Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-05-30

in the fourth article Of amendments 10 the
same, i, is declared that " a iceH regulated Nj
Giid is necessary TO a free State" TO carry
these principles into effect, the Constitution OF
our own State declares, Thai Tie Inhabitants
Of this State shall be armed and trained for It's
defence, UnGcr such regulations, restrictions
and erceptionS, as Congress, agreeabiy 10 te
Constitution Cfho United States and the Leg
iaiue Of his State, SHAT dircci." Directly in
contrayenuon and IN tho face Of these funda-
mental principles Of the general and State
! Constitutions, tho Legislature did for a
time, abolish the draining of the Militia"
I thereby they cngandetcd distrus of the sys-
tom, and cxorted upon public opinion DISPOSE
lion TO sap its very foundations, and throw
! Snomlny and raproacb upon those, whom il
was their prescribed duty to protect and e-.
cos re-. The Wa, sort q consequence oil
I that radica. nd disc aTAng spirit which
/ 3. led Tho ". ~ nntr", and from which
our resent system, IS not been restored.-
/ III. system7 oi the ler Sipies sooner recoy-
cd, because first ;nf-c.gd. and the renction Il
jud .ment and gooi sense sooner succeeded
purrla thoughts and uagovoruahle liceniious-
ness and lhey arc now placed upon a better
foundation than they have ever before been
We have long looked Tor u revision Of our
own, but as yet have lookcd in vain. And al
ter the untlring cxertions g. The committee Of
the last session, we did hope That justice would
be done US. But those eXcrtIors met the fate
OF all preceding ondeavors Consequently we
now come and respectfully claim at the hands
of the General Assembly, that due considera-
ton, and those rights, 10 which the constiti.
ton OF our State entitle us TO lay claim.
Your memo ialsls, therefore, solicit the at.
tcntion of the legislature to the consideration
of the iollowino ton,ce. as particula,lv roonir.
iirc revision.
l. firms. The conEtitufion rconi~os TINT tho
inhabitants OF this state shall be armed. and
the Legislature have affixed a penaItv IN
the neglect of the duiy prescribe wiibor,
providing those arms necessary for the n,1r.
pose. In all other instances of tsxatiop the
poor man is only required TO share l,is mart in
proportion 10 his pecuniary ability. BIT in this
he sustaing an uneoual weight. Mrnvo noor
man is unable 10 cduip himself We, N HE 70.
spoct he is made 10 contribute. eouallv with
the most etfInent citizens. ,owords iIo dofencc
or PROTECTION of his countrv. This il uniust
and more than uniust. Win we tLrovr mt ,be
balance the timo and lobnr from which The
rich man i frennentIv exe,nnt. The const,u.
ton of the General Goyernmen, 6id mot ron.
Template this. for il requires il to arr, ma we'll
as TO ORGANIZE the mllitia. II was tbep nm.
bic 10 do This for want of ,csources but il I'm 6
s,ucc by degrees remtted rms to the severoI
States, in proportion 10 fhe number of The
militia returned by the ,utant General of
I o, rh @tcie Thare are arm Of dis Z. nov
useIessly yIng idle, Of ~ncn, not even :or the
support and encouragement OF light compa
MES, can one be obtained.
2 Exemptions. We agree with the COM
mi;tee above alluded 10, IN their report TO the
Legislature, that " II can hardly have escaped
The observation oil any, That one important
cause OF the present low condition of The mill
TIA, is the exemption from service, OF so many
peraons OF the most respectable standing in
The commnnity-oy means OF which the rela-
i've respectabllI'y oil the militia has been con-
tlnually settling down, nhlll, WIN too many, 1t
mas become n source OF VIII ana sarcasm, It's
oihoers by'word, and service IN ITS ranks n
sort o! degradation"
We would ask, ls II rendering strict and
equal justice TO all, mat the holding mere
petty civil office, should exempt many OF our
citizens from the time, labor and expense Of
our militia eystcm, which IS cnjoined upon
others, whle at tie same lime, they share
equally in the benefits oil the protection which
that system affords! ii 1t be necessary for the
due operation OF our civil affairs, that some
such should have the privilege OF exemption
from military duty, ought they not as fellow
H'izens equaHy Interested IN the safety and
welfare OF The community, TO contribute their
proportion IN money, ny way oil an equivalent
Tor and IN lieu OF duties and services per-
formed for them by others is II just that the
mere holding commission, with little or no
service, accompanied by discharge, should
exempt many, while others are compelled TO
perform the service oil ten, fifteen or twenty
year,? Do moi The recent settlements preve-
lent throughout The Union, shew The necessity
OF connecting all citizens more or less, with the
militia; thai thereby tie laws may be better
supported and enforced we ask, therefore,
That, except IN eases whore officers have held
their commissions Tor certain number oil