Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-07-09

II .. nat the president Oh tllC ~ nltcu ctatCS
be authorized to call forth and assemble such
| numbers of the active force of militia at such
places in their respective Districts, and at such
| times, not exceeding twice nor--daysi the
| year, as he may deem necessary and during
such period, including the time when going to
and returning from the place of rendezvous,
they shall be deemed in the service ofthe Uni
ted States, and be subject 10 such regulations
as the President may think proper TO adopt for
| their instruction, discipline and Improvement,
| III military knowledge!
There is no mention made here ofState lcg-
lsiation, nor is any contemplated. Ii is in
fact In this section that we are TO discover the
very head and front of this offending. Here
Is provision by.which the control of the mi
iitla is to he taken from the States and put into
| the hands of the President. 1t is no wonder the
people of Virginia rcpudiate with Indignation
Il proposal so monstrous; it is no wonder that
tho people of the whole country rise to reject
such project so soon as this principle in it
becomes known. Nor will the Secretary sue
coed in liverting attention from this point by
dwelling largely upon the minor detGiLs of his
plan, for the purpose of showing that similar
details had been Incorporated in previous
plans. What care we for actcils, when the
concentration of the whole system terminates
at the seat of the Federal Government, and
puts the guiding reins in the hands of the Pres
idcnt! ltthe subordinate arrangements ofthe
plan are made subsidiary to such an end their
very efficiency constitutes a cause of objoc-
ton.
Mr.. Poinsett says:
''ln proposing to subject the militia when
called out by the President, to>the rules and
articles of war, / have done no more than
leave the law as it now stands. Such pro-
vision has been found necessary to ensure
proper Subordination in the field, by all Of
iicers who have commanded militia, and by
none OF them was this necessity felt and more
frequently acknowledged than by General
Washington and General Jackson
1t is not a part of our complaint that the mi
litla, when called out, are to be subject to the
rules and articles of war. But the power of
calling out-who dares confer this upon the
President in cases not included within the en-
press limitations of the Constitution The
only clauses of the Constitution which grant
power to any department of the Federal Gov
eminent over the militia Of the States, arc the
following -
Clause Is, section 8, and LIST article.-sCcn-
gress shall have power to provide for calling
forth the militia TO execute the laws OF the u
Mon, suppress instructions. and repel inva-
sions.'
Clause l6.--"To provide for organizing,
arming, and disciplining the militia, and for
governing such part of them as may be en-
ployed In the service of the United States,
reserving to the States respectively, the APP
pointment of the officers, and the authority of
training the militia according to the discipline
prescribed by Congress-
The 1st Clause, ID section, Cd article
sThe President shall be commander-n-chief
| of the army and navy Of the United States, and
OF the militia of the several States, when cal
led into actual service Of the u. So
'Ehere are then but three contingencies in
which Congress can empower the President
to call forth the militia, viz: to execute the
laws OF the Union, to suppress instructions,
and to repel invasions. Let this clause be
placed side by side with the seventeenth sec
| ton of Mr.. Poinsett's bill. The authority of
training the militia is expressly reserved to
the States. Mr.. Poinsett proposes that they
shall she subject TO such regulations as the
President may think proper to adopt for their
instruction, discipline and Improvement in
military knowledge
1t is not in the power of words to alter the
| nature Of this case--the issue is open and pal
pable, land cannot be concealed or disguised.
The Secretary of War need not give himself
the trouble OF writing any more explanatory
letters about theineficiency of the old plan
he cannot hide the startling deformity of the
new one. We would rather put up with
King Log than be devopred by King Stork.
He says, towards the conclusion of his letter,
that after reviewing the whole subject, aided
by the lights derived from the objections of
its opponents lie is still satisfied that his plan
is better one than any formerly proposed
Dc it SO. Let him remain of tlai-erinion.--
Let it be understood, too, that the project is
still cherished by the Administration, and
that so soon as the party feels strong enough
it will be urged forward again. We ask to
stand Oh no better ground than the Constilu-
tion furnishes-when that fails il will be use
less to contend against the Standing Army
Bill or any other bill which the dominant par
ty may introduce to establish upon the ruins
OF free institutions the fabric of absolute pow
er.-BALT. AMER.