, 1840-09-05
BOWLING-GREEN NC. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER S, 1910.

vi
gress; thus excluding, as it would seem by
necessary inference, the idea that its authors
used the two terms in the same sense.
Mr.. Poinsett seems to have been more
sensibly impressed with this obstacle that his
predecessors. and endeavors, to orercome it
by placing his chef reliance on volunteers,
and where drafts are necessary, he proposes
that they should be made by the States them
selves. But can the constitutional objection
be thus avoided? Can congress appprupri-
ate money for objects to which their authors
~ deos not extend?
A proposition was made several years
since to meet the objection fully by amend.
ing the Constitution and giving congress
power TO provide for training the Militia cur
rency with the States, and subject them to
the rules and regulations to which they are
by law subjected when in the military serv-
ice of the United States. and to provide for
teaching in the primary schools and semina-
ries of learning throughout the Union. the
system OF discipline prescribed for the MILITIA.
The proposition does not appear to have
found favor either with congress or with the
people.
Ii is but lately that my attention has been
particularly drawn to this subject; and. as
there is M d 'ubt that the great men to whom
| have alluded, contemplated at organization
of the Militia, and provisions for its better
instruction, embracing substantially the prin-
ciple contained in Mr.. Puinsett's plan be-
comes me. in the face OF so much apparent
authority. to hesitate before / pronounce de-
finitely upon its con~stituIionaIitv. shall, ]
am Confident, in the opinion Of all candid
minds, best perform my duty by retraining
10 do so, until it becomes necessary to act
officially in the matter. In the meantime,
| will content myself with saving. that the
inclination of my mind is, that the desired
measure cannoi be safely accomplished in
the form proposed, under the Federal Con-
stIiution, as 1t stands.
!ia.ing thus given you the best opinions
that ! have been able to form of the i'm
portant subjects to which you have called
my attention, you will. | hope, allow me to
notice briefly one or two collateral consider
atoms.
Mr.. Poinsett's uncontroverted recount Of
the oririn and progress of his plan is before
you. He shows, that 1t grew out Of arequast
made of him by the Committee on the Mli.
tia Of the House of Representatives, at the
close Of the .e ssion before the Inst, in con-
temptation of a pns.ibie collision between
this country and Grea, Britain, and that it
was marnred and drawn forth under Il call
made upon him by the House at the last seS-
sion. Some surprise has been expressed.
and doub's appear even to be entertained.
Of the correctness of his declaration, that
the plan was not seen by me-, or submitted Ia
my consideration, before it was communion
ted TO congress-. Those who take t lis view
Of the subject, entirely overlook the fact,
that such is almost invariably the case IN
similar occasions: and that in reply ing To
calls made upon them by either branch of
the Legislature, the heads OF Departments
act for Congress. aud not for the President;
except only on occasions where his acts are
brought IN question. Tine mpracticabiIity of
pursun- 4 different course, if even it were
otherwise desirable. will be appreciated.
when II IS. Considered how very numerous
these calls have recently been; amounting
as they have done, TO two hundred and
twenty at a single session, iniepen lently of
these MADE on the President himself, and
of letters from committees, requiring g.eat
research, and the preparation ct voluminous
documents. Unfair as these animadr ersions
are thus shown to be, this has not been even
the worst aspect in which they have been
presented. We have been compelled tn see,
not | should think, without shame and NOR
tifcation on the part Of every ingenious
mind. whatever may be his political prefer
ences. the names of respectable citizens
subscribed to statements, that | had in my
annual message expressed my appreciation
ola plan, which, not only never had been
submitted to me, but was not even maiuIed
until more than three months after the mes
sage was sent 10 Congress; and an attemp,
to prove the unfounded assumption by the
publication Of a garfield extract from that
document, which its true meaning falsified by
the suppression Of a material part. Nor
was the av,wed object Of these extraordina-
nv proceedings less remarkable than the acts
themselves, being nothing less than an at
tempt to fix upon me the design of establish
ing a Standing Armyof tpo hunarea thou
sand men. for political and personal purpo-
SEES. II had been charged with the design
of establishing among you, at the public ex-
pense. a menagerie Of two hundred thousand