Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1840-05-25
TIE GRAND MILITARY SCur,,

n 10
''p''n'' winch Mr.. Van Buren,. in his nl.,.,,.
December last, said he could not TOO ,,,o,.,
commend 10 the consideration Of Con,,.,'
lore however, we glance at some Of the leadin,
lures OF this plan, We invite the reader. ,,,
10 few incidental points involved in the d;s,n..
When The public mind was frs, attracted "a -
stupendous project, we we've told that was !, al,
essential f,aluies identical with a schema s-,
by the Military Committee Of Congress. oeS
Gen. Harrison was Chairman, in 1919 but 90.
parison oil the two schemes has shown the (,l.,v
this assumption; since IN Gen. Harrison. s,h.
IF il was his, Of which there is no evidence Sine.
might have been reported by him merely as III. d
gan Of the committee Of mhch lie was char.
nothing being more common thhn for CHARM,
acommittee TO ,epor bill, as its organ of uhi,b
disapproses but II II was his, In Il first place
militia were not put under the control of the D. ]
dent, but were to be organized and discirlin,l !
and retained under the exclusive cohttol of then !
spectve State authorities 2dly, G n. Harrison II
opposed TO calling out the militia from their hon
Tor long periods, ohjec,ng 10 it that the people con
not spare the lime from their ordinary avocado
and, ifthry could, that TO beneficial results W.,
flow nom il and 3diy, Gen. Harrison's schep.
only did not require the militia 10 arm hem,r,,
their own trpense, but expressly repudiaed the I'd,
for, says his Reroit, (and we invite attention +,
explicit and emphatic langusge,) "the constitute
"having made II the duty Of Congress 10 provide
earning the militia. his Pomer as mol duly srercl
"by merely enacting that The militia shall ann II,
"seirts. A Law TO that effect, unsanciioned BY rs
'aliies, will he dsregarded, aud if thus sapcli
twill be unjust, tor ii 'SiH operate as a CAPrl
"TION TAX, rhieh The opuient and The needv
.pay equally, ard which will no, be borne BY
States in The proportion fixed by the Constitution
This, it will be perceived, is most ritat dlf1utt
between the scheme proposed By Gen. Harrison
that now laid before the county by Mr.. Pous
But, discovering the wide and essential differed
between the two plans, we have lately heard lle
way Of comparison. The task Is now one Of e4cu
pallon-and difficult one il is.
The friends of the Administration afterwards 10
the strange ground, that the Glamour Of the Win !
was all Humbug And they kept up This cry u
I'll the people,-the militia,-~ho have idea
being dragged from their homes and families twice
year for long periods of time, after having been COZ
rice" in time Of peace,-gave unequi'ocal indie Z
tons Of their condemnation OF It's authors. Ii [
now growing too serious matter TO be dismissed I
got rid of by conlempluous epilhet; aud hence
new move on the chess-board.
Now, we are told that Mr.. Van Buren, I,
the details Of Mr.. Poinseits bill; and premOnIo
hints are thrown out that Mr. Ponsett is soon
appear before the public to a,tes, this fact, aud
himself to "assume the responsibility" o(lh, vi
change in our entire national policy. Nh POn,a
may, if he think proper TO buy favor by this act
lf-immolatio and seli-degrajation, place hm'1
in this a"kwaId position. But no one will b,t
him, excep, those whose pre-existng political aihd
ties would have led them to sustain the AdmuM
ton. though Van Buren,, through h,s War Secre'af
had asked Congress to throw the imperial purpe"N
his houldcrs, with the hope, that, if the proPosi
should excite rebellion in the country. he could
clare that it was not his, but his Secretary, act
Mr.. Ponsett be retained 10 Office that alone viii !
prouf onciusive that if the President, is aIeg'
does not approve OF his Military scheme. at least
disapp,obation cannot be very decided; when
deed, we may in any event assume to be tue so9
il he had been very decidedly averse 10 1t, he won
not have waited until the thunder OF popular
pleasure reacf ed his ear, before he forced OF P'
ded his Secfeta y TO relieve him from The 'he1'
his seeming Recommendation OF his PLAN Oh
all events, OF his actual acquiescence IN IL W.
i, is too late now for Mr. Ponselt TO throw +"
between the President and public ceusure
underrate the intelligence Of the people !" he &
that they can be made TO believe that Mr. Pea
would have ever dared TO make so important a'
pestion without the concurrence and approb'@
the President; and they have but little conhene'
the sagaci,y ofmen,who suppose that this shallow"
fice about to be r. ortej for the purpose oTes
the nan upon whose re election 10 the PresI0f
his own retention IN office and political advance"
depends, can be successful. Ii we arc 10 have WI
washing witnesses, We demand that they shalt"
be disinferested-lhal the President, arraIgne'
high public offence, shall not introduce one
subordinaes and dependents as ascape-g goal "''
the former can and The latter cannot be reached
verdict Of the great national jury which is 'Ou'
upon the issue. No Mr.. Poiuseu is not c'eo'
witness !; because not only is he mol punsn''In
the people, but because he is punishable oy wv
sident. Ii he avow himself the sole author "
Military Consolidation and Conscrirt se''"'
people cannot reach him, and the PresIden' ""
BY that avowal, he may screen from popular '"'
lion, uiH not punish him. Where, 'h'"
responsibility Of public officers! What bec'"'''
boast that, iu this country, the people are Sow
Ii is a naked fallacy-an empty cheat-a now"
sion. The President is responsible for 'h's a''
officer, whether he the details oil the PIdp'Oe