Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1840-08-27

has the power TO pToFluS iot OoiiiuS tOllH
the militia to execute the laws of the
Union, suppress insurrection and repel in
vasion The militia force provided for
these purposes, by existing laws, and
which to render it effective, is compelled
TO be at all times provided with arms, ac-
coutrements and ammunition, and to be
mustered and drilled at stated periods,
and kept always ready for service, compri-
ses, with limited and enumerated ex-
emptions, the whole Of the able-bodied
male white population Of the United
States, between the ages Of eighteen and
.forty-fve. When it is considered that the
number of these, according to official re-
turns, exceeds million and halfofmen,
and probably at this period, amounts to
two millions, the immense and consequently OPP
pressivs excess of the existing preparatory anrol-
ment, be yond the possible wants of the country,
must be apparent to ALL How far the existing
organization and laws passed by the States in
pursuance thereof have proved successful in ac-
complishing the great object in view, viz the in
structiop and improye yement Of citizen soldiers in
military tactics, yod are able to Judge for your,
selves. The results were a short time since sum-
med 80 by the officer before alluded to, in these
emphatic words: s It is vain 70 expec: that the
whole adult population Of the country can, or
will furnish themselves with the articles required
by law or chat their collection, for any number
Of days they can afford to devote TO this object,
and under the usual circumstances of such assem-
hlages, can produce any beneficial effects to them
selves or their country. Already, in number Of
the States, the system has sunk under the weight
Of public opinion, 'and the practical question now
is, whether we shall remain in fact defencelosS or
resort 10 large standing military force in time Of
peace, that Just dread of all free Governments,
or adopt ar efficient plan, which will prepare for
tho public defence the greatest force at e least
cost, and without danger"
To remedy the evils of the present system, it
has been repeatedly proposed to rcorganize the
militia, in such manner as to reduce the number
Of rnsn, who shall be fitted and alv ays ready
20 perform the service contemplated by the Con-
stitutlon, say from the number of two millions to
two hundred thousand. and to pay the latter a
reasonable eompehsalionof the National Treasu-
nv, In order TO renumernte them for the increased
burden thus imposed upon them. Several plans
to effect this purposs, hays, from time to time,
besn submitted to Congress, by successive Sscre.
taries Of War. commencing with General Knox's,
in 1890, and ending with that of Mr. Poinsett, in
1910. That Nr. Poinsetrs is, in several res
pects, preferable TO those which have preceded il,
and Is calculated to effect more equitable dis.
position of the whols military face of the country
than any heretofore presented, appears 10 have
been the opinon Of tho committees Of both Houses
Of Congress. The grounds Of this preference are
fully set forth in the ablo reports made by their
respective chnirmen, at tho last session, which
have been published, and extensively circulated,
and are stated as follows:
lst. 1t extends the pay, for the period occup-
ed In training, TO priyates as we'll as to commits
stoned and-non commissioned officers, to whom it
was limited in the plans of others. 2nd. 1t i'll
troduces the principle of rotation, by which the
period during which the citizens are engaged in
training is diminished,and the instruction they
receive more directly impartial to the mass, and
the burdens as we'll a1 benefits, mor1 equally
distributed among tho peoplo.
Sd, In excluding from enrolment all between
I9 and 90 years of age, being the psriod oflie in
which young men are employed IN finishing thoir
education, learning n trade,or studying the profess
sion by which they hot'e TO obtain a livelihood.
In these preferences, conLur. In all other res
poets the different plans arc understood to be sub
stantinlly the samo, They are so with regard to
tho authority Of ths officers over the priyntes, and
tho rules for the government of all when called out
for drill. They All propose that the rules should
be those established for the government of tine
army. The existing law applies those rules to
the militia, when called into tho service of tho
United S,utes and has done so for many years
past. Mr. Ponsott's plan does not add a single
penalty or now prosision. Thora certainly ex-
lists to some extent a prejudice in the public
mind against tho application Of tho same rigor in
the dicplino OF ctizon soldiers, who arn only call
ell out for short periods of service, as that which
is applied by all nations TO lhoss who make arms
a profession. IL will be for Congress to decide
aided by tho opinions Of experencedmilitary men,
whether the dicipno Of tia militia, when calico
| into the service of the United tates, will Hdmi
of any rolaxation. No one appears yet to have
thought ao The ruo by which Congress shoulC
be governed, In my opinion, is to confer as mucl
authority as necessary, to subordiEation and i'm
provement, and TO adapt the regulations as far a
practicable TO the character of tho force, and thu
feelings and habits of our people, Tho dderen
plans ara also alike in requiring the militia Il
arm itself. 1t strua Mr., Poinssu contemplate
the establishment otdepots of arms and ammunition
at the expense Of the Federal Government, nea
the places whore tho militia are to muster lo
training; but, like all his predecessors, ho propo
ses To leave IN lOrce the present lhWi Whlcn make
IL tho duty every enrolled citizen TO be constant
ly provided with arms, nctoutrements, and anu
milton, at his own expense. This law, it will b.
remembered, was passed under the administration
Of Con. Washington, aud was ro-enActod unde
that Of Mr.. Jefferson. Regarded as an indicatiog
| ofIhe principles ofout Government, which confde
tho protection Of the liberties of the country "
the maintenance of public order TO the hands o
tho free citizens Of the Republic, it was honorN.
bic to our legislation, and stands in beauifulcon.
trast with the inatilulions of othsr counties by
which tho people, so far from being compelled ia
have arms, arc denied the right to possess than
and deprived Of their use. But the utter ineli,
cheney Of this provision of the law to induce the
people 10 arm themselves properly has been fully
demonstrated. 1t is vain to expect, says Gov
Cass In tho report before cited, +" that the whole
adult male population Of the country can, OF will
furnish lhemselvevea with the articles required by
law" Wherever military pride Is excited, al
Is the case with volunteer associations, the law i
obeyed; but iIcannot, il appears to me, bo car
Tied into execution with the mass Of tho militia
without moro rigorous exercise of authority or
the part Of the Government than is consis,en
with tho spirit Of our inst tutions. Mr., Ponsett'
plan proposed to establish depots of arms In the
several States at the public expense, to bs u.oc