The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-07-07
WHOLE NO. $50.


We have endeavored to ascertain the prices which
these materials with which the whole Of the mltamen
In the United States required TO furnish themselves
could be obtained by them so as TO show the precise
expense to each; and knowing that on the 18th of
February, 1889 resolution had passed the House of
representatives calling the Secretary of War for
Information concerning the prices at which mus
kets rhes, and pistols, might be made and delivered
TO the nted States, at private armores, if the
De located In any good and convenient position in the
southern, southwestern and western sections of the
Union" &C. we naturally expected this information
SO necessary TO be before the committee before they
could act infornedy this subject would be found
IN the answer OF the Secretary of War But is not
and make his letter, dated NAV 20 1910 a mart of
ths appendix to this report
Without making any allowance for the increase of
price which the sudden demand for upwards Of one
million Of muskes, and the other paraphernalia re-
quired would OF course cause from the competition of
men who compelled to supply themselves with
the articles under the severest penalties do not
believe that at this time, good musket a sufficient
bayonet and belt two spare fints, knapsack, car
tridge-box, with twenty four cartridges, with with
out ball and buckshot could be purchased for less than
$20 and that II would take the purchase
good rifle knapsack, shot pouch, and powder horn
or flask, with sufficient powder and ball for twenty
four charges, and two spare fints, without including
bullet-noulds and wiper which every knows
to be necessary accompaniment OF rifle. To pur-
chase these million and half Of muskets &c at
twenty dollars each would the people OF the Uni
ted States thirty millions of dollars. Are they pre-
pared at this time Of pecunary distress to advance
tins sum ofthirty millions ofdolars out of their private
pockets We think not We kaoiu they are not
In addition TO this ask every member of Congress
To reflect and say how many muskcts are there for
sale IN his district In nnetenths of them there is
not one Flow tar must each one of his constituents
over the age of twenty and under forty five travel al
his own expense, before he can find musket bayonct
cartridgc-box, &C. to purchase Each member can
answer this question for himself Unfortunately this
part the burden falls heaviest the counties remote
from the large cities being those counties and horizons
fcountry which the least able bear the expense
and loss of time.
Select the most central position in each State for the
place of rendezvous of this army and how far will
each OF the mtiamen from the remote counties have
to travel, at his 0nR expense to reach il Many of
them, in the larger States, must travel from two to
Three hundred miles, be trained there from thirty
days, and return home, Though having received his
pay at the rate of eight dollars month and DAYS
pay for each twenty-five miles he travelled in going
and returning he will probably receive money enough
TO pay his expenses home if il is paid to him before he
is discharged at the rendezvous.
But we earnestly ask each member before he votes
Tor this measure, to transport himself in imag inaon
back TO his constituents and in each neighhor-
hood, and each county; and ask himself how many
men in each militia company there who cannot
raise his twenty dollars TO buy the musket and trap
pings, without taking into the estimate the other ne
cessary expenses We believe are under the true
militia company of eighty men there are twenty who
cannot raise this sum without selling article of
property necessary to the support Of themselves IA
miles and putting themselves to such Inconvenience
that they will abide the risk of the punishment
threatened in the Secretary of Wars project of law
before they will submit to the sacrifice and that of
this twenty, there ten who cannot raise twenty
dollars, within the time prescribed at any sacrifice
however willing they might be TO part with their all
to comply with the laws of their country unjust and
cruel as they might think the requiston. What must
be done with these ten or twenty men out Of every
eighty in the country BY this proposition "thcy
must be fined, and forfeit not exceeding three
months pay, less than half a months pay. &c.
cordlng to the circumstances Of the case as court
martial may determine" NJ
But the same inability TO raise the money which
prevented ms ehasing musket and trappngs will
s.lsS bv n CT the to this fine and
for this contingency Such non-commissioned Off.
and priyates shall be liable to be imprisoned BY
the sentence of urt-maral failure of the pay
mcnt of fines adjudged against them for one calendar
month for every five dollars of each fine"
According to this proposition, there will be one.
eighth or one fourth as many prisoners confined in
Jail as there will be mitiamen instructed disciplined
and improved in military knowledge But another
matter of grave import is, who is to pay the costs OF
the courts martial who to these fines and
decide the term of the imprisonment of such othe
mllitiamen as may fail to walk two or three hundred
miles to attend the militia trainings be unable TO
purchase nuskct or trapplngs TO carry with him If
the Federal government is to pay them another mil
lion annually should be added 10 the estimate Of the
Secretary of War, of the cost Of this scheme Who is
to pay the costs of the marshals and deputy marshas
who to be sent out in the several States to collect
these fines thus assessed by the courts-martia The
answer to this inquiry is found in the following ex
tract from the Goth section:
That the marshal or his deputy, having received
the said certificate shall forthwith proceed TO levy the
said fines with cost by distress and sale of the goods
and clattcs OF the delinquent; ,ehch costs and the
manner of proceeding with respect to the sale of the
goods disraned shall be agreeably the laws of the
State in which the shall be- as in other cases Of
distress and when any non-comnssloncd officer or
private shall he adudged to suffer imprisonment there
being goods chaels to be found whereon to levy
said fines the marshal of the district or his deputy
shall commit such delinquent to Jail, during the term
for which he shall be adludged to imprisonment or
until the fine shall be paid, in the same manner as
other persons condemned TO fine and Imprisonment at
the suit of the United States may be committed"
From this quotation, it appears the delinquent mill
tamen are to pay The costs. Taking the lowest posi-
BILE estimate of two dollars and fifty cents for the costs
of judgment and issuing the execution let us see what
will be the costs judgment originally for twenty
dollars When the delinquent mli,iaman lives two
hundred miles from the place of the court sitting the
marshas fees are fixed by law for every mile he travels
at cents in going to levy the execution this would
make his fees, for travelling alone $40 for travelling
300 miles which would made the account stand thus
The original judgment 800 90
Cost of judgment and execution 2 80
Marshals fees for travelling 200 miles, at 5
cents per mile 10 90
For serving process of execution 200
Total 81 90
Without adding any thing for keeping the property in
his possession, taking bond for lis forthcoming and
for selling the property where sufficient can be found
whercon to levy the said fees, and the fees for putting
tho Iplinuucnt N and the i,iI fn.s st,,b,.
there being goods and chael to be found whercon
Ia lnu saiI Gncs The Innr.l.al IL,