The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-05-02
UNOFFICIAL.

HIS S"tli - oupJStt " oh"" '.''"'"" ~ 49,
settlement of the accounts Of the Treasurer
UNOFFICIAL.
Contrast the expenditures of the Government
under the present with those of former Admins
trations then read the following, and reflect be-
fore you ote!!!!!!!!
The following are literal extracts from the re-
port of the Secretary Of War and the message
of-the President Of the United States. on the sub
iect Of The increase Of the Army Of the United
States
II IS proposed to divide the United States into
eight military districts and to organize the mill
tia in each district so a 10 have body OF twelve
thousand five hundred men in active service, and
another of equal number as reserve. This
would give an armed militia force OF two hundred
thousand men, so drilled and stationed as TO be
ready TO take their places in the ranks in defence
Of the country whenever called upon to oppose
the enemy or repel the invader. The age Of the
recruit 10 be from 20 to 81; the whole term OF
service 10 be eight years--four years in the first
class and four wears in the reserve; one-tourlh
part twenty five thousand men, to leave the ser-
vice every year, passing, at the conclusion OF the
first term into the reserve, and exempted rom
ordinary militia duty altogether at the end OF the
second In this manner twenty five thousand
men will be discharged from militia duty every
wear, and twenty five thousand fresh recruits be
received into the service. II will be sufficient Tor
all useful purposes, that the remainder OF the mi
lita under certain regulations provided Tor their
| gskernment be enrolled and mustered at long
and stated intervals for, in due process OF tune,
| nearly the whole mass of the militia will pass
through the first and second classes, and be either
members Of the active corps, or OF the reserve,
or counted among the exempts, who Wlii De llaDie
| to be called upon only in periods OF INVASION or
imminent peril. The manner OF enrolment, the
number Of days of service, and the rate OF com
| pensation. ought to be fixed by law; but the de-
| tails had better be left subject TO regulatlon-a
plan Of which am prepared TO submit TO you"
Here is the cndorsation Of this monstrous pro-
| jcct by Mr. Van Buren,, in his last annual mes
sage: :.; e "a ao,onoos II
our principal seaports and navy yards, as repre-
| scented by the accompanying report OF the Secre-
tary of War, calls for the carly and serious at
| trnfion of Congress; and, as connecting 1tsell
| intimately with this subject, cannot recommend
too strongly to your consideration the plan sub
mttcd by that officer for the organization OF the
militia of the United States"
| The following is the 18th section OF the plan
of details proposed by the Secretary of War for
the organization of the militia of the United
States, thus recommended by Mr.. Van Buren,
| by which the power is to be given to the Presi-
| dent to assemble such numbers, At such places,
and at such times, within their respective DIS
| tricts, as he may deem necessary--not exceeding
twice in one year. The people are required. 1t
called on, to perform military duty beyond the
limits of their own States, at the will Oh the
President there being only eight districts in the
Union, and consequently several States III dis
| trict.
| We have only to call your attention to the uni
versa prediction made in 1898, at the time OF
the removal of the depostes, and reiterated down
to the present time, viz: That mhen The F'eder-
| al Executive obtained ualimifea control orer
| the public purse the neaf step monfd be tord'se
a standing army
| Here it is in its full proportions!!!
| The next step towards the downfall OF tins re-
| public, under the false garb of democracy, we
| leave you to conjecture. In the meantime, you
are conjured TO pause before you strike this last
| fatal blow at the liberties Of your country
at That the President Of the United States
| be authorized to call forth and assemble such
numbers of the active force of the militia, at
such places within their respective districts, and
| al such times, not exceeding twice, nor ------
DAYS in the same year, as he may deem neces-
sary and during such period, including the time
when going to and returning from the place OF
rendezvous they shall be deemed in the service
of the United States and be subject to such re-
gulations the President may think proper TO
adopt for their instruction, discipline, and i'm
provement in military knowledge"
We, the undersigned, hereby certify that the
above extracts are true copies from the reports
Of the Secretary of War. and from the message
of the President Of the United States.
April IS, 1910.
r. GARLAND, of Louisiana,
JOHN BELL, Of Tennessee,
JOHN NJ. BOTTS, of Virginia,
TIOS. CORWIN, of Ohio
NJ. ii. GRlNNELL, Of New York
u C. CLARK, of New York,
I.EVERETT SALTONSTAII., Mass.
TRUMAN SMITH, of Connecticut,
Executive Committee.