The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-04-09

was free,) every man was soldier hcHee !" nap
pened lha those small republics could Be conqoefed
only by exiirpalion. In the disastrous sei'an ex-
petition third Of the citizens Of Athens persisted,
and yet she survived 10 reap new laures, whilst The
| proud empire Of Carthage was humbied IN The dust
by a single defeat. The immortal victories Of Ma
raihon, Salamis, and Plalea, were achieved BY
disciplined militia and the Roman legions, which
conquered the world were nothing more. Among
those hardy republicans, nothing could be more dis
graceful than to be thought ignorant Of the tactics
then In practice, OF TO be unable to manage with skill
and dexierity, the spear and the shield"
BRITISH INDIAN MassAcREs
Letter to Gen. Vincent, Sd March, 1873
"Wii the Indians who sill adhere to tie cause
Of his Britannia Majesty be suffered to continue
that horrible species OF warfare which they have
hitherto practised against troops, and those still
more horrible depredalions upon the peaceabe in
habitants OF our froniiersi l have sufficient evil
dence TO show, that even the latter have not always
been perpetraed BY small parties OF vagrant In
dians, acting at distance from the British army
Some Of the most airocious Instances have occurred
under the eyes Of the British commander and the
head Of the Indian Department"
"To relaliate then upon the subjects OF the king
wo-ld have been justfable BY the laws Of war and
usages OF the most civilized nations To do so has
been amply in my power. The tide Of fortune has
changed In our favor, and an extensive and flourish
ing province opened to our arms. Nor have the in
strumenis Of vengeance been wanting. The sa-
wages who sued TO US for mercy would gladly have
shown their claim to il by reacling upon the Thames
the bloody scenes Of Sandusky and Cold Greek. A
single sign OF appreciation would have been sufli-
cient 10 pour upon the subjects Of the king their
whole fury: the future conduct Of the British Off
GERS will determine the correctness of mine in with
holding IT, If the savages should again be let loose
upon our settlements, shall with justice be accused
Of having sacrificed the interests and honor Of my
country and the lives Of iellow-ci,izens to feel
ings Of false and mistaken humanity. You are a
soldier, sir, and, as sincerely believe, possess all
the honorable sentiments which ought always TO be
found in men who follow the profession OF arms
Use, then, pray you, your authority and influence
stop that dreadful efuson Of innocent blood which
proceeds from the employment Of those savage mon
sters, whose aid Gas must be discovered) is so little
to be depended on when ills most wanted and which
can have ,rang an effect upon the issue OF the
The effect of their baIbarities will not be con-
fined to the present generation Ages yet to come
will feel the deep-rooted haired and enmity which
they must produce between the two nations.
/" deprecate most sincerely the dreadful arerna-
tive which will be offered to me should they be con-
tinued; but soemnly declare that if the Indians
that remain under the influence OF the British Go
vernment are suffered TO commit any depredations
upon the citizens within the district that is commit
ted to my protection, will remove the restrictions
which have hitherto been imposed upon those who
have offered their services to the United States and
direct them TO carry on the war IL their own way
have never heard single excuse for the employ
ment Of savages by your Government, unless we
can credit the story of some British officer having
dared 10 assert that as we employed the Kentucki-
ans, you had right 10 make use Of the Indians Ii
such injurious sentiments have really prevailed, to
the prejudice of brave, well-informed and viru-
Gus people, il will be removed by the representations
OF your officers who were lately taken upon the
Thames. They will inform YOU sir, that SO far
from offering any violence 10 the persons Of their
prisoners, these sarages would not permit word to
escape them which was calculated to wound or in
suit their feelings, and this too with the suferings
of their friends and relatives at the river Raisn and
Miami fresh upon their recollection"
MLITrA-DKFENcE or THE UNITED STATES
Report on the Militia, in Congress, 18th
January, 1917. u.
"The soictude which has been manifested by the
great men who have successfully filed the office of
Chief Magistrate OF the United States for the adop-
ton Of system of military discipline for the militia
sufficiently manfests their sense Of
its importance. The subiec, was often and warmly
recommended by The Father of his country; and, a,
an carly period of his administration, plan for the
purpose was proposed by the Secretary of War; and
being corrected agreeably TO his suggestions, was
submitted to the National Legislature Ii is believed
that objection TO the expense and supposed difficulty
OF executing this plan, and not TO its object was the
cause Of its being rejected. Is the opinion, which
prevailed at that period that energetic national
militia was 10 be regarded as the capital security Of
free Republic, less apparent at the PRESENT. Has
any Thing since occurred, either in the history OF
our own or OF any other country, TO show that
standing army, forming distnc, class in The CON-
munily," is the proper defence OF Government con-
siiluted like ours2 Do the events of the late war
show that discipline is not necessary for the militia
Or does the present aspect the political world afford
so much security TO justify the indifference which
prevails in providing an efectual national de-
fence Z
10 imPossiDie maj any American can recur 10
many Of the events, and particularly the concud-
ing scenes, of the late war, pitho feeling at eiera
tion of mind sohieh recollection of his eouatrys
glory IS calculated 10 product There are, however
Others, and not few, that eminenty calculated
to show that immense sacrifice OF blood and lrea-
sure can be distinctly traced TO the OF discipline
in the militia. The glorious success which, IN seye
raj instances crowned their efforts, the result Of
uncommon valor, or of valor united with the advan
age OF position suited 10 their peculiar character
The greater part OF the American militia, acc 1s,om