Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-11-10

! was now Specthc motion he would make
a few remarks. He had no objection to
anything that would make the militia re-
spectacle, while he was unwilling to tax
the enrolled militiamen, for the benefit
of any other inteles 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 is to
be procured. 1t was as unjust to fine
men for not doing duty in the militia mere
" 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 a late
muster in n. York, where the men were
dressed up in the most grotesque and
ridiculous manner, bearing the uniform
Of all nations and tribes. The militia
was disgraced and 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 the
Laws of Congress, and this State ought
to support it, or if the Legislature had
the power and deemed it ,expedient, at
once to abolish it. The present laws
were not obeyed, but evadcd in some
parts of the State.
| .Wr. Potter said, we lived in Rcpub-
llcan government and when the Legisla-
ture passed laws, the people were bound
TO obey them. Those who refused TO O.
bey the laws ought not to be entrusted
with arms to sustain the laws. If the
laws were not obeyed there would have
to be more coffin hand bills.
Mr.. Halle said, before we rebuked
others for disobediencc of the laws, we
as legislators ought to look to our own
conduct at home. The militia was or
ganized under the constitution, by the
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 ridt-
cule, and with it all those who bear arms.
If the militia was deemed useless we
should apply to Congress to have it abol-
ished without doing indirectly that which
we cannot do commercially. When the
Legislature shows disposition to sus-
tain the laws, then may the citizens be.
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
ance societies.
Mr.. Simmons withdrew his motion with
a view that resolution might at this time
be brought in and considered.
MIR. Potter remarked, that it had often
been said in the Legislature, and pub
lished in the Legislative organs, the
newspapers, out of the Legislature, that
he was inimical to military men. The
fact was not so; he was friendly to militia
ry men and to their credit he would say
that he never saw man possessing the
true military spirit who was not gentle
man; although his garments might be
worn thread bare, and his pockets be en-
tlrely moneyless, they nevertheless sup
ported the true character of gentlemen.
No man had higher respect for militia
ry men, than himself and he wished to
save them from the disgrace of training
in the militia.
A bill from the Senate authorising mi
litia officers to take their engagements,
was, after short discussion, laid on the
table.
lne House adjourned to 8 o'clock.
Wednesday .allernoon.-A number of
private petitions were presented, receiv-
ed, and referred to Committees. Moth
ing of a public nature was done. All the
important business yet remains in the
hands of Committees. The House ad-
journed to Thursday morning. /
Thursday Morning g.-The two Hous-
es joined in Grand Committee, to read
the report Of the Committee appointed to
count the votes for members to 22d Con-
gross. The Committee reported that the
whole number of votes was 1896. That
Tristan Rurgcs had 293l, Dutee J.
Pearce 2727, that there were 5l9 scat.
tering votes, and that the said Burgess
and Pearce were legally elected MEM
bers of the 22d Congress.
The Committee on the Cry CHARTER
recommended the granting of the Char