Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1840-04-02

THE STANDING ARMY.

Z The proportion Of the Secretary n
War. emphaiieslIy endorsed by The Pre-
sident, Tor an increase Of the standing ar
my 10 the exleat Of DOC. 900 men, has re-
eeived less notice than any suggestion Of
the same importance ever did in this coun.
4 try. 1, would really seem that the PEG.
iPle had sunk into lethargy The mos, "a.
vorable Tor encroachments on their iiber-
ties. Whilst the most xakeful and un.
firing interest is manifested in every thing
which relates ~ mere party poliiics--ihe
greatest indifference prevails towards oil
which may affect the desiinies Of the re.
public, or endanger or preserve the liber.
ties Of lis citizens.-We have seen within
. few years, doctrines boldly announced.
and implicitly adopted as the landmarks
Of party. which in the better days Of the
Republic, would have shocked the nsiioa
at large. We have not time TO specify
numerous examples will suggest them.
selves 10 the mind Of the intelligent
resder.
| When we saw Mr. PoiNsErr's plan Of
keeping in the pay OF the country 200. 900
men. we took Il for granted that the op-
position press would have. al once, open.
ed its batieries--but. strange &c say, Tor
long time not word was said. II SEEM
ed rs II IL were already too exclusively
employed in attacking the overt acts and
Legislation Of the party in power, 10 End
time 10 turn upon their mere suggestions.
Thus, while every hand has been raised
against the Sub. Treasury for months. q
,eheme has been brosched by the Presi-
dent and his Secretary. which. IL carried
into execution, would be Infinitely more
dangerous to the liberties Of the country,
and as we have said attracted but little
notice.-The Press, however, and the
people are beginning. We are glad TO say,
to perceive the true character OF this mon.
s'rons proPosi,ion-for so we may charae-
terize the following extract from the last
report OF the Secretary at War:
at Is proposed to divide the United States in
10 eight military districts, and to organizs the mi
liia IN each district SO As 10 have n body Of
Twelve thousand Eve hundred men in active ser
VICE, and another OF equal number rs a reserve
ms would give an armed militia force Of two
hundred thousand men, 50 drilled and stationed
rs to be ready to take their places in the ranks
IN defence OF Tie country, whenever called upon
TO oppose the enemy or repei the invader. The
age OF the recruit 10 be from 30 To ~ the whole
term OF service to be eight years--four years in
the FIRST class. and -four in he reserve: one-Tourh
Ypar', twenty-five thousand men, to leave the
service every year, passing, at the conclusion Of
the hrSt term, into the reserve and exempted
from ordinary militia duty altogether nj the end
OF the second. In this manner, twenty Ave lhou-
sand men will be discharged from militia dutV
every year, and twenty-five thousand fresh re-
erniis be received into the service. II will be
sumeient for all useful purposes that the remain
der Of the militia, under certain reSulat,ons pro-
vided FOR their government, be enrolled and BE-
mustered AZ lcng and stated intervals; for in
due process Of time, nearly the whole mass Of
the militia will pass through the first and second
eiasses, and be either members Of the active
corps, or Of the reserve, or counted among the
lexemPts, who will be liable to be called lupoa
only in periods Of invasion or imminent peril--
The manner Of enrolment, the number OF DAYS
OF service, and the rate Of compensation, oueh,
TO be hxed by Law; bat the details had better be
len subject 90 regula;ion-a plan Of which am
prepared TO submit to you"
The President assumes the responsible.
~ OF this notable scheme by endorsing il
IN his annual message:
The present condition Of the 'dsfeneeS Of our
principal Seaports and navy yards as represented
oy the accompanying report Of the Secretary of
war, calls for the early and serious attention OF
congress; and as connecting itself intimately
i IcCOmmel0
strongly TO your consideration the plan submitted
oy that officer for The organization OF the militia
OF the UniIsd States"
The Globe Of Tuesday night contains n
detailed statement from the SeeFetarv Of
War OF his plan, sn outline Of which was
given IN his annual message, for raising
Standing Army Of POI, 600 men. one. half
OF whom to be in active service, and sub.
jeet TO the call OF the President. The
statement is presented TO Congress, and
Is IN The form Of bill. ready 70 be enacted
into law. We had INDUCED the hope
that The strong aud universal feeling Of
disaPPfobation with which the PROPOSE
lion was received when fret made. would
have induced The Administration 10 sbaa.
doa this deiestSble and Anti Republican
project. But they ere evidently bent
upon their own ruin. or the subsection Of
the eouhtIy-and one OF the other they
WilI accomplish reckless Of eonse0sunces.
The seheu.s, a. detailed by the Ssers-
taFy. does not vary materially from vha.
The reader vas prepared 70 suspaes C,oo,
tue original propositions. WhiIs a little
demagogism is thrown in here and there
TOT 'ne benefit Of the slang WhAaeeFs. ell
80 - J~~NcueutC tGsAufGb uFo rGtainG0.@-
Standing Army Of 100. 900 men, TO be
called the '.8ctIps Force" and another
100 900, 10 be called The 'RsssyvsdFevee.
is TO be enlisisd--lo be assembled and
drilled not less than ten nor more lhsn 40
days each year, besides being called ont
eoee o. twice year by tie Prssidsnt.
'oifAOaf cause. and as often as be plsases.
With esuse--i. e. IL be inagines OF Affects
70 believe there is cause. The whole DO.
dy 10 10 be IN the pay Of The Government.
aud OF course in some sort the Janissries
Of The Executive.
With the Public purse in his hsBd.
Withont any restriction By laS. the Prssi.
dent needs buttbs adoption Of this scheme
TO make him as absoluis % the Auioera,
OF Rsssia. To the whole people N this
county, this subject presents itself as the
gFavest and mOsi ROmenioos ever sub.
mitied 70 their consideration. are GhsV
prepared 10 surrender The keeping o. their
liberties from their own hands 10 those Of