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

pEoSiut TOT aFI1inS the militia, this power
is not duly exercised by enacting that the
militia shall arm themselves. A law to
that effect, unsanciioned by penalties,
would be disregarded, and if thus sane
toned, will be unjust, for it will operate
as cnptaiion tax, which the rich and
the poor will pay equally, and which will
not be borne by the States in the proper
ton fixed by the Constitution. The COM
nl;iee do not approve the plan OF putting
arms in the hands of the militia, when
not necessary That mode would expose
the arms 10 be lost and destroyed. Thew
conceive that Congress should provide Ar
senals, from which the militia from evsry
part of the United States, should draw
arms when necessary, which would be a
sufficient exercise Of the power to provide
Cor arming the militia. Congress having
power to provide for governing the mill.
tia only when they are in the service OF
the United States, and the authority Of
training them belonging to tho State Co
verments, the Committee have not deem.
ed il proper, tina, Congress should pre-
scribe the time to be devoted to training,
or the manner in which that object can
be best affected. 1t Is tho duty OF The
State Legislatures to enact the necessary
laws for that purpose"
Here, ,fellow.citizens, is a true, genuine,
constitutional, Republican doctrine, and
so far from it doing any discredit to Gen.
Harrison, II will remain among tho ar
chlves Of his country, as monument Of
his wisdom, of his philanthropy, and Of
his knowledge of the Constitution and In
situations of his country.
In his report Of Jan. 22d, 1919, ho
makes the following remarks about disci.
plning the militia:
The great difficulty to be encounle.
red IS the application Of a system or dis
cipine or military instruction, TO q great
population, scattered over an immense
territory. The accomplishment Of this
object is evidently not within the power Of
the Government. TO instruct the militia
al the country 10 any useful extent, would
require larger portion ofthoir time, than
they could possibly spare from the duty
of providing for thor families, unless they
are literally paid, and to pay them would
absorb all the resources Of the Nation"
Now here, fellow-citizens, are the sem
timents Of a patriot, and Of good man,
that do Gen. Harrison everlasting honor.
They do credit to his heart, az well az his
head.---Thcy show, PROFESSIONALLY, that
he has those kind and benevolent feelings
for his fellow man--ior the situation Of
the militia ofhis country, as well as those
high endowments OF the mind, which fit
him to be the Chief Magistrate Of our
country. We find here, no dragging off
the militia, twice year, to places Of rem.
devious, some or 400 miles from their
homes, to be disciplined under orders Of
the President, in state ofpfolound peace.
Gen. Harrison says, that the General Go.
vcrnment has no tight to discipline the
militia, in any such way; and that it
would require larger portion OF their
time, than they could spare from the duty
Of providing for their families"
The friends OF Gen. Harrison ought 10
be thankful to his enemies, for bringing
this charge against him. II has only en-
abled them to hunt up evidence and doc
uments, which accumulate every day, Of
his patriotism, his beneyolence, and his
wisdom, as Statesman.
But, all sorts of charges have been
brought out against this old war-worn SOL
der, who has served his country no long,
and SO often. in periIous chmpalgns--who
has exposed his life 30 often In bloody
fields of battle, for the safety and welfare
OF our Western frontIer--who has passed
through public life of such spotless pu.
riiy, after having millions Of public mon
ely passing through his hands--as II some
public good could be effected by Destroy
ing the fame Of a patriot, who will unques.
tionably live upon the page Of impartial
history, as one Of the fathers OF his coun.
try. All this was to be expected, when
his countrymen nominated him for the
Presidency. But the old General has
stood fire so often, and his camp is so well
fortified, that the whole Artillery Of par
tzan press let off upon him, can't. ever
make him move muscle, or injure hair
of his head
Who are his accusers? Are they the
soldiers and officers who fought under
hm--who are covered with honorable
scars and woundssthey received in fight
ing the battles of their country Are
they the men who were with him--who
fought by his side, and were eyewitness
es of his skill, or defects as on officer -
Who are the men who have left memoir.
ais in his favor, and who had oppor.uni-
ties of judging of his conduct in battle, and
Of his talents and bravery, as great Com.
manderl Why, the very names Of the
men who have left these memorials to the
fame Of Gen. Harrison, ought to thrill the
heart Of every gallant mountaineer--ought
to warm his blood and brighten his ewes