.on' Of REPRESENTATIVES, June p, 1881.
o-5-nS ST,o, ,be following Report aud Bill be
r.C.rred ~ ,be next General Court, ana puohshed
in the mean time III those ne"sPattI S"O
.lish the Laws of the Commonwye,1pDtppc N C,-.
80 If Represeniatives, June %, 1881.
TT" saiect COMMITTEES TO which were referred
a. o.ders of the House on the SUBJECT OF the
Sill TIA have had the same under consideration
md respectfuly report
Srho committee are OF opinion that the defects OF
,ho nresent militia system manifest, its bur-
dens so unequal, and many of lis forms SO unnec-
essary if not absurd, that material change there
an cannot be much longer postponed without en-
danreriug its very existence. From various parts
of the Commonwealth the committee have receiv-
ed information of an alarming state of imbecilty
and contempt into which this institution, the bull
ysrk of personal security, liberty and property IN
our republic, is represented TO have fallen. The
committee view the present crisis III the late oil
our militia system with too much concern to per-
NIT the occasion to pass by, without an effort TO
present to the Legislature and the people some
thing in the shape Of bill, which, though II do not
pass into an act at the present session. may yet af
ford materials for reflection and comparison, and
be found better than the present system. or lead
10 some thing better than either.
The first aim of the committee was to relieve
the standing companies from all unnecessary duty.
in which term in their opinion is embraced every
thing beyond enrolment, arming equipment and
one annual parade and inspection, to be had with
in their own towns, as evidences to the State and
Federal Governments that the other acquisitions
are complied with. From these duties the commit
zee are of opinion that citizen between the ages
of eighteen ard forty-fve ought to be exempted.
The encouragement which the bill proposes for
the volunteer companies, has been long demanded
sy Justice and oy the public voice. In all proba-
bility there never was in any country, body Of
men, who without external excitement, without
one aot of favor from the Government, or scarcely
an approving smile from the people, have maintain
ed their patriotic ardor and public spirit so long
the excellent volunteer corps Of this State. They
are without disparagement TO others, the soul of
our soldery - and for their perseyering services
and sacrifices during the several years that the
institution of the militia has been suffering and de-
graded in public opinion, they deserve well OF their
country For these corps the committee think
that Justice and sound policy demand of the Lsgis-
lature measure Of encouragement. The bill pro-
poses call them out for six days continuously in
IN each year, and to give them rations or a COM
mutation therefor in money for each day The
committee intended that the commute ton should
be sufficient to defray all the necessary expenses
of the volunteer CORPS except their arms uniform
and equipments. Even this may appear patry
relief but the committee think on the other hand
that to do any thing, which might infuse the mer-
cenary principle into the militia any corps there
of, would be alike repugnant to the genius of cur
institutions and to the pure and dsinterssted spi.-
IT which actuates our young men.
The committee propose the repeal of all eondi-
tionGl exemptions from military duty, and of all
exemptions from the poll tax in consideration OF
performing that duty. The remission of the poll
tax is, in regard to individuals, a small bu-
siless, and is very little felt except in the
arrangement of town finances. As to the ex-
listing exemptions of persons between thirty ano
forty-fye years of age from military duty, it i.
questionable if it be not repugnant to the laws o
the United States but whether it be or not
the relief of the great body of the militia from
less meetings and distant marches, removes, the
committee apprehend, the reasons for institutine
and extending those exemptions. The committee
are fully and unanimously of opinion that no able
bodied man, between the ages of eighteen and for
ty-five, oughtto be excused from appearing and ex-
hibting his arms and equipments once in each year
BY the operation of tho Pro-i-i =: ~l-tion Iu
volunteer companies, it seems to the committee
that body Of militia will be created in the course
of few years, which might vie with the elite of
any army of Republican soldiers Of ancient or mod
times. The whole expense Will not probably
exceed $4,000 per annum, while saving will be
made of time and expenditure, by the discontinue
ance of the old system to the amount of $500 900
TO say nothing of various incidental expenses. such
for example as that for powder furnished by the
selsemen of towns, and that for pensions to wound
ed and disabled militiameH, whose injuries have
generally resulted from trusting firearms in the
hands of undisciplined men. II cannot be doubted
that the volunteer corps which the bill proposes
high degree of discipline and military morality,
and high sense of honor will be cherished and
prevail, and that accidents from ignorance, care
lessness, and intemperance, will happen rarely if
at all.
The feature of the bill which the committee re-
gard with the most satisfaction is that it equalizes
in some measure, the heavy burden of maintaining
an efficient militia. Hitherto that burden has
pressed-nst upon the rich, nor upon the rich and
poor together, but upon the poor alone. Such a
disregard of justice between man and man, and OF
the obvious principles of political economy, does
not probably exist at this time in any other country
of the world. The militia is emphatcally the safe.
guard of the rich mans property there is no Ger.
tain protection for it at all times. and against all
persons except the militia, for we can have nc
standing armies here. What then is the spectacle
exhibited by the present state Of legislation or
this great subject? it is not precisely that Of the
rich taking from the poor his little lamb, bu
IL is that of the poor man, compelled by arbitrar'
laws to leave his home and to slay his lamb for thu
purpose of subsistng and clothing himself, while
he keeps watch and ward around the castle of tn,
rich! 1t is not the fault of any particular elias
that this state of things exists. 1t is the fault o
our legislation and the force of habit
The bill proposes to throw the pecuniary burden
upon all the citizens in proportion to their proper
~, deemng thatthere is peculiar fitness in ever,
mans contributing part Of his wealth to sustain
an institution to which he owes the security of the
whole The burden, however of the proposed
system will be small the relief great and the equal
tz1Ilon OF the ouroen more important than all the
rest
The bill repeats the annual meetings of off.
GERS, non-commissioned officers, and musicians tc,
discipline; meetings found by experience to be ex.
psnsive, announcement, and produ tive of no good
There can be no useful drilling except by the famil.
lar instructions from day day ofspirted experience
ed and accomplished officers. IN lieu Of this ma
ehnery, which annually requires the assembling Of
lZ0OO to lo,UO officers non-commissioned officers
ana musicians, at distance from their houses the
Committee propose to create such troons and -
give such relief for necessary expenses to the Off
GERS as VIII render military commission in this
Commonwealth an object of ambition to the ablest
and best men amongst US. The Committee espe.
cialy believe and wish that retired officers of The
army and graduates Of West Point, who NAV have
again mingled with the common mass of the poo
pie may merit and accept their suffages for % hon
provisions of this bill will confer.
As this subject was referred to this Select Com.
Tnittee upon report from Standing COMMITTEES