Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1840-08-27

isaence themselves, or ha. counted so largely on
the ign rance Of .hsir elow-citzens, as to charge
Mr.. Poinsett with an attempt to originate the
easl re- when, IN truth, he only transferred il to
his plan from his statuts-book, where il had stood
for forty-seyen years.
But, in my opinion, the difficulties which be-
SET this subject lie dssper than this You have
seen thai the emmittses Of Congress have repor-
ted against reorganization Of the militia upon
the principle of classification, and that they hIve
been virtually sustained in their objections by
their respective houses. You have seen, also,
that plans embracing tbs same principle have
been recommended in vain for the last half centu-
ny by Washington, efferson, Madison, Monroe,
and Jackson-men who have always commanded
the respect of Congress, and whose measures sell
dom failed TO receive It's support This may be
in part accounted for by the just repugnance OF the
American people to a standing military force,
which unavoidably extends itself to large and pro-
trac ted encampments even of ths militia. But
the principal difficulty has undoubtedly arisen
on. Of ths provisions of the Federal Constitution,
relating to this subject By that instrument, the
power to train the militia is reserved to the States.
To reduce the number to be relied upon for active
,eryice by classification, might easily be done, be-
cr use the right to organize is given to Congress
by the Constitution; but the desired efficiency
would not be secured, unless that number were
better trained and to that end it is requisite that
they should be kept together for longer periods Of
time than Is now practised. To do. this without
manifest injustice, provision must b. made for
their payment. Nor is it believed that thsy
would in general be properly instructed and dis
ciplned, unless they were all called out & received
into the service of the United States. If this
can be constitutiOnally done, the payments may
be made out of the national treasury. But the
Constitution authorizes the Federal Government
10 call ths militia into service in only three en-
numsrated cases, viz: to execute the laws of the
Union, suppress insuTecton, and repel invasion.
Not only is the authority to assemble them for
training not granted to Congress, but il is express
y reserved to the States. II therefore, the right
to call out, Of to receive the militia into the SER
vice of the I'm ted States for such purpose, be
assumed by the General Government, it can only
be under the authority 10 provide for dscip-
lining the militia; a construction which, to say
the least oft, is extremely doubtful for the same
sentence of the Constitution which reserves to tho
States respectively the authority of training the
militia, directs also that ii should he done
ding to the dieipline prescribed by Congress, thus
excluding, as il would seem by necessary inference,
the idea that its authors used The two terms in
the same sense
Mr. Poir,stt GEMS to have been more sensby
impressed with this obstacle than his predecessors,
and endeavors to overcome 1t by placing his chief
reliance on volunteers, and wh4re drafts are ne.
cessary, he proposes that they shoul be made by
the States themselves. But can tho constitut on
al objection bo thus avoided? Can Congress ap.
propriate money for objects to which their au.
thority does not extend! ... ..
A proposition was made several years since tc
meet the objection fully by amending the Consti
tuition and giving Congress power to provide fol
trimming tho militia cOncuusnty with the States
and to subject thsn to the rules and regulations
which they are b. aw subjected when in the mil,
itary service oft,s United Stntes; and to provid,
for teaching in tho primary schools aud seniinare'
of learning throughout the Union, the system o
discipline prescribed for the militia. The pro.
position does not appear to have found favor sthSl
with Congress or with the people,
II is bui lately that my attention has beon par
ticularly drawn to this subject, and, as there il
no doubt that the great men TO whom have alu
ded contemplated an organization Of the militia
and provisions for its botter instruction, ombra'
cling substantially the principles contained in Mr.
PoinSett's plan, 1t becomes mo, in the face of 81
much apparent aulhLrity, tohesitnte before pro
nounce definitely upon its cOnstilUtonality
shall, am confident, in the opinion of oil candid
minds, bsst perform my duty by reiraining to dc
so, unt il 1t becomes nec ssary 10 act officially il
the matter. In the moan tms, will content
myself with saying that the inclination OF my
mind is that the desired measure cannot be safe
y accomplished. in the form proposed, under I'll,
Federal Constitution, as 1t stands.
Having thus given you the best pinions that
have beon able u form of the nportant subject.
10 which you have called my attention, you will
hope, allow me to notice briefly one or two col
lateral considerations.
Mr. POinsett's uucontroverted account Of the
origin and progress Of bis plan is belure you. lie
shows that il grew out Of the request made o.
nm by the ommiTtee OH the Militia Of the
House Of Representatives., at the close Of the
session before the last, in contemplation off pos.
sible collision between this country and Great
Britain, anl that il was matured and drawn
! forth under call made upon him by ths House
t at The last session. Some surprise has been Cx-
pressed, and doubts appear even to be entertain.
cd of the correctness of his declaration, that the
, plan was nor seen by me, or submitted 10 my
. consideration, heloe it was communicated Il
s Congress, Those who take this view Of The sub
jecl, entireIy overlook the fact, that such is al
I most Invariably tbs case on all similar occasions
n aud that in replying 20 calls made upon then
3 by either branch Of the Legislature, the hsad
. of Departments act for Corgrsss, aud not for tht
r President; except only on occasions wherN hi
n acts are brought in question. Tho Impractical
= bility OF pursuing different course, If even i
s wers otherwise desirable, will he apprecial ed
!. when It is considered how very numerous thes
: calls have recently been, amounting as they hav
. done to Two hundred and twenty at single ses
A siuh, Independently Of those made OH the Pres
r deuI himself and Of letters from committees, 70
4 quiring grsat research, and the preparation O
\ volumihous documents, Unfair as these anlmAl
1 versions arc thus shown TO be, this has not bee
f even the worst aspect IN which lhey have bee
presented. We have been compelled TO see
moi, should think, without shame aud mOrlif
! ption on the part Of every ingenious mind, what
, ever may be his political preferences, the name
of respectable citizens subscribed TO Statements
tbas had Ia my annual message expressed IN
, appreciation of a plan, which lot only nsver hO
, been submitted to me, but was not even mature
until mora than three months after the lnessag
, was seat to Congress; and an nttempt 10 prov
the unloun lei assumption by The publication ol
garbled extract from that document, with its tru
/ meaning fnlsfed by the suppression of rnNteriI
4 Ipat Nor was the Oyowed object Uf these extra
. ordinary proce sdings less remarkab tha I'll