Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1840-05-28
THURSDAY MORNING., MAY IS, 1910.

VI huD olotSf VI 0tlANeICt AlA
ryland. the District OF Columbia aud vir.
ginia; and under this law. the active corps
OF Militia can be marched 10 any point
within their district. twice q year, and
there be subjected 10 any rules Of diseip-
line or government the President may
think proper TO establish. They can be
marched TO Richmond, Norfolk. wsshing-
ton. Baltimore or Delaware. twice year.
and are 10 be regarded ss in the service
OF the United States from the lime they
are ordered from their homes until they
return! And st time, too, be i, RENEE m
bered. when there is no war. no invasion,
insurrecticn. or resistance 10 tho laws! ]
viii here quote the section rtrbafin, as il
has been recommended 10 Congress by
the President, IN order that you may form
your opinions shout il. II is in the fol.
lowing words:
ali. That the President Of the United States
be authorized 10 call forth and assemble such
nunhers ofthe active force Of militia Al such pIa-
ces IN the respective Districts and at such times
not exceeding twice nor days In The year
as he may deem necessary; and during such Pc
nod including The time when gving 10 and re-
turning from The place Of rendezvous, they shall
be deemed 10 the service Of the United States,
sad b s'tjsei 10 Fsd rsgniaiieas "a the President
may hink proper 10 adopt fer thcir insirsetion,
discipline and improvement, in miliisry knSts-
isdxs".!!
This Law then provides. as we see. that
the whole body Of the militia in The United
States. amounting now TO more than n
million and half Of men, shall. in the
frst place. be required TO arm accourire
and r,rnvfda eho -, a .Iy.. w,.,k a,.,..n.,,.~..
ut their own srpense--and that they are
to be divided into Military Dis,ricis-ihat
1880 are 10 be drafted 10 each District
in other words, forced INTO the ranks
that they are to be marched twice q year
10 some point within this Disirici-that
;hey are there TO be put under any
regulations the President may choose 10
prescribe-ihat they are there TO be kept
IN service such time as Congress may d.
rect. and that they are 10 be regarded as
in the service OF the United States from
the time they are marched from their
homes until they return to them. They
are not TO be governed by the laws and
regulations now in force for the govern.
meut Of the Army Of the u. States, but
they are TO be "gorerned BY such yegula-
'ions as The President may choose 10 pre-
seriteF He can. under the suihoriiy Of
this Law, inflict any punishmen,s upon
them he may choose. for any violations
Of The rules Of discipline Yes, he can
order your sons aud nephews aud young
brothers TO be stripped il he chooses, aud
scourged al the common whipping pos.
for any act whiehahe may designate as
military ofenceAfor any ACT he may
choose to call violation OF his rules Of
discipline. He proposes himself, that this
power shall be conferred upon himself ,
Have ] uninterrupted this proposed law
Read il and Judge for yourselves. The
18th section does expressly provide that
when the militia are AZ The place Of rem
devious. 'they shall be regarded as in The
ssrriee offhe United States, and Be- subject
10 such regulations az tie PreHdent may
think proper 10 adopt"
Suppose one ofhis regulations should be
that every militiamsn who appeared upon
parade, with his arms. sceouiremsnts, or
ammunition, out Of order. shonId be
strung up at the whippipg-post. and gets
go iashes on his bare back. Has he moi
the power under this law 10 adopt such q
regula.ions
Am 10 be told there is no danger in
granting such q power ss this,-Thal it
VIII never be exercised indeed j.
this the language Of freenen; Is it the
language Of Republicans, That they are
willing to grant absolute, despoiic pow er
IN time Of peace, 10 partizan Presi.
dent. under the consoling hope il viii ne
yer be exercised. Where has been the
mortal man, from the beginning Of time
10 The present moment, 20 whom has been
granted absolute despoGc power. who has
moi occasionally made nse Of IN Where
iS the mortal. fallibie, fFail man. who (esLs
pOvev. that does NOT forget rigAfl where
Is the human being who. possessing de-
sPoiic and irresponsible powe.. is not oe.
essiohally cruel and Unlusil
But will dare 10 insult my country.
men, you brave JKoEnfainsers, by telling
you. chat such power ought 10 be grant
ed 10 any President, because IL may not
be exereised' Our forefsihets reasoned
very differently. They "suguIed mis-
government II distance, and snuffcd the
approach Of tyranny in every tainted
bfecze." They bfaved and bearded the
British Lion, for an abstract principle,
which they thought might lead 10 their
subjugaiion
Bot where does Congress get The power
10 call forth the militia, IT, lime OF peace
Ito pot them IN The service Of The e.
States--to subject them 70 The absolute
military regulations and government Of
the Pfesideui, whep there IS no war-no
invasion, insuueelion, OF assistance 10
the lass' They have no such power.-
The poWer they are called upon 70 give
The President. by this bili, - most pal.
pable and agdacious violation Of the Re
deral Constitution. The sih section ~
ihe Constitution. and ihe l3ib. iiih. and
18th articles. afe 10 these Wofds.- Con.
gTess laoi the PfeddsnD shall have pow.
.CT:
"l3 To nnLs miles ~ ihs government Of The
Land add Naval forces
"a. e. provide ~ caliing forth he iniliiia
90 ssseu ~ igiss q ~ Usisn, % suppress insur.
reciiona ADD fgrcl uvanans
HIE 10 rrHefHa fuf afrIfn~ ara H.srir4 = .rn