The Ohio Democrat and Dover advertiser. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1839-1840, 1840-07-24

uOthH NhHtou va SouJuhSt'Sh "Nh AN6u
lar troops aud by veteran officers.' Con
lempla,ing the necessity of this assent,
ha adds:-ltis not probable that this
CO. operation will be withheld by any
State when the advantages are preseu
ten to it of possessing hody Of we'll or
ganized well-armed, and well-discipli-
ned Hilltis, without any expense either
10 the States or TO the citizens thereof,
and when they are made aware that it is
the intention Of the Government to as
semble such militia at convenient points
within each State, and in the vicinity OF
depots Of arms, which it is proposed TO
esls blish aa part Of The system
| Notwithstanding the passage OF the
act Of EI790,iO provide for the national
defence, by establishing an uniform mi"
liua Throughout the U. S. and though it's
provisions have been thought by many
10 impose individual burdens Of too
much severity, Gen, Washington EVIL
deptly regarded il as inadequate 10 the
purposes contemplated. More than
once, after it's passage, he brought the
subject before Congress IN his annual ad
dresses. Recurring 10 the militia as the
safe and adequate defence Of the nation
in bis speech on the Sd Of December,
1893, u0er speaking of the necessity OF
procuring arms and other military appa'
ratus, he emphaticalIy observed,
'Nor can such arrangements with
such objects be exposed to the censure
or jealousy Of the warmest friend Of re-
publican Government They are inca
pable Of abuse in the hands of militia,
who ought to possess pride in being
the depository of The power Of the repub
hc, and may be trained to degree Of
energy equal to every military exigency
of the U, S. But is an inquiry which
cannot be too solemnly pursued, whelh>
er the act has organized them SO as to
produce their full effect
J. 10 his speech ofNov, 10, 1894, the
President again brought the subject for
ward; and among other thlngs mado the
following remark;
! 2 'The devising and establishing a we'll
regulated militia, would be genuine
soure of legislative honor, and a perfect
title TO gratitude
1 There does not appear 10 have been
I any further legislation on the subject oi
he organization or discipline OF the mi-
litia, till the passage OF On act, i'll addi-
ton 10 the one already noticed, during
The administration Of Mr. jefferson, which
was approved March 2, l603,end which
seems to have been designed 10 enforce
and carry out the provisions OF the tor
mer.
How far the requlsitions of these sew
, eral acts have been complied with b!
, officers or men, or hoy far they have
advanced the discipline Of the mllilll
= Throughout the Union, or produced reg
/ uIarity and uniformity in the retu'ns an
: nually required. the experience and OBJ
{ servation Of the Senate will enable then
. TO judge. So far however as your com
t miltee are enabled to speak, they be-
3 lieve if not wholly inefficient, they hav'
/ al least fallen Ve'y short Of the results
: contemplated. As evidence of tho cor
! rectness of this view of the subject, We
D find the reorganization and better gov
9 eminent and discipline of the militia
D.. have been ever since, one Of the stan>
e ding themes OF almost every Executive
= message, Of many reports from the De-
: partment of War, and of very frequent
1 discussion in Congress. 1t was sub
ject OF almost constant solicitude with
= Mr. Madison throughout his admlnsira'
!, ton. In his message of December 5
= 1910, he submitted ii 10 the attention o
Congress in the following terms:
These preparations for arming the mlIiti;
v having thus lar provided for one Of the objocl
: contemplated by the power vested iu Congress
with respect TO that great bnwark efthe public
safety, it Is for their consideration whether tl-
ture provisions are not requisite for the othe
i contemplated objects of organization and disci
= pline. To- give 10 this gleat mass Of physca
:, and moral force the efficiency whtchlt meiiis
D and is capable ofreceiviDg,it is iudispensahl,
: that they should he instructed and praclisod il
: the.rules by which they are to be governed. TX
# wards an accomplishment of this importan
4 work, recommend fo' tho consideration o
= Congress the eypedency of institutin2 system
Y which shall, in the first instance, call into tht
Il field, a! the public expense, and for given tim,
g certain portions of the commissioned and non.
n commissioned cfIicers."
II After more than two years. continuance o
? the Iate war with Great Britain, strenghtene
. in his former opinions by experience, as he N
q doubt was, Mr.. Madison, in his message of Sci
. tamber 90, 1914, again brought the subject be-
q fore Congress in the following emphatic man
!. nsr.
y 81 earnestly renew al this time rocommen
dation of such changes in the system Of tn
). militia, as, by chasing aud dscipIining. for th
}" most prompt and active service, the portion
Il most capable Of it, will give TO that groa, re
source for the public safety all the requisite enc