The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-08-19

tiOnal Treasury, IN 0Tuef 70 Iemu"''". wv"
for the increased burihen thus imposed upon
them. Several plans, To effect this purpose,
have, from time TO time, been submitted 10
Congress, by successive Secretari~s Of War,
commencing with General Knox's, 10 1880, and
ending with that Of Mr.. Poinseu's, in le40.-
That Mr. Poinseits 10. in many respects, pref
erable 10 those which have preceded u, and 10
cac culated 10 effect more equitable dispost-
ion Of the whole military force Of the country
than any heretofore presented, appears TO have
been the opinion Of The Committees Of both
houses Of Congress. The grounds Of this
preference are fully set forth IN the able re-
ports made by their respective chairmen, at tho
last Sc. sion, which have been published and ex-
tensively circulated, and are stated as follows
LIST. Itexisnds the pay, for the period occu-
pied ~ training, 10 prtrdtrs as well as 10 com
riSSioned and non commissioned o6trers, to
whom IL was limited IN the plans OF Others
I'd. Il introduces the psiaeipe Of rotation. by
which the period during which The citizens are
engaged N training is G.r,inlshed, and the in
slrnction they rece.ye more directly impaired
10 the mass, ard the bur,lieLs as well as ben
ehs, more equally distributed among the peo-
pie. Sd. Ia excluding from enrolmsnt all be-
tween 10 and 90 years Of age, being the period
OF life in which young men are employed 10
finishing their education, learning trade Of
studying the profession BY which they hope to
obtain a livelihood. In these preferences, l
concur. Ia all other respects the different
plans are understood to be substantially the
same. They are with regard TO the author
ity Of the officers over the privates. and the
rules for the government Of all when called ont
foi drill. They all propose, that the rules
should be those established for The government
Of the army. The existing Law applies those
rules 10 the militia, when called into the ser
vive Of The United States, and has done so for
many years past. Mr.. Poinsett's plan does rot
add single penalty or new provision. There
certainly exists to some extent prejudice in
the public mind against the application Of the
same rgor in the disci pline Of citizen soldiers
who are only called out for short periods Of SER
vice, AS that which is applied by all nations to
those, who make arms profession. 1t will be
for Congress TO deride, aided by the opinions
of experienced military men, whether the dis
ciplne Of The militia, when called into the SER
vice Of the United States, will admit Of any re-
taxation. No one appears yet To have thought
so. The rule by which Congress should be
governed, in my opinion. is TO confer as much
authority as is necessary TO snbordinafion and
improvement, and to adapt the regulations as
FAR as practicable 10 the character Of the force,
and the feelings and habits Of our people. The
different plans ATE also alike 10 requiring the
militia TO arm itself 1t is true, Mr.. Peinsett
cOntempldes the establishment Of Depots Of
arms aud ainuunltion at the expense of the
Federal Government, near the places where
The militia are 10 muster for training; but like
all his predecessors he proposes TO leave in
force the present law, whit h makes il the duty
of every enrolled citizen TO be constantly sup
piled with arms, accoutrements aud ainmuni-
ion at his own expense. This law, 1t will be
4
rion OF General Washington, and was re-enact-
ed under that of Mr.. Jefferson. Regarded as
40 indication Of the principles Of our Govern
men', which coDfdrs the protection of the lib
eriies Of the country and the maintenance OF
public order TO the hands of the free citizens Of
the Republic, twas honorable 10 our egisation,
and stands in beautiful contrast with the iusii-
| Iutiops of other countries by which the people,
so far from being compelled TO have arms are
denied the right TO possess them, and deprived
Of their use. But the utter inefficiency of this
provision of the law TO induce the people 10
arm themselves properly has been fully demon
strsted. IL IS vain TO expect, says Governor
Cass in the report before cited 4" that the whole
adult male population of the country can, or
will, furnish themselves with the articles re-
quired by law" Wherever a military pride is
excited, as is the case with volunteer associa-
tioBs, the law is obeyed but j, cannot, il ap-
pears 10 me, be carried into execution with the
mass Vi The militia without a more rigorous e1.
| Prcse Of authority on the part Of the Govern
ment than is consistent with the spirit Of our in
siiiutiors. Mr.. Poinseu's plan proposed to
establish depots OF arms in tho several States
al the public expense, tn be used when train
ing, or in actual service by the militia selected
Tor duty, and as 1t was not contemplated TO
muster the rest of The militia for discipline, il
will in my judgment be well worthy Of serious
consideration, whether a repeal OF the provis
ions Of the law which requires the militia to
arm themselves ~ ;htIr own expense, leaving il
/ 10 their owa option to b. so provided or not,
aud The distribution arms to she full extent that
may be necessary 10 SUP, y the militia when
called into active service, eue:t NOT to cons;i
tuie a part Of any plan fof he reorg apiza,ion Of
the militia, by which portion Of them are 10
be instructed ~ the expense Of the rest. The
inclination OF my own mind would be decidedly
in favor Of such course. The light, In which
the existing law requiring I'll who are enrolled,
10 arm themselves, is regarded, may be gather
ed from the fact, that men Of good standing and
supposed nielligence in the country. have either
been so ignol ant Of its existence themselves, or
have counted so largely on their fellow citizens,
as TO charge Mr.. Poinssu with an attempt 20
originate the measure, when, in truth, he Only
transferred il 10 his plan from the S,arnte.book,
where it has stood for forty years.
But in my opinion, the difficulties which be-
set this subject lie deeper than this. You have
seen that ,he Committees OF Congress have re-
ported against a re-ore anisation of the militia
upon the principle Of classification, and that
they have been virtually sustsipsd in their oh
jeoiions by their respective houses. You have
seen also, thar plans embracing the same prin-
cjple have been recomnae pdsd in vain for The
last half century by Washington, jefferson,
Madison, Monroe and Jackson: men, who have
always commanded the respect Of Congress, and
whose measures seldom failed to receive its
support. This may he in part accounted for
by the Just repusnanoe Of the American peo-
pie TO a standing military farce which unavold-
ably exiends iIself in larce and trnirncIcd IN