Litchfield enquirer., 1835-12-10

Of py;uciple and practice; but trust these can
bo improved by rigid inspections, and BY legis'
lnlive scrutiny, without destroying the institu-
ton itself.
Occurrences, to which We rs well as all other
nations are liable, both 10 our internal and exter
nal relations point to the necessity Of on efficient
organization Of the militia. l am again Induced,
by the Importance OF the subject, to bring to
your attention. To suppress domestic violence,
and 10 repel foreign invasion, should these Gala
mites overlake u, we must rely, in the first in.
stance, upon the great body Of the community
whose will has instituted, and whose power must
support, the government. A large Standing mill
tary force s not consOnant to the spirit of our M
stitutiOns, nor to the feelings OF our countrymen;
and the lessons Of former days, and those also OF
our own times, show the danger, rs well as the
enormous expense, of these permanent aud ex-
tensive military organizations. That just medi-
UNI which avoids an inadequate preparation on
one hand, and the danger and expense Of largo
force on the other, is what our constituents have
right to expect from their government. This
object can be attained only by the maintenance Of
small military force, and by such an orgapiza-
ton of the physical strength Of the country, as
may bring this power into operation, whenever
its services are required.
A classification Of the population offers the most
obvious means of efectng this organization. Such
division may be made as will be just to all, by
transferring each, at proper period of life, from
4 one class to another, and by calling first for the
services of that class, whether for instruction or
action, which, from age, is qualified for the duty,
and may be called to perform it with the least in
jury to themselves or to the public. Should the
danger ever become so imminent as to require
additional force, the other classes in succession
would be peady for the call. And if, in addition
to this organization, voluntary association were
encouraged, and inducements held out for their
formation, Our militia would be in a state of eff
- No ,hou 4 ho
proper time to digest and establish practicable
system. The object is certainly worth the expe-
riment, and worth the expense. No one, appre-
: eating the blessings of republican government,
can object to his share of the burden which such
, plan may impose. Indeed, moderate portion
Of the national funds could scarcely be better ap-
piled, Than in carrying into effect and continuing
such an arrangement, and in giving the necessary
I elementary instruction.
We are happily at peace with all the world.
A sincere d, sire to continue so, and a fixed de-
, termination to give no just cause Of o8ensc to
other nations, furnish, unfortunately, no certain
grounds Of expectation that this relation will be
!, uninterrupted. With this determination to give
no ofense is associated a resolution, equally de-
+ cided, tamey to submit to none. The armor
and the attitude of defense afford the best secu
rity against those collisions which the ambition,
interest, or some other passion Of nations, not
2 more justifabie, is liable to produce. In many
countries, il is considered unsafe to put arms i'm
to the hands Of the people, and to instruct them
in the elements of military knowledge. That
II fear can have no place here when it is recollect
ed, that the people are the sovereign power.
, Our government was instituted, and is support
ed by the ballot-box, not by the musket. What
ever changes await il, still greater changes must
be made in our social institutions, before our po-
ltical system can yield to physical force. In
every aspect, therefore, in which can view the
..sa1 Al e
prompt and efficient organization ofthe militia.
The plan Of removing the aboriginal people
who yet rem,i within the settled portions OF
the United States, TO the country West Of the
Mississippi river, approaches its cOnSumma
ton. 1t was adopted on The most mature
consideration Of the condition of this race, and
ought to be persisted in till the object is ac-
complished, and prosecuted with as much vi
gor as Just regard to their circumstances
will permit, and as last as their consent can
be ATTAINED. All preceding experiments Tor
the improvement OF the Indians have failed.
II seems now TO be an established fact, that
they cannot live IN contact with a civilized
community and prosper. Ages offruiless en-
deavors have at length brought us 10 know
with them. The past we cannot recall. but
the future we can provide for. Independents
| ly OF the treaty siipulat tons into which we
have entered with the various tribes, Tor the
usuiructuary rights they have ceded to us, no
one can doubt the mora duty of the U. States
government to protect, and il possible to pre-
serve and perpeiuaie the scattered remnants
81 this race, which are left within our borders.
10 the discharge Of this duty, an extensive re-
gion in the west has been assigned for their
permanent residence. II has been divided in
to districts, and allotted among them. Many
have already removed, and others are prcpa
| ring TO go and with the exception of two
small bands living in Ohio and Indiana. not
exceeding fifteen hundred persons, and Of the
Cher0kees, all the tribes on the east side OF
the Mississippi. and extendiDgtr0m Lake Mi
Ichigan IL FlOrllla, have entered into engage
msnts which will lead to the ir iransplan,a ton.
The plan for their removal and reestablishment is
founded upon the knowledge have gained of their
character and habits and has been dictated by spirit
Of enlarged ibs1ality Aterrory exceeding in extent
population, the representations are highly favorable. To
these districts the Indians removed at the expense
of the United States; anu with certain supplies of cloth
ing arms ammunition, and other Indispensable articles
they also furnished grautousy with Provisions for
the period of year after their arrival at their homes
In that time from the nature of the country and of the
products raised by them they can subsis by
agricultural labor if they choose to resort to that mode
of fe they do not they upon the skirts of the
great prairies, where countless herds of buffalo roam
and short time sufces to adapt their habits to the
changes which change Of the animals destined for
been made for the support of schools in nstanc
es council houses and churches be erected DWELL
ngS TO De constructed ioT the cheIS anu Is ior com
mon use
Fund have been apart for the maintenance Of the
poor the most necessary mechanical arts have been
introduced, and blacksmths gunsmiths, wheelrights,
millwrghts, &c supported among them. Steel and
iron, and sometimes salt are purchased for them and
ploughs, and other farming utensils domestic animals
looms spinning wheels, cards, DC are presented ID
them And besides these beneficial arrangements, an
Huisies are in all eases paid amounting in some nsan
ces than thirty dollars for each individual of the
tribe, and in all sufficiently great II justly divided
and prudently expended enable Them in addition to
their excrtons, to live comfortably And slim
illus for exertion, is provided by law that sin all
cases of the appointment of interpreters other per-
sons employ for the benefit Of the Indians, prefer
ence shah be given persons of Indn descent II such
can be found who properly qualified for the dis.
charge Of the dnties."
Such are the arrangements FOR the physical
comfort, and for the moral improvement of
the Indians. The necessary measures for
their political ad vancement. and for their Sc
paration from our cit izens, have not heen neg
iected. Th- pledge Of the United States has