Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1840-06-13
THE HOMAGE OF JUSTICE.

q
flowing disinterested testimonials, which were
commanded from their several authors by The io
y patriotism. valor talents and success OF Zen.
I IRRtsoS. long before he was named for the Pre-
idency. and in times which ought TO give them
weight sufficient to bear down all the petty calum-
Mes and clubbing objections which party malig.
,ity may now presume to forge against the war
Congrd ti,ue .honored patriot and soldier.
may form your own opsent against the puny
the following words and which we
II. That the President Of the Un.tooicade a.
authorized to ca forth and assemble sucNCoN. |
"bers Of the active force Of militia at such plSSS
Tin their respective Districts and n; suchtines, not
exceeding twice, nor - days 10 the year, as he
may deem necessary; and during such period, in
''clud,ng the time When gong TO and returning rom
''the place of rendezvous they shall ue deemed in
.he service Of the United States, and be subject
''snch regulations The President may think proper
'.to adopt for their instruction, dicipne and i'm
'proyement, in military knowledge"
This law then provides, as we see, that the whole
body Of the militia in the United States, amounting
now 10 more than million and halfof men shall
in the first place, be required to accoutre and
provide themselves with ammunition at their Tn
crpense that they to be divided into MI l.
tary Districts IL 500 men are to be drafted in
each District in other words forced into the ranks
That they are to be marched twice year to some
point WltD0 TINS D!StFlcL--tn1C LneY are lHeEe W
be put under any regulations the President may
choose to prescribe -that they are there to be kept
in service such time Congress may direct, and
that they are to be regarded as in the service OF
the United States from the time they are marched
from their homes until they return 70 them. They
are no, to be governed by the laws and regulations
now in force the government Of the Army Of
the U. State t1fR|ey are to be 'gOgerned oy such
regula.ioss q kesidsc! may choose to PrcsrtJs!'
Hs can ussdss dthority Of this law, inlict any
punishments upon them he may choose, for any
violations Of the rultS of discipline! Yes he can
order your sons and ncphews und young brothers
10 be stripped if he chooses, and sconrged at the
common whipping-post for any act which he may
designate as military otfence-for any act he may
choose to call violation Of his rules OF discipline
He proposes himself, that this power shall be con-
ferred upon hitnsclf!! Have misinterpreted this
proposed law Read it and judge for yourselves.
Tho 18th section does expressly provide that when
the militia are at the place Of rendezvous they
shall be regarded as in the service Of the United
States. and be subject TO such regulations as the
President may think proper to adopt
Suppose one of mis- regulars should be that very
ntiuman who appeared upon parade, with his
arms, accoutrenents, or ammunition, out OF order,
should be strung up at the whipping and gets
80 lashes ON his bare back. Has he not the power
under this law to adopt such regulation
Am to be told there is no danger in granting
csed Indeed Is this the language of frecnen
Is it the language of Republicans That they are
willing to grant absolute deSpotic power, IN time
Of peace, to a partizan President, under the con-
soling hope it will never be exercised. Where hes
been the mortal man, from the beginning OF time
to the present moment, to whom hus been granted
absolute dcspotic power, who has not occasionally
made use of it Where is the morrill, fallible frail
man. who feels porer, that does not forget right
Where is the human being who, possessing de-
spotic and irresponsible power, is not occasionally
cruel and unjust
But Will dare to insult my countrymen, you
brave Mountaineers, BY telling you, that such a
power ought to be granted to any President be-
Cause it may not be exercised Our forefathers
reasoned very differently They ''augured mis-
government at distance, and snutied the approach
of Tyranny in every tainted breeze" They braved
and bearded the British Lion, for abstract prin-
ciple, which they thought might lead to their sub
Jngation
But where does Congress get the power to call
forth the militia in time of peace-to put them in
the service of the United Sates-to subject them
TO the absolute military regulations and govern
Enent OF the President, when there is no war no
invasion, insurrectiOn or resistance to the laws
They have no such power. The power they are
called upon to give the President by this bill, is
most palpable and audacious violation of the Fed.
eral Constitution. The Sth section of the Consti-
tuition, and the 18th, 18th, and 18th articles, are in
these words :-Congress mot the PresidenD shall
have power
'l3. To make rules for the government Of the
"Land and Naval forces.
"l4. To provide for calling forth the militia TO
erecute the laps Of the Union, to suppress insurrec
lions and repel lnvasions,
10. To provide for urming and disciplining the
militia, and for governing such part of them as
may be employed in the service Of the United
States, reserving to the States respectively, the
appointment Of the officers, and the authority Of
rHining The militia according TO the discipline pre-
"scridea By Congress"
We see that the Constitution authorizes the mill
tia to be called out, only when there is wsr-when
there is lnuaslOH, Instruction, resistance to tie
Gl0S. Aud when they trained, it must be by
lhe States, according to the discipline prescribed by
Congress, and not by the President.
But here is law recommended by the President,
which proposes to authorize him 20 call out the mil
tia twice year--to march them off some or 400
miles TO place Of rend zvous-to place them in
the service of the United States, and to give him
(the Presd5utJ the absolute government of them
and authorizing him to make any regulations for
their discipline that "he may think proper" when
the country is in state of profound peace Could
there be more outrageous nfraction of the plain
provision of the Constitution! Was there ever q
more open, daring and audacous stride towards de-
spotic power But we are told that al this march
ing and counter marching--all this service under
the General Government--H this power in the
President to make any military regulations he
pleases for the government Of his contnenta
roops-all this power TO nlict stripes if he chooses
for the violence Of his regulntions-a these musk
cts, bayonetS powder and tuliets, to be furnis he'd
by the militia, at their own expense; and all TIL,
imperial parade Of 1car, in state of profound
peace, means only organizing and classifying tie
mHttta-and, therefore, we poor, ignorant, silly
fnll fba -, a III