Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-06-12
REPORT IN THE SENATE on Mr.. POINSETT'S PLAN FOR
THE REORGASIZING THE MILITIA.

The report of the Chairman of the Committee on
the Militia (AIr Clay of Alahama) takes a very com
prehcn>ivc and able view ofthc subject. Mr. Clay has
presented the policy of every successive Admin>ira-
ion in regard to IL and no candid compare the
plan of Mir. PonSett with that Of am preceding one
snorcstcd from Gen. knoXs, Secretary under Wash.
inron To that of Mr. Barbour, Secretary under Mr..
Adams, without perceivIng that Mr. Polnsetts IS The
most economical, Democratic, and least burdensome
of anv ever proposed 1t dlminlshes the number TO
be called out for training, enrols militia men two years
later in life, and cxcmp's them fifteen years sooner
than General Knox's plan. Instead of paying the
officers alone, as proposed by the plan, of Generals
Knox and Harrison, it provides for the pay OF me
Dyirnies who generally can least afford to lose the
time employed in training Instead OF requiring the
men called out for training to find their own arms
and equipments, 1t relieves them IRON the charge,
by providing depots of arms. And, although Mr.
Poinsctts plan leave the old law in force, making It the
duty Of every citizen subject to military service, TO
arm himself, vet by furnishing those actually cal cd
out for training, with public arms the only occasion
which brings operation the penalties al Inc Sta'e
laws (Which subject 10 fine the mI'tiaman appearing
on parade, without arms,) is anticipated under MT.
poiiset,s plan bv the provision of from the ma
tional arscnas; and this, in effect relieves the militia
altogether from the necessity OF equppng themselves,
there being fine except for appearing on parade
without arms. Mr. Poinsetts plan Gas will appear by
the estimates Of cach not half expensive as That
Of General Harrison, without taking into the account
the enormous expense of the military schools OF the lat.
ter which he proposed to educate all the youth OF
the country.
II will be found upon examination that Mr. Pom
sets plan has only the advantage over all others IN
bcinr cheaper to the Governments and less burdensome
to the individual, in beng Just TO ALL IN paying inc
soldier rs well the officer, and making the economy
to reducing the number to be framed out IL
has the advantage over Gen Harrisons in particular,
in the features winch discriminate militia force, under
the State authority, from standing army, under the
command Of the General Government.
iarrisons plan proposed to commit the education OF
The whole youth of the nation, in the primary as well
as the scientific military schools, TO the hands OF the
General Government. Mr. Poinsett proposes nothing
Of the kind.
Harrison proposes even to change the Constitution,
which reserves "lhc authority Of training the mdHd,
exclusively 10 the States to give the National Go
plenary power the training OF militia,
as is now possessed hy the States Mr. Pomset pro-
posed that the training should be only authorized by
the States. He proposed no change OF the Consttu-
ton to increase the power of the General Government
over the subject but left all his suggestions in regard to
lie training, to the free adoption of the State Govern
mcnts, and to have efficacy but in their assent.
General Harrison proposes to give the power to the
PRESIDENT TO command Immediately, through the OH
GERS of the militia in their respective Satcs-exclnd'
inr the Governor Of the State, that could not
be rendered subject the Prcsdcnts command not
being subject to martial law.
TIC perfect his plan of concentrating and consoda-
ting the whole military power in the hands Of the &C.
neral Government, Harrison proposed to fIf'Rd me
rules md articles IF the mItiathe training
of which he sought TO commit to the national authority
by constitutional provision, as it is reserved by
that instrument to the States. This would have made
the General Government absolute over the militia
force of the States, is their pecunIary resour
in the concurrent taxing power. And the rules
and articles of warm word, martial aw-suh Getting
the militia like regular soldiers, be whipped cobbed,
shot, by order of court martial, actually re-
commended BY Harrison TO enforce the discipline he
proposed independently of the adoption Of the States
All this is directly reversed in Mr. Poinsetts plan
Nothing regard to training the militia according to
his scheme, could be effected, but By the adoption of
the States, and of subject at all times 10 their
atrogatIon
Harrsons plan was, in all respects, against the &C.
MUS Of our instltutIons-against State Rights which
are mainly dependent upon that rsserrcd control
the militia, which, in excluding the National Govern
me nj from the tight of training, retained the COM
mand Of its own force for the protection Of each State
against cncroachmcnt. To remove the constitutional
barrier, so wisely interposed by the founders of the
Government as Harrison proposed, would have been
consolidate the physical power of the country in the
national head and would have left the political dstri
button Of it, without its natural support