The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1840-09-04

therein established, and, in like manner Differed
by them, according to the rules prescribed by Con-
gress for determining their number and respective
rank. I'd. That the militia thus enrolled shall be
armed at their own expense. 3d. That they
shall he disciplined according to the rules approved
and established by Congress, ON the 29th of March,
1873; and 4lh That the rules for the government
of the militia when called into service of the United
States, Chc manner and occasions of doing which
being pointed out by law,) shall be the same rules
and articles of war, as are provided for the govern
mcnl of the troops of the United States.
The provisions of the act of 1892, which obges
every citizen duly enrolled TO be ''constantly pro-
yided with arms, Announcements, & ammunition"
was rc-cnaced during the administration of Mr..
Jefferson, and so much of that act ms established
the discipline and regulations of Baron Steuben
subsequently repealed, and the sy stem of discipline
and exercises Of the regular army was adopted by
the Militia. These additional provisions, with oc-
caslonal acts respecting the appointment of the of
iiccrs by the States, and changing the regulations
concerning the pay and subsistence of the militia,
when in the actual service Of the United States;
aud the preparation and distribution of system of
tactics, constitute every material part of the legs
lation of Congress upon the subject of the Militia
ince the establishment of the Government.
The organization Of the militia thus established
has been in force nearly fifty Yeas. 1t varies in
many essential particulars lom that recommended
by General Washington, and has been regarded
ever since It's adop0n, as defective IN an eminent
degree, ms well by the successive Presidents of the
United States, as by all other persons, whose hUb
its of life and opportunities of personal observation
have fitted them 10 form sound opinions upon the
subject. Its Improvement was therefore an object
of unceasng aud anxious soici,udc on the part Of
4, f,eLi ND al
President commenced his career with calling the
attention of Congress to the subject, and closed
with expressions of regret that these recommended
tons had proved unuvailing General Cass, when
Secretary Of liar, stated, in an official report that
this subject had been presented for consideration no
less than thirty-one times in official Executive COM
munications, commencing with the inaugural adj
dress of President Washington.
The principal objections to the present system
appear 10 arise from the great and unnecessary cX-
tent of the enrolment of the militia held to actual
service, and who are required to muster and do
duty certain number of days in the year, and
from the want Of adequate means or inducements
to secure Il proper instructions; by reason of which
this heavy tax is not only rendered in n great de-
gree useless, but is also unrc0sonabIy burdensone
by the Federal Constitution, Congress has the
power to provide for calling forth the militia to exc
cute the laws of the Union, suppress instruction
and rcpcl INVASION The militia force provided for
these purposes, by existing laws, and which, to
render 1t effective, is compelled to be at all times
provided with arms, accouircmcnts and amuuni-
tion and to be mustered nnd u,iiird 90 1''r,t pc
RODS, aud kept always ready for service, COmprl-
SEES, with limited aud enumerated exemptions, the
whole of the able-bodicd male white population Of
the United States, between the ages of eighteen
and iorty-ivc. When il is considered that the
number of these, according TO official returns,
exceed million and half of men, and probably
at this period, amounts TO two millions, the M
ncnsc and consequently oppressive excess OF the
existing preparatory enrolment beyond the posi-
bic wants of the country, must be apparent to ALL
How far the existing organization and laws passed
by the states in pursuance hcrcolhavc proved sue
ccssfu in accomplishing the great bjcct in view,
VIZ. the instruction and improvement Of citizen SOL
dcrs in military tactics, You are able to Judge for
Yourselves. The results were short time since
summed up BY the officer before alluded TO, in these
words: 81 is vain TO expect that the whole adult
population Of the country can, or VIII iurniNh them
selves with the articles required by law; or that
their collection, for any number Of days they can
afford TO devote to this object, and under the usual
circumstances of such asscnblagcs, can produce
any beneficial effects TO themselves or their country
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To remedy the evils OF the present system, !, ha
been repeated, proposed to rc,organHe The mlIi'ii
in such manner as to reduce the number OF men
who sh1llbe fitted and always ready 10 perform
the service contemplated by the CONSTITUTION, sa.
from the number Of two millions to two hundred
thousand, and to pay the latter reasonable com
pcnsallon out OF the National treasury, III order II
rcmuncraic them for the increased burden thus i'm
posed upon them Several plans TO effect Tins pnr
posc have, from time TO time. been submitted Il
r Congress, by successive Secretaries Of Var com
menciug with General knoN's, in 1880, and cndln
with that of Mr.. Poinsett, in 1910. That MI
Poinsetts il, in several respects, preferable to ,hos
which have preceded it, and is calculated TO elleC
a more equitable disposition of the whole mlar
force Of the country than any heretofore presented
appears to have been the opinion of the committee
ofboih Houses of Congress. The grounds of til
4