The Ohio Democrat and Dover advertiser. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1839-1840, 1840-08-28

the chaTacser Of the force. and the feel
ings and habits Of our people. The
different plans are also alike in requir-
sing the militia O-arm itself. Itis true,
Mr.. Ponse,t contsmplates the estab-
slishmeni Of Depots Uf arms and amuni-
tionat lhe expense Of the Federal Go
svsrnmsdt, near the places where the
miliiia are to muster for training; but,
BIKE all his predecessors, he proposes to
cave in force the present law, which
r'akes IL the duty of every enrolled cit.
zen 10 be constantly provided with
arms, aecuuiremenis and ammunitiou al
shis own expense. This law, twill be
sremembeted, was passed under the ad-
'snthisiration Of Gen. Washington, and
was Ie-enacte under that Of Mr.. JEFF
'lersou. Regarded as an indication of
ythe principles of. our Government, which
"coghdes the protection of the lib,
-erties Of The country aud the main
leuaace Of pubic order in tho hands
on the free citizens o! the repub-
slic, Il vas honorable 10 our legislation,
and standstn beautiful contrast with the
institutions Of other countries by which
the people, SO far from being compelled
10 have arms, are denied the right 10
possess them, and deprived of their use.
Bu! the utter inefiiciency o. this ptoVis.
ION Of the law to induce the people to
arm themselves properly has been fully
demonstrated. 1t is vain to expect, says
Governor Cass in the report before ci-
ted, "that the whole adult male popula-
tion of the country can, or will furnish
themselves with the articles required
by law
Wherever a military pride is excited,
as Is the case with volunteer associa.
tons, tie law is obeyed; but it cannot,
itappears 10 me, be carried into execu~
tion with the mass ofibe militia without
atnlore rigorous exercise ofauthority on
the part Of the Government than is con.
sistent with Ihespirit Of our Institutions.
Mr. Poinsetps plan proposed to estab-
l;shldepots Of arms in the several States
atdhe public expense, to be-used when
training, or in actual service by The mi-
ltia selesled for duty, and as it was not
contemplated to muster the rest ofthe
militia for discipline, it will in my iudg-
msnt, be well worthy Of serious consid-
GRAFTON, whether q repeal of the provis-
ION ofthe law which requires the militia
to arm themselves at their own expense,
leaving il to their option to be so provi-
tEed or not; and the distribution of arms
10 the full extent that may be necessary
10 supply the militia when called into &C
tive service, ought not TO constitute a
part ofany plan for the reorganization
Of the militia, by which a portion of them
are to be instructed at the expense of
tine rest. The inclination of my own
m;nd would be decidedly in favor Of
sacha co0foe. The iigh.in which the
existing Ian requiring ali who ere en-
rolled 10 arm themselves, is regarded,
may be gathered from the fact, that men
ofgood standing and supposed inielli-
gence in the country, have either been
so ignorant Of it's existence themselves,
or have counted SO largely on the igno-
rance Of their fellow citizens as to
charge Mr.. Poinsett with an attempt
to originate the measure. sqGhen,
in truth, he only ,ranSfertSd : it to
hisplan from the statute bo6R, where
it had stood for forty-seven years.
But, in my opinion, the difficulties
which beset this subject lie deeper than
THIS. Yeuhav seen that the commit
tees ofCongress have reported against
a reorganization Of the militia upon the
principles Of classification, and :hat they
have been virtually sustained in their
objections by their respective Houses.
You haverseen also, that plans embrac.
ing the same principle have beensEec-
commended in vain for the last halt CEN
tury by Washington, Jefferson, Madi.
oOuS tNAUWiOo uuu JdChpObS luouy WuO
havesalways commanded the respect Of
Congress, and whose measures seldom
failed to receive its.eupport. This may
be in part accounted for by the just re-
pugnance Of the American people to a
standing military force, which unavoid-
ably extends itself to large and protrac-
ted encampments even Of the militia.
But the principal difficulty has undoubt,
-edly arisen out of the provisions of the
Federal Constitution, relating to this
subject By that instrument the power
to train the militia is reserved to the
States. To reduce the number obe
relied upon for active service by classi-
ficatiOu might easily be done, because
the right to organize is given to Con-
gress by the Constitution; but the de-
sired efficiency would not be secured,
unlessthat number were better trained,
and 10 that end it is requisite that they