Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-09-11
And for 100000


gades l56.jcg
! And for 100000 $l-Gj.00D
Mr. Ponsett recommended that 100000 men sLor
be trained in the neighborhood of iepots Of arms
erected within each State, for the period of ten dsv
each and every year. and estimated the who'll. gym
| to the nation at S5O0OH0 per annum. THIS est,r.
included the payment OF the privaes as well n. Is
GERS; whereas Gen. Harrison proposes 10 pay The i
GERS and sergernts only.
The principal points OF difference between the 70
propositions are, that Gen. Harrison proposed 10 ma.
military tactics a branch Of education in eyer. scI
within the L. ). His language when treating ofh,. -.
jet, is: "lhat corps ofthc military institutions s!nr
be formed 10 attend to the gymnastc and elrnae,,,.
part OF education, in every school IN the L. ) wI
the more scientific part of the art Of war Shall BE- s
municated by professors of tactics TO be es,ablishs
all the higher semlnaries."
GAS the important advantages Of the marv mar,
the education of the youth, VIII accrue to the comm
nifty, and not 10 the individuals who acquire IT, j. ~
per that the whole expense Of the establishment .ba,
be borne by the public Treasury"
The annual cost OF this military education Is cs,,,n,.
at over two millions Of dollars
"That, 10 comp"rt with the equality which! Is Tie b,
SIS OF our Constitution the organization %! tn" c>aN
ment should be such rs torxtcnd without exception
every individual of the proper are
"Ihat TO secure this, the plated military 4
strnction should not be given in distinct schools rs
blished for that purpose but that il should form bran
OF education IN every school within the / :"
! The next point of difference between the two r'
is, General iiarrsons proposition 10 authorize the r.
sdent To address his orders directly 10 officer o.
lIt'a, and not 10 the Governors of States. He save
"Ihe Committee are Of opinion that the rcgu!a .-.
for calling forth the militia may remain subStanra
at present eXising that the President should. u
cases address his orders Immediately office.
i In. mi and 10 q the ESpcutIyp of
The Governor of State is not militia officer bog.
/ tn execute the orders of the President he cannot
tried for disohediencc of orders, and punished b. f
sentence Of courl-martla'
In the third place he confines the remuneration L.
allowed to the militia when called ont for training
the officers, commissioned and non commissioner
whereas my proposition is, that the privatrs should !,
paid for the time they are engaged; and lastly tie
difference of cost IN favor ct my plan, which, II : b.
licvrd would not exceed $500 900 year 10 carry lr
full effect whereas that OF General ilarrsons mo t
ing the education of youth, will exceed three mil.
| OF dollars annually.
! Ia reply TO al the oboquy which M propos.,oo,
/ rcurgarze the militia of the L. ;. have brought up
| me- | beg leave once more to state the motives y f.
animated me when, in obedience 10 the WISHES 81. .
committee of Congress, drew up thts plan, aud &.
I explain It's whole scope and object.
! 1t is not 10 be denied that danger Threatened
country al the time this plan called for hy g..
Z
Tor war is rendered ,sary by the peculiar
stances attending our Institutions, and the condition
our extensive frontiers, beyond that of the handj4
regular troops to winch Republican Goycrum.
should always limit It's standing force. With THIS
| gle object in view, ! proposed to embody, under
authority of the States, a certain number Of baa,.
composed of Their citizen soldiers, called INTO
vice by their own executives, and commanded,
by their own officers that every State might
within itself efficient force to rcpe sudden rnya.
or put down domestic insure ctnn--nnr can com
bend IN what manner such body Of militia, Deepen.
upon State authority, and commanded by State ",o
could be converted n,o an instrument 81 power hy
Federal Government; or by what process Of reason
nv intention TO furnish the States with skIlu, VI
armed and well trained militia, composed oi It's
citizens can be interpreted INTO design TO csab,.
standing army OF two hundred thousand men
The old law which required each cItIzrn 10 pros
himself with was left standing IN the new pr.'
because it was legislative enactment coeval with
government of the United States, authorizing ev
man to bear arms, and distinguishing 1t from the :.
vernments of the old world, which by law restrc,h
right to certain favored classes. But ! pros 4
the establishment of depots of arms at convsg
points in all the States, where, in addition 10 tas ann
now distributed by the Government 10 the STATS 3.
which insufficient when placed IN the HANDS n
of the militia, arms, ammunition, clothing aua
cOuirements should be kept, not only 10 supp, p
glazing defect of the present attempts to tram tac
tia wthon, arms but as essential To prompt de!tuc
cases Of sudden invasion or Instruction.
On orr Northern border we have vigan
powerful neighbor, with well scpned regular inc
placed at every commanding point, supported hya
organized and well trained militia On our Wr.'e
frontier we have hordes of warlIke Indians that
easily be converted into formidable auxiliary IL \
BY foreign enemy.
In the Islands within short distance Of our sou
crn coast, there known orXst regiments nj bac
which, in the present temper of the tunes, mns
pect will be looked 10 the means of doubling
strength of an invading force, IN that portion a.
country, and of giving 10 the contest aspect ~
able the views of the fanatics Of both continents.
drcnching the hearhstone of every Southern h /
stead with the blood of It's inhabitants Is It not de-
able then, that the militia OF country thus iear:-
exposed should be well organized: And can I I
doubted, If, in such crisis each State division q
ganized militia, had its depots of arms, and we'r
dered expert and prompt in the use Of them, and a
liar with all the duties of soldiers, that i, would Sc
to stay the progress OF instruction INVASION, d.
the whole force of the country could BE- summoned
overcome it: The details of the bill drs Gur:
this purpose:--thcy may not be :" well adapted 70"
object as others, which full discussion" 81 Tie
might have elected, and some OF them, as have
stated, when brought 10 the view of the President
not considered b. him within the competency o A
gress TO enact; but that they can, with any ~"
Justice, subject 10 the mputation 81 aypfls
Standing Army, utterly deny. II the States G.
trust their own independent and vrrtuors yra~..
the owners of The SOIL the suiiagans, whose
create the Government, disciplined 10y o.""
their own choosing, and called into service b:
own State Executive, then indeed a Standing : Il
may become Indispensable to protect the country r
foreign enemies. But that is snppositruu Il, Is
suItins 10 The American character 10 cntcr'o1 b
cannot think, that, in this matter, | have me- p
the of my fcow-ctizens. The weight %
dIspleasure ought rather 10 fall those who ai,r
sent all attempts TO render the militia ciicrU,
who opposed as they 10 the power of III" r.
seek TO supersede il, and not on those who cAcr.
honest and earnest efforts TO do away with th" nt
~ ola Standing Army by enabling the people 'oce
themselves.
After my explicit and solemn assurance, tl1' II
President not made acquainted with the cria 81
my plan for recognizing the militia until tlri il
been communicated Ia the House of Represent. Il
aud after the clear and satisfactory explanation l.
by the President himself Of the part h" took N I
ter 1t is with some surprise that have seen N'
tempt 10 which you have called my attention, mac
MIR. Rivrs, through the instrumcntahy OF Nt !"
to impugn those statements.
Mr.. Phelps says. shut such M rms Rpm"
submitted ,ciM me annual report Is not 0bc q"'s'""
If such had been the the bill wonld have
part of the documents sent in with the annna ~ b
which it does not do. If snch had been IL IL
would Mr. Phelps, as a member Of the COMMITTEE.