The pilot. [volume] (Baltimore [Md.]) 1840-1840, 1840-04-17
Erlrnrt from Mr. Ripes's letter.

Extract from Mr.. Ripess letter.
Let US now enquire whether the Pre-
sident has changed his policy or practice
on any of these highly important ques-
lions. on which we have differed with him.
Some of his noisy partizans have claimed
for him great credit for the lavish profess
s;ons of economy he makes in his late
message to Congress. But what has been
the practice, which we are much more in
terested in knowing than the empty pre-
cents of his administration? According
10 his own statement the public expen-
dilure during the year 1887, the first OF
his presidency, amounted to "the sum oil
thirty-three millions of dollars, during
the wear 1888, he says this amount was
somewhat reduced land for the year IT,
20. he thinks that the public expenditure
will not in all probability have exceeded
twenty-six millions of dollarsp But this
ann of twenty-six millions of dollars hap
mems to be lust the double of the public
expenditure under the administration of
AIR. John @. Adams which most of us
thouoht was so enormous and unJustlfla-
Bile as to merit the displeasure and rebuke
of the people. What, however, are we
10 think of the Presidents promise of
continued reduction of the public ex-
peDse. when we find on the very same
mage of his message, the most earnest re-
Commentator by him to the favorable
consideration of Congress, of plan of
the Secretary of War for recruiting mill
tia army of two hundred thousand men,
one half to be in actual service, the other
half TO form 'reserve'--the term of SER
vice TO be eight years, -the troops to be
armed and equipped and paid by the Uni
ted States according to rate OF compen-
sation 10 be fixed by law, but in other re-
spects to be under the regulation of the
War Department. The annual cost of
such force, according to any conception
| can form of the Secretary's plan, under
the outlines he has given oft, could not
fail to add many millions to the public
burthens. now speak only of the ques-
of expense; but in other aspects this most
extraordinary project, emphatically en-
dorsed as it is by the President, for, in his
Message to Congress, he says. Il cannot
recommend it too strong to your conslde-
ration deserves the most serious rehec-
ton of every friend to the public liberty.
Is not this militia force, as the Secreta-
rychooses to call it, or the one half of it,
at least, which is to be sin active service,
recruited for eight years, sanctioned
wherever the Secretary of War shall d.
rect,-sarmed and paid by the U. States,
and to all ntents and purposes, stand
ing army and denominated militia force,
al ootO
which the name of standing army calls
up in the mind of every freeman. Can
such force be called militia in the sense
ofthe Virginia Bill of rights, which de-
clares that ia well regulated militia, com.
posed of the body of the people, trained
10 arms, is the proper, natural, and safe
defence of free State, or in the sense of
the Constitution of the United States
which authorises Congress ito provide
for calling forth the militia to execute the
laws Of the Union, suppress instructions
and repal inyasions.' Is there at this
moment, insurrection, invasion, or resis-
lance to the laws of the Union, which
would Justify calling forth the militia into
actual service, or if they were, would it
Justify embodying them as 'recruits,' for
eight years term of service! No such
constitutional exigency exists or is alleged;
and can view the Secretarys plan in no
other light than as a proposition for rails
ing large standing army, without en-
countering the well-fonnded Republican
: iealousies which its name excites; or o.
; therwise, as most ingenious device for
extending the influence of the Federal
Executive, by setting apart from the mass
of the people two hundred thousand vo-
ting not fighting men, receiving pay from
the United States as militia fin actual ser