Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-05-28
THURSDAY MORNING, MAY 2s, 1910.

huC HtPtIdCc VI tNIuuHf III every talntes
breeze They braved and bearded the
British Lion, for an abstract principle
which they thought might lead TO their
subiugation
But where does Congress get The powel
10 call forth the Militia, in time OF peacs
Ito put them in the service ofthe United
States--,o subject them to the absolute
military regulations aud government o.
the President, when there is no war--nc
invasion, lnsurrection, or resistance to the
lawsl They have no such power. The
power they are called upon TO give the
President, by this Bill, is a most palpable
and audacious violation OF the Federal
Constitution. The 9Th section ofthe Con.
stitution, and the 18th, l4th, and 18th ar.
ticles, are in these words :--Congress (nol
the Presidency shall have power:
"13. To make rules for the govern
meni of the Land and Naval forces.
"l4. To provide for calling forth the
Militia to execute The laws of the Union
TO suppress instructions and repel inva-
sions.
:" Is. To provide for arming and dis
ciplining the Militia, and for governing
such part of them as may be employed in
the service Of the United States; reser.
wing to the States respectively, the ap.
pointment Of the officers, and the authori.
" Of training the Militia according 10 The
discipline prescribed By Congress.
We see that the Constitution authorizes
the Militia to DO called out, only when
there is war--when there is inrasion, in.
swrectioa, or resistance 10 the la,cs. And
| when they are trained, it must be by the
States, according to the discipline prescri-
bed by Congress. and not by the Prosi-
! dent.
But here is law recommended by the
President, which proposes to authorize
, him to call out the Militia twice year
TO march them off some 3 or 400 miles &c
place Of rendezvous---to place them in
the service OF the United States, and &c
give him (the President) the absolute GO
yernment Of them--and authorizing him
to make any regulations for their disei
pline that "he may think proper" wher
/ the country is in a state of proloune
peace ! Gould there be more outrage.
Gus infIaction of the plain provision OF The
Constitution Was there ever more
open, daring and audacioos stride towards
despotic powerl But, we are told tina
all this marching and counter marching
all this service under the General Go.
vernment--all this power in the presiden
TO make any military regulations he plea.
SEES Tor the government OF his continental
troops--all this power TO intlict stripes, i
| he chooses, for the violation Of his regula-
| tions--all these muskets, bayonets, pow.
der and bullets, TO be furnished by the
Militia, at their own expense; and all this
imperial parade ofwar, in state of pro.
found peace, means only organizing aud
classifying the Miiitia--and, therefore, we
poor, ignorant, silly fellows are the great
est green horns in the world for making
any objection to it Well, now, fellow.
citizens, does il make any difference by
what NAME we call such system! Does
it change its nature? Does it change the
thing itself? Suppose we call il the very
quintessence Of Democracy7 Will thai
beautiful phrase, so often used, make
our marches to Richmond, Baltimore,
or Washington, or to any other point oil
rendezvous in the Military District, any
easier TO be performed Win ii make
the Presidents military discipline, what
ever it may be, any more agreeable to
us? Will it make ii easier for us to pur:
chase arms and ammunition at our own ex.
pense Will it prevent us from catching
camp-feyers when encamped at the poinl
ofrendezvous, aud coming home with bro.
ken constitutions Hon. this marching
and counter. marching this service
under the absolute government ofthe Pre-
sident-How this purchasing at our owr
expense, the muskets, bayonets and bull
lets, means organizing and Classifying
The militia, am wholly incompetent TO dc
eide. | acknowledge my total Ignorance
Of the meaning of the terms organizing
and classifying the militia, if they mean
putting them in the service Of the United
States, in tho time Of peace, and authori-
zing the President to prescribe any pun.
ishment he pleases Tor the violation Of his
rules ofmilitary discipline! lam wholly
ignorant ofthe terms, fthey mean march
ing twice year to place Of rendezvous
within military District, and there kept
in actual service, under the regulations
ofthe President, as long as Congress shall
presrcibe! But, if those terms have any
such meaning, then am wholly opposed
to organizing and classifying in any such
style. | care not what name you give
the system. II is outrageously' unjust
will be iniollerably oppressiye--and will
inevitably overthrow the Liberties Of this
country, il ever it is attempted to be car.
ried into effect.
What is the object Of such an active
force in time of peace, or if the name is