The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1831-11-08

"sS =" TIC present cOndition Ol our
militia laws. The community was suf-
fering an actual evil from the present
system; and that nothing but Legislation,
can possibly remove. He had been in
formed that not one Militia Officer, in the
county OF Providence, had taken his en-
gagement. The conse auence was ,bat
the militia was totally abandoned. II wns
clearly wrong that the State should be
entirely without a militia. There be-
ing no officers there would be no returns
to the war department and this State
would lose its quota Of arms due from the
United States. Some plan might and
ought to be devised to render the militia
respectable. The present fine operated.
exclusively on the poor; the rich could,
pay it without inconvenience, while it
cost the poor man two days labor. Train.
ing in The militia was duty that allought
to perform, and which all ought to be
made to- perform, by fixing fine that
would equally affect ALL The lowest
fine might be two dollars, and the high
est twenty, to be fixed according to a.
mans tax, until that was done, the militia
would not be composed of the right kind
Of men. Other interests were also af-
iected by the present system: InCepen-
dent and Engine Companies are as ne
cessary in the country, as in the town Of
Providence, and Newport, and could not
be sustained The militia fines formerly
induced our citizens to join. those COM
panies, but now the fines are SO low, that
they cease to have that effect. These
suggestions were made in hopes- Of inc.
ducing some gentleman to introduce a
bill on the subject Of the militia. at the
present session.
Mr.. Simmons moved to refer the sub.
ject to the committee on the militia.
Mr.. T.. X. Potter, said he was unable
to see the object of the remarks, made,
by the Speaker of the House; as there.
was now specific motion he would make
few remarks. He had no objection to
anything that would make the militia re-
spectacle, while he was unwilling to tax
the enrolled miltiamen, for the benefit
Of any other interest. The members Of
the Independent Companies considered
themselves too good TO do duty in the
militia, and if they were aggrieved they
must come to the Legislature for redress.
As to the Engine Companies, men must
be hired for them just as other labor isto,
be procured. 1t was as unjust to fine
men for not doing duty in the militia mere
II to make them Engine men, as it would
be to draft them for that purpose. The
militia was degraded. He would call
the attention of the Legislature to late
muster in N. York, where the men were
dressed up in the most grotesque ant
ridiculous manner, bearing the uniform
Of all nations and tribes. The militia
was disgraced ard he felt compassion for
those who were obliged to do duty, in it.
The Speaker said that the militia was
established by the Constitution and tha
Laws of Congress, and this State ought
to support it, or IL the Legislature had
the power and deemed it expedient, at
ouce TO abolish it. The present lnws
were not obeyed, but cvadcd in somo
parts Of the State.
Mr.. Potter said, we lived in Repub-
lican government and when the Legisla-
ture passed laws, the people were bound
TO obey them. Those who refused 10 o.
hey the laws ought not to be entrusted
with arms to sustain the laws. If the
laws were not obeycd there would have
to be more coffin hand bills.
MIR. Halle said, before we rebukcd
others for disobediencc of the laws, VIC
as legislators ought to look to our own
conduct ut home. The militia was or
ganized under the constitution, by tho
laws of Congress. Each member of this
House has sworn to support the constitu-
ton Of the United States. The recent
laws Of this State indirectly defeat the
provisions of the constitution. The
course pursued by this Legislature is to
convince the public that they are not
bound to obey law which they can C.
wade. Our laws were calculated to bring
the militia system into disgrace and ridi-
cule, and with it all those who bear arms.
If the militia was deemed useless wo
should apply to Congress to have il nbol-
ished without doing indirectly that which
we cannot do commercially When the
Legislature shows disposition to sus-
tain the laws, then may the citizens DO
expected to show corresponding dispo-
sition.
Mr.. Potter denied that the State had
ever directly or indirectly violated the
constitution or the laws of Congress-
The constitution does not require those
military musters at which the men may
meet at grog shops and drink and frolic
ten times more to their injury, and Of the
injury of the cause Of morality, than all
the benefits that can possibly be derived
from the beneficial operation Of temper