Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-05-28

lniS feature IN the Dill, requiring all
the Militia in the u. States to contribute
equal portions in providing arms, ammu-
milton, and accoutrements, consider most
outrageously unjust; but this you will find
the least Objectionable part of it, when
you come 10 examine its other provisions.
From the mass Of the Militia thus arm.
ed, are 10 be drafted 1000 men, TO be
called the actire corps, and are to be
marched twice year 10 some point of
rendezvous within Military District, and
are there TO be put under the absolute and
entire control and government of the Pre-
sident of the United States, for as many
days as Congress may choose to pre-.
scribe This power is to be conferred
upon the President in state Of profound
peace, when there is neither invasion, in
surrectlon, or resistance to the laws Of the
| Union! Our Military District is to be
composed Of the States of Delaware, Ma
ryand, the District of Columbia, and vr.
ginia and, under this law, the active
corps OF Militia can be marched TO any
point within their District, twice year,
and there be subjected to any rules OF dis.
cipline or government the President may
think proper to establish. They can be
marched to Richmond, Norfolk, Wash
ington, Baltimore, or Delaware. twice
year, and are to be regarded as in the
service of the United States from the time
| they are ordered from their homes until
they return! And at time, too, be il
remembered, when there is It, war, no
invasion, Instruction, or resistance TO the
laws | will here quote the section per-
batim, as it has been recommended to
Congress by the President, in order that
you may form your own opinions about
it. 1t is in the following words:
CIT. That the President of the United
States be authorized to call forth and as.
semble such numbers of the active force
of Militia at such places in their respect
i've Districts, and at such times, not ex-
ceedng twice nor - days in the year,
as he may deem necessary; and, during
such period, including the time when go
ing to and returning from the place Of
rendezvous, they shall be deemed in the
service of the y. States, and be subject 10
such regulations as The President may think
proper 10 adopt for their instruction, disci-
| pine, and Improvement, az military knoic-
ledge"iH
This law then provides, as we see, that
the whole body ofthe Militia in the United
States, amounting now to more than
million and half Of men, shall, in the
first place, be required TO arm, sccoutre,
and provide themselves with ammunition
at their own erpense--and that they are
to be divided into Military Districts-that
1880 are to be drafted in each District;
in other words, forced into the ranks
that they are to be marched twice year
to some point within this District--that
they are there to be put under any regu.
latlons the President may choose to pre-.
scribe--that they are there to be kept in
service such time as Congress may d.
rect-and that they are TO be regarded as
in the service of the United States from.
the time they are marched from their
homes until they return to them. They
are not to be governed by the laws and
regulations now in force for the govern
ment of the Army Of the United States,
but they are to be "gorerned by such re-
gulatioRs as the President mag choose 10
prescribe !" He can, under the authority
of this law, inilict any punishmcnts upon
them he may choose, for any violations Of
the rules Of discipline Yes, he can or
der your sons and nephews and young
brothers to be stripped, if he chooses, ana
scourged at the common whipping post,
for any act which he may designate as a
military offence--for any act he may
choose to call violation Of his rules of
discipline. He proposes, himself, that this
power shall be conferred upon himSeLfi!
Have misinterpreted this proposed law
Read il and judge for yourselves. The
18th section does expressly provide that
when the Militia are at the place Of rem.
devious, "they shall be regarded as in
the service Of The United STATES, and be
subject to such regulations as the Presi-
dent may think proper 10 adopt"
Suppose one ofhisr regulations should be
that very milItia-man who appeared upon
parade, with his arms, accoutremehts, or
ammunition, out Of order, should be strung
up at the whipping post, and get thirty
nine lashes on his bare back. Has he
not the power under this law to adopt
such regulation
Am TO be told there is no danger in
granting such a power as this p That it
will never be exercised 2 Indeed Is
this the language Of freemenl Is it the
language Of Republicans That they are
willing to grant absolute, despotic power,
in time Of peace, to partIzan President,
under the consoling hope It will never be
exercised. Where has been the mortal
man, from the beginning Of time 10 the
present moment, to whom has been gran.
ted absolute despotic power, who has not