The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-06-16
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TMfmtp=Sfrth Congress.
UNITED STATES SENATE.
FRIDAy, June -

/ THE EXECUTIVE SCHEME OF A STANDING ARMY.
ton to print 10000 copies of the report of the Com
mittee on Military Affairs the plan of Mr. Ponsei
for standing army of 100000 militia.
| Mr. CRlTTENDEN, having expressed his regret
that It fell upon him to speak at this time because
though the documents ordered to be printed were or
his desk, he had not had time to read them went al
much length into the merits or dement's Of the report
II would obtain the strongly marked sanction of the
majority of the Senate by order to print 20 600
But judging from the past not ha those copies lrouio
erer leare The District. .@
And if it sent abroad what good would il
do Z Did it recommend any thing Did il condemn
any thing What was it Z Its main, if not its sole
characteristic was, that it was for the pro-
ect of the Secretary of War The best thing that its
friends could now do for bad Administration, and
for of its bad measures send forth 20 OOC
apologies
They Were apologies also for measure of which
friend of the Administration dared to approve
Why then, those apologies If the measure wa:
good its friends and the Senate ought to say so boldly
if bad, it was as much their duty to condemn il One
the other OF these the Senate ought to do unless il
unimportan as TO be passed over silently which
it certainly net If il was bad they ought 10
condemn 1t, and not to apologize But the Senate
now proposed to take the humble attitude of mere
apoogists of bad Administration and bad measure
Not friend of the Administration had even
ycntured to say that the project constitutional
1 lie senator from ALABAMA, (Mr. Clay II Mr.. G.
understood him, had alone intimated that it was not
inconsistent with the Constitution
MIR Clay denied that he had done So cxcept in
qualified terms.
There none then to vindcatc it even on the
point of constitutionahty; and Mr. Crtenden pro-
cccded to argue that IL was unconstitutional that it
was n project for disguised STANDING ARMY, UNDER
THE COMMAND OF THE PRESIDENT; and he urged in
strong that the tendency if not the direct eff
feet of carrying such plan into execution was to
make free citizens hdbtuaHy atnenobie and submits
sire 10 MILITARY POWER, and to make them feel that
the English soldier " ate the bread of the King
they the bread and received the pay of the Pre-
sident. But this 100000 militia TO be received
as volunteers as well as by enlistment. And who
would volunteer in such service, for pay and for
bread All the idle the worthless the loco focos the
oacrs would be the very first volunteer throup hou,
the country and though gentlemen had laughed at
the idea of our present Chief Magistrate becoming
military chief yet what might or rather what might
not, Cesar or Cromwell do with such an army so
disciplined and brought under subsection
Mr. G. also contrasted in detail the plans of Gen
Knox and Gen Harrison with that of Mr. Poinsett
Also John Adamss standing army of 1000, which
were 10 be dsbanded soon as the difficulties with
France should terminate if not before with this stand
ing army, in time of general peace of 100 600 to be
subject sixty days in the year the disposal and com
mand of the President He also contrastcd Gen
Harrisons opposition accordance with the wishes
and fears of his constituents to the dsbanding Of
5000 from army of 5000 men, with this gigantic
and dangerous project
After few remarks from Mr. CUTHBERT
Mr.. CLAY, of Alabama, spoke at length in vindi
Whit washing" Committee, of which he is a mem