Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-09-10
From the Lyuchbu,g sirginian.
THE ARMN BlLL.---A REVELATIONS

When Mr. roinsets III his letter ID MI. Richie,
in resesence to his plaa Cor the re-aresnaa,ioa &c
the Militia. declared that the President had never
seen " il or is details, prior its appearance In
print universal astouishmrnt wasexcitch because
Il was naturally presumed,---or al least i, would
have been presumed but for this astounding de-
clarstion OF AIR Ponsett. ,ha, the President would
hardly have reeommssdcd evenfo the consideration
Of Congress stupendous rfnivct Of the character
as well ms of the details OF which he had not the
slightest knowledge. Because. why should he
deem any ihing worthy OF the confederation Of Com
grcss,-much less, why should he say thar he could
nor too strongly recommend if' 10 their consider
ation--if he Did not himself know any thing abou,
M II must be confessed that the Secretary extr.
Gates the President from The responsibility Of appro
wing his Bill, by throwing him into prcdcamenl
even lessenvsbie; Representing hip as dischasgin
the high constitutional duty oirceonmendng 20 the
consideration OF Congress great measure u pub
lie policy, OF the whole scope and bearing uf which
be knew absolutely nothing Il seems 10 US that n
President who performs bis duiies thus carelessiy.
IL unworthy Of the confidence and support Of the
people whose rights and liberties he permits to be
tlillrd and sporied with
But, In thar same letter Of Mr. Polnsett TO Mr..
Richie, the impression il attempted TO be conveyed
that the details OF his Militia system were diawn
M after he had submitted ne plan in his Annual
Report the President and thu they were cou,ma-
ncated 10 Congress IN compliance with the rrsolu-
ton Of the House Of Representatives. adopted at
its last session. How dncs this tally with The fol-
lowing letter from 5. S. Phelps Esq, oue Of the
in Congress from Vermont to Mr., Rivcs,
(Which find in the Petersburg lnieligancer ~
Mr. Phelps says dis,inc;iy ,hat bill Identical in
all its mportau, features with The plan comsnunica-
ted the House Of Representatives on the 2Dth OF
March, was, VERY early in the session, laid be.
fore the Military Committee Of the Senate without
any call from that body What became Of thai him
BY what means WIS II spirited awayi Mr.. Pom
set owes !, to his own character either to show
that Mt. Phelps has testified unt,uy, or To dispol
the cloud. which II he has testified truly, must rest
upon bis conduct. MIR. Phelps says;
HARryR's FERRY, June 90, 1910.
Dear Sir ;--ln answer 10 your enquiry. have
only time 10 say. that, very early in the present
sion Of Congress, bill In form, emnnating az un.
dcrstood irnm the Secretary of War, was laid bc-
fore the Committee Of the Senate on the Militia,
Of which Committee | ANA member. Thai Bill,
which suppose accompanied the annual cummu.
nicaiion OF the Secretary Of War TO Congress- WINS.
| IN all important features identical with the plan
communicated by the Secretary 10 tho Commiitoe
of the House Of Representatives, under date OF the
/ 10Th OF March last. The bill TO which aIlude,
was for some lime, tho subject Of enquiry by the
| committee What has become OF il, or why il has
not been printed, know noi--hut rha, snch a bill
was reported and submitted with the Annual Re.
| port, is not 10 be questioned.
/ would explain further, but having already made
! a written statement which is now In the hands Of
the Publisher, and which will probably be publish
| ed, refer you to that when il shall appear.
/ In haste. yours.