Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-08-07

-. Union, suppress instruction, and rePe|
ia dt' :, only IS the authority 10 assemble them
ts-'S'' ~, Granted 10 Congress, bat IT IS expressly
fcts'f' -, states. II, therefore, the r'ght 10 call
rs>s''" !, me Militia INTO the service OF the United
ch. NJ y Nm ! purpose be assumed by the General
sac, mont. t eau only be unner The authority TO pro-
Coz" mining the Militia; 4 construction winch,
y'i' y =. NJ il. - extremely doubtful; tor, the same
g>lf - m, Constitution which reserves Ia the
>eat"h, ,..,,rrlv the authority Of training the Militia,
St''>'ll ~, lin, It should be done according 10 the dts
l-t.'> he'd b. Congress; thus excluding as 1t
a''", Lem bs necessary Inference, the idea, that us
WsH" sd The Two terms III The same sense.
au,l''I 80, scrn,s Ia have been more sensibly i'm
VI III, ms obstacle than his predecessors, and
rh>" F., overcome IT by placing hls chef reliance
tndsa' ,...r,. and where drafts are necessary, he pro-
2u'""' ,Isv should be made by the States them
p@, Bli can the constitutional objection be thus
sl' GA Congress appropriate money for objects
a'". :, ,,.,r authority does not extend:
town. ,.,,nn was made several years since TO meet
: ,,., fnllr bv amending the Constitution and
@'o. r,nrress power to provide for training the nili
zf'- ..-sntly with The States, and 10 subject them
VA VA, MES AMI regulations to which they are by law
~" 1; when IN the military service OF the Y. ) and
s''> ;r teaching IN the primary schools and 81.
@E i learning throughout the Union the system
m'' .,na prescribed for the militia. This PROPOSE
c'4s. -, sppsar 10 have found favor either with
,,ass or with the people.
mt lltaly thai my attention mas oeen particu
i.,ro 10 this subject; and, as there IS M doubt
Ar' I" ,,,,. men 10 whom | have alluded contemplated
.. ,,,,on of The militia, and provisions FORTS bet
!" -,r..t,on,e embracing substantially the principles
81 .,.5 N Mr. PDnsetts plan, il becomes me. in thu
-. :, much apparent authority, to hesitate before
,,o,. drfiuItIrvly upon lis constitutIonal'iy. |
am confident, III the OPINION OF all candid
go 49,, perform NV duty by RETAINING TO do SO, until
' necessary to act officially IN tbs matter. In
o.,r tlur, | vii content myself with saying, that
y, .,,In,ton of nv m,nd IS, that the desired measure
:" i, safely accomplished, IN the form proposed,
- Federal CnnstitutIon, as II stands.
a,,.nr thus gwen you the best OPINIONS that | have
,tL. - ;orin al tht important subjects to which o.
lied ny attention, YOU Val hope allow me 10
- ,,,H. one or two collateral cons. alterations.
n. Pnn,ett ; unconiruvrrted account Of the origin
,..-r-.s of h 5 plan is before you. He shows, that
r.. M, Of a reques, made Of hun BY the Com
- an ne Militia of the House of Representa-
II IN. close of the session before the last, IN
mo,,tion OF a possible collision between thus
- md Great Britain, and that It was ina,urct
J-,nr torth under a call made upon hun by the
- /, me last SESSION. Some surprise has been
.-ss.d and doubts appear even To be entertain
lie correctness OF his declaration, that the
., r.s not seen by me, or submitted 10 my con-
5...l,rac. before It was comiuun Gated To- Congress.
-. vino take th,s view of the subject, entlrel,
Loo; the fact, that such is almost invariably
-. .ss On all similar occasions; and that in reply
:, calls made upon them by rither branch OF the
..,,u-.. the heads OF Departments act for Con
-, ana not tr the President; except only on coca
where hs acts are broush; IN question. The I'M
-. .,.lty Of pursnrn- 4 different course, if even II
r. .i.e,N + desirable, viii be appreciated, when tits
,-. g-.a aow ser. nutGerpus these calls have recent
r..aY amounting As they have done 10 220 Ut a single
s.rr. independently OF |! ose made on the President
ar,.t ami u:.r;trrs from committees, requiring great
.,s-4-cH. and The preparation OF ~voinininouS docu-
rsa, Unfair as these animadversions are thus
t 49,. 49, NOT hnAv,. nran tla worst
,.,,c, N winch they have been presented. We have
49,, s.npel!rd to see, not | should think. without
.fap and modification on the part Of every ingeau-
:. mad. whltevcr may be his political preferences, the
.,uc>n III respectable citizens subscribed TO statements,
,ss,I Ind IN my annual message expressed my appro-
sg,ma. Il 4 plan. which, not only never had been sub
-..s8 tome. nut was not even matured until more than
.-.e aaat!S ate. The message was sent 10 Congress-,
,a!lr attempt II prove the uniounded assumption oy
liz publication Of ! garbled extract from that docu-
--g.. gtA III true meaning fasufed by the suppress
,aagta Ua,craa. part. Nor was the avowed object oil
.s. extraordinary proceedings less remarkable than
a- as themselves, being nothing less than an attempt
- i, ugar me the design of establishing q Sdndta9
:-Gya u .rp huHdred thousand men, Tor poiitifal ana
a..,lar, proposes III had been ch,rged with the de-
,-au s.: est.5Itshiny among you, al the public expense.
damage. - ri two hundred thousand wiId beasts, Il
aa.. a: haze surprised me more, nor would II, IN my
4c.mrn.. have been one Jot more p.ePosterons.
lam. ir,gnat-lv, gentlemen, not orer.sensitive 10 at
..z, ai,u>c aaracter, and have, withal, an abiding con
5..a,- n thu Intelligence Of the people, which renders
.el ar,ot ar.jns; al! such attempts to deceive them.
III understand nv own feelings, my chief regret IN
s.7-sSn. suci, degrading exhibitions, arises from a
.~a-:--ton Of the opinion, which foreigners, who
.lg. not the same reasons to respect our political tnsii-
.a.ga. tn, we haze, are likely TO form OF the charac-
>-f oG- people. when they see that conspicuous men
sr.qr ~ can prom Sc themselves any advantages, from
,"-u1.. /, drllde their fellow. citizens, by means Of
:.sq nonstrous ahsurdItes. THIS regret, -, however,
l~.aass. materially diminished, BY the conviction, that
.~ pcuple will III The sequel, as they have heretofore
:.ar. coayrnce those who attempt in this manner !"
aa-.a'e ~ n their cyedulIty, of the folly Of seeking TO
.-,onp. sh. IN tins country, political objects BY such dis
~c-e-taat. Weaas.
nav tie honor to be, gentlemen,
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
VI. VAN BUREN,.
T. Ms,s-.. John B. Cary, 4. G. Hudgins, Thomas
',-a. ,,4 g . Cary of Elizabeth CITY County, Va.