The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-01-18

State in the Congress of the United States, to use
heir exertions To procure the passage Of law Tor
the more perfect organization Of the Militia of the
several States, were duly transmitted to them, and
nso to the Governors of The other States to be laid
before Their respective Leg slatures for their con-
sideration. This communication was met in many
o. these States. BY simil Resolves and ns'ruc-
'ions TO thesr Representatives. The complaints
which are loud and universal against system OF
and burdensome exactions Of personal
service, have thus, at length, received direction
In winch the resEed" thst is sought can De mace
eaectusi and satisfactory. The power to provide
Tor Organizing, arnng, si discplining the Militia
Is expressly vested, by tho Constitution oil the
United States, in the General Government, the
states having reserved to themselves the rignt OF
APPOINTING the officers, and training the Militia &C.
cording to the discipline prescribed by Congress
Under this delegated authority, exercised now al
most forty years since in the Very infancy OF the
republic, hardly then confirmed in the maintenance
OF national Independence and Just rescued from the
dangers Of anarchy under the old confederation,
with unsettled foreign relations, sparse popuia-
tion, weak settlements, and a wide frontier, con
stantly exposed to attacks from numerous and Tor
midsble Indian Tribes of hostile intentions sus-
pected fidelity Congress passed the act, which has
strangely been permitted, through all the changes
and circumstances of the country TO its present
condition Of strength, security, and prosperity, to
direct the earoiments for duty in ehe Militia. 1t
must be obvious, indeed that requirements adapted
to that early period, are wholly unsuited TO the
occasions OF the present time. With the increase
OF population, the Militia force has proportonate-
~ augmented, while the dangers against which
this force is provided have been diminished in
ratio with that of its growth. The security 10
Republican Government from lreH regulated and
efficient Militia, will not be questioned. II has
been authoritatIvey, and somewhat enthusiastical-
iy pronounced, 4" a perpetual Guard against inter-
nal commoiion, and an nvincble power to shield
the Countryagainst its external enemies" The his
tory of every year furnishes illustration of the
protection to good Government which it affords.
But the enrolment and training of so many of the
citizens have long been regarded as wholly uIfue-
cessary to any emergency which they may be call
ed to meet. TIE liability to service from Is TO 10
years of age, which the law of 1899 now in force
imposes, has given rise to numerous exemptions
=" evasions- scarcely less in the aggregate, than
the muster Rolls of the Train Bands themselves
Hence the dissatisfaction and murmurings against
tae system, as unequal, oppressive, and unjust. BY
reducing the period of liability to duty, and rem.
dering that duty instructive in the military art
furnishing arms and equipments fer its perform
ance, ana offering encouragement to those, Of
whom II is required, and allowing no arbitrary and
lnvldious exemptions from its burdens the lnsti.
tuition will be restored to public favor, and the
service of the Soldier be esteemed as honorable.
the common welfare. The attention which has
been drawn to the subject in Congress, already
thus early IN the session, promises this effect in
revision and amendment of the whole system Of
militia organization and discipline II cannot rea.
sonaoly be doubted, that measure which so di.
recty affects the personal obligations of the citi
zen; The domestic regulations of the States anc
the physical force Of the Union after the appeal,
winch have been made in uniform expressions o.
pubic sentiment, and the more formal resolves O
Legislative Bodies, will now receive definite
and governing determination. Without an altera
non OF the law of Congress respecting enrolments
all subordinate State Legislation must be unava
ing to remove the complaints which exist
The condition of the fiscal concerns Of the Com
monwealth will be learns fron the annusl state.
ment OF the Treasurer. Il must be seen witt
equal disappointment and regret, that til. Expend
lures continue to exceed the Receipts from the or
binary sources of revenue. Discardng from the
accounts, in the manner in which they are made
up, the credit for the money obtained from the
General Government on account of the Claim for
Militia Services, which was subsequently invested
IN securities now held by the Commonwealth, and
also disregarding the negotiations with the Banks,
so far as the loans and payments are balanced by
each other, 1t appears that the disbursement ts with
in the year have been 1881 .43l IS, while the re-
showing dehclt OF income in the sum of 256 400
-. VI thls large aggregate of expenditure One
'Fun9Teo ana one thousand t,co hundred and sep
ehsy-one dollars were required for the payment Of
me tHe uaEei and attendance OF the Members of the
General Court. There will also be observed
among the items of charge, an amount exceeding
ah'rsy-nlne thousand Dollars, for balances Of
county Ireasurers' accounts against the Conn. on.
Wealth. Ihese occasions of heavy drafts upon the
treasury must in future be sensibly diminished br
me alteration of the Constitution which dispenses
Win second session of the Legislature in the
same and nv the -
enlargng the Criminal Jurisdiction of the Cont
OF common Ploas, by which, if it is permitted tn
take ehect, great expense for the support of Pris
oners IN the County Jails previous to trial will he
prevented. How far still greater reductions NAV
hereafter De allowed by other Amendments of the
Constitution, or by further alterations in our sys
TEN OF jurisprudence, depends upon the issue of
measures yet to be adopted
beg to be understood rs continuinc Of n.
opinion, which was fully explained in an ADDRESS ia
former Legislature. that the power, ofthe Court Of
Common Pleas might be usefuly extended even he.
yond the provisions Of the late Statute. By more
equal division OF the amount of business both Civ
u and Criminal, between this Tribunal and the
Supreme Judicial Court, much benefit would 70.
suit TO the community from more prompt, and
equally certain decision Of cases. and no jnconsd
cradle saving be made TO the Treasury in the inci
dental expenses in the administration of Justice
ihe Docket OF the latter Court is BECOMING on
pressiVey overwhelmed, while that of the former
already comparatively small is daily decreas;ng
The excessive charges upon the (,oyernmen,
point 10 the need of more strict economy. There
IS no subject perhaps upon which there is greater
than in relation to the causes oC
this large expense. The work Of retrencbment
and reform must begin with systems. The char.
lcter OF economy should be written upon the laws
themselves. 1t not in the cost of the Civil Iist
md the necessary support of Government, that
he accounts of the Treasury are thus swollen
While whatever is unnecessary in these should
De Topped of, and whatever is improper should he |
corrected, yet it has often heretofore been sat;s
actorly found, that there comparatively little
,ere to be effected. The Salaries Of all the off
,ers, with the incdeata charges for the support Of
government are. in the exhibit of the last wear
e's than one Jyh part the aggregate of the nav. |
nents from the Treasury. Next TO the cost of
legislation ITSELF it is by direct grants and special
appropriations, and unforeseen and unproyided for
contingencies, that the Revenue is mainly abso rt-
3D. by all these II is, that the reproach of profu-
SION ard extr.vagance in the administration oil
me State, has come TO be unjustly uttered Has |
i been considered, that whatever is a charge upon
Oe treasury is made under the sane ton of the
avs And is it Of no avail, to what purposes |
ihese expenditures have been directed? A recur-
renee 10 me Treasury accounts for the last six |
years would show, that important Commissions
nave oeen executed, in setting heavy claims upon
s'e Government, IN ascertalning and fixing the
p ~ T oil the Commonwealth upon the lines
VI Sonhecticut and New Hampshire, in dividing
with Maine the public lands. and bringing these
lands into the Market by constructing Roads, and
IN managing and dispOsing of them AT the charge Of
an agency5-that high objects of general improve
meat and Of the public good have been accom-
pllsned by expensive and necessary repairs, al
,sn anu additions to this very Capitol; BY
the construction of a costly Penitcntiary Nv er.
tenslve surveys for facilitating the means Of inter.
communications, and thereby developing the re.
sources, and promonng the growth and nro,ne,;tv