The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-03-05


The people! Oh, no;-they
are as body opposed to drawing the lines
at the present time. They do not call for
any convention for such an object, believ-
ing that it would be injurious to the inter-
ests Of the Territory. 1t must be, then,
some of those who have no other business
than to seek office, and no other merit to
recommend them than their protested add
herence ''to the present administration"
Us far us we have had intercourse with the
few who still cling to Mr. Van Buren, as
their presidential candidate, we know that
it is not the wish of that party as body
to hold convention. If left to them
selves, uninduenced by these would-be
partizan leaders, they would prefer each
candidate to stand or fall on his own per-
sonal popularity.
From the Ncw-York Journal of Commerce.
NEW MILITIA ORGANIZATION.
The report of the Secretary of War.
recommends new organization Of militia
on the following basis, viz Divide the
United States into eight military districts;
in each district have an active militia
force of l2,500 men, and an equal num-
Der Of reserve; making $4,000 10 each
district, or 200. 900 in the whole country.
These men are to be thoroughly drilled,
and to continue in the service eight years,
viz: four in active service, and four in
the reserve. AT the expiration of the
eight years, they are to be exempt from
all military duty, except in case of inva-
sion or imminent peril. One fourth Of
the active militia are each year to pass
into the reserve, their place being sup
piled with new recruits and one fourth
of the reserve to retire from the service.
These men are all to receive certain rate
of compensation, which is to be fixed by
law, as we'll as the number of days duty
in ordinary times, the manner of enroll
ment. &c. The 200,G men to be en-
bodied as national guards according to
the plan, will comprise about one seventh
of the whole number of militia in the
country. The remaining six seventies,
or 100000. will have no military duty
to perform, and will only require to be
enrolled and mustered at long and stated
intervals
Will any one, after reading the above,
doubt the intention of those who now
conduct the administration of this coun-
try. Is it not plain that the whole scope
and tendency Of all their movements is SO
to strengthen the government as to cur
tail the liberties Of the people and render
the ballot box of little avail when once
their objects are consummated! Hitherto
citizen soldiers belonging to our militia
have been adequate to act in all cases Of
emergency in the darkest times of our
country's history. And now, while the
militia is. far better prepared in point o.
numbers to stand up in defence of the
country, what is proposed! A national
guard of 100000 men, all Of whom are
to be subservient to the nod of their com
mander.in-chief, the President of the
United States. This is the sword-anl
when united to the purse, as it is propos
ed to be, by the provisions of the Sub
Treasury scheme, it will give the Presi
dent more power Than is possessed by
many of the European monarchs, ant
will enable him to WELD an influence tina,
can se' at defiance and trample under fee
the dearest interests Of the American peo
pie.
! NAVIGATION oPENED.--Slnce oul
{ last. the ice has entirely left us. The
river is now in excellent order, .ane
is still rising slowly. The little
Rock Island was the first steamboat
arrival; she came up on Sunday
morning and followed by the De-
Moines in the evening Of the same
day. The Rapids came down from
the mouth Of the Iowa, where she
had been all winter, on the same day,
We may now look for boats very
frequently.
The excellent Steam Ferry Boat
j shokoquon, commenced crossing on
/ Friday last, at this place. This is
/ the first instance III which a steam
boat arrived here in February.