The Ohio Democrat and Dover advertiser. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1839-1840, 1840-07-03
GEN. WILLIAM H. HARRISON
AND A STANDING ARMY.


AND A STANDING ARMY.
Few subjects that have engaged the attention
oft people have called forth more msrepre-
sentation than the system Of arming, organizing,
and disciplining the militia, or the people, in
condra distinction to the Federal doctrine of
real standing army permanently paid soldle-
ry.-The Portsmouth IN. Hampshire) Gazette,
publishes the following epitome oc the plan. and
shows the system is free from the objections
hitherto urged against similar plans:
To crafty the curiosity of our readers, we
will state that this monster of hideous form,
which the wings have used to humbug the good
people Of Virginia, is simply, the plan for diss
cipllning portion Of the militia of this country
at the expense the General Government, and
otherwise reforming the militia system, drawn
up by the Secretary of War, at the request of
Congress, an epitome of which was given in
this paper of the 7th ult. That plan contem-
plated, in shert, the enrolment of all white
male citizens of the United States between the
ages of 20 and As all of whom to be armed
&c. agrseably to the laws of the States and to
remain under their control as heretofore. From
untary enlistment, 100000 men, between the
disciplined ten or twelve consecutive days the
first year, another fourth the second year, and
SO on in rotation. This is to be done atihe ex-
2ense Of the United States. These are the
rain features of the plan proposed, and wheth
er good or bad. 1t is no measure Of the Presi-
dent's-he did not recommend 1t, nor has he a.
nything to do with it. Congress called for a
plan for the better organization of The militia,
nd tha - IN l,f,, hau
has laid one before them. Whether it will be
adopted or not, remains to be aeen. We are in
clined to think it will not be acted upon in hur
Ty, and may be never at all. We trust it never
will be until it is fully and carefully considered
and approved by the American people. As ye,
we believe the plan has Tot been brought out Df
Committee and has never beon discussed excep,
little incidentally for party effect in Virginia.
But with what propriely do the wings de-
nounce the plan, when similar plans have 5aen
recommended successfully by Washington JET.
ferson and Madison These Revolutionary
patriots whom the wings profess to revere, now
that they are dead and gone, urged plans for
disciplining the militia very similar to that Mr..
PolDseu has drawn up, for the consideration OF
Congress, and the people; and yet we never
from them before the bug bear cry of standing
armyl Bnt the joke Of it is. the measure is the
favorite hobby of General Harrison himself,
their present idol. He stands as n sort Of god
father to it. While in the House of Represent
tatives in 1917 he concluded report from the
COMMITTEES on Military Affairs with the follow
ing resolution:-
Resolved, That the Secretary Of War be re-
quired to prepare, and lay before this House, a;
the next session Of Congress, plan for the mil
i'ary instruction of all the youth in the United
States, in the way which is best calculated for
the purpose; with as little injury as possible to
tho ordinary course Of education
And no longer ago than the 81 of FeLuary
last, he again urged the subject in the following
emphatic language, reply TO an invitation from
the Louisville Legion, to he present at the cel-
ebration of the 22d of FebuaIy:
1T NAV perhaps be unknown TO you, gentle
men, that the formation Of sach corps as youis
upon an extensive scale throughout the Union,
has long been favoritc measure Of mine. 81
long ago as the year 1910, endeayored to call
the attention Of the nation to the subject. in q
series of letters addressed 10 the venerable re-
volutionary soldier and patriot, General Cha'r
Scott, at that time Governor Of Kentucky. -
These letters advocated the formation of annua
camps Of discipline, in which the select corps
of the militia were to be instructed IN their duty
at the public expense. In the House of Repre-
sentatives, in the Fifteenth Congress, present.
ed a report containing the outlines of a system
of military education Of all the ordinary semi-
naries of learning. In short, have neglected
no opportunity in Congress, in letters. in speech
cs, and in toasts at public conyivial meetings,
10 urge the importance of creating national de
fence suited TO the character Of our Govern
megt.
so much has the object occupied my mind
that il has often been inappositely introduced as
the celebraed 'Delenda est Carthage of the ell
der Cato. But my eforts have been in yain.
Yhe attention of our rulers and revenues of the
country have been directed 10 other objects con-
sidered no doubt by them as more important
Such however were not the opinions of the RO
man and Grecian Senates, when Rome and
Greece were free, nor in modern times, of the
greatest British statesman, the immortal Wnl
Pitt 1.-THE elder,) nor of our Washington and
Jefferson. Will the citizens who are enrolled
as the defenders Of our country longer suffer un
der this gross neglect? VIII they longer toler-
nte such militia system, (if system it can be
[alled,) and such pension system, devoid OF
every feature of justice and every principle Of
Repnblicanism I,
But the deed is done - the humhug has per-
formed its Office in Virginia. The wings will
now wipe away their crocodile tears, and like
enough before the year is out, he advocating
the very plan they havesO violently denounced