, 1840-10-24
WHOLE NUMBER SOC.

renders this humbug still more farsical and
ridiculous, if possible, is, that General Har-
rison himself, whilst a member Of congress,
advocated and strongly urged the adoption
of a similar plan to classify and train the
militia. Nay, more: Washington, Jefferson,
Madison, Monroe, and Jackson, have, dur
ing the last half century, all recommended
similar plans to congress; and this subject
has been urged upon congress hlrtyone times,
by different departments Of the executive
government, since The adoption OF the feder-
al constitution.
The principal reason upon which these
great and good men, ever since the origin OF
our government, have advocated a similar
plan for recognizing the militia. are, that
whilst the present militia system was a heavy
burden and expense botho of time and money
to the people, they acquired but little useful
instruction in the art of defending their coun-
try. 1t was, therefore, deemed by them to
be wiser 10 classify and instruct 4 small por-
ton of the younger men of the great mass,
and relieve the remainder altogether from the
burden of militia duty. Their recommends
tions, however, have never found favor with
congress. Reports were unanimously made
against Mr.. Poinsett'S plan by the committee
on the militia. both in the Senate and in the
House; and if there was 4 single democratic
member of congress in favor of its adoption.
| know not the man. For my W part, l
was always opposed to it, believing that the
true defence of the country consist in the
brave hearts and strong arms Of the mass OF
the people. Whenever danger is impend-
ing from a foreign foe, hundreds OF thousands
of such men will volunteer to defend their
country; and under the impulse oil patriotism
they will then acquire more knowledge OF
the military AIT in a shorter period than they
could ever do in these camps of instruction,
during n time Of profound peace. Besides, l
believe that one feature Of the plan conflict
ed with the constitution. But this plan is
now dead and buried, and its ghost is con-
iured up bv the wings merely for the purpose
of aiirirhting the timid, and inducing them
TO oppose 4 president who never approved
it, and of supporting a candidate who has
been one of the chief advocates Of a similar
measure.
But ! am not yet quite done with General
Harrison and the militia. General Harrison,
whilst a member of the House Of Represen-
,atives and chairman Of the committee on the
militia, made 4 report on the 18th January,
1917, which he reiterated at a subsequent
session, strongly urging the necessity Of APP
pointing military teachers, under the authorl-
" of the federal government, TO instruct
every male scholar of the proper age in eve
nv primary school throughout the United
States in military discipline; "whilst the
more scientific part Of the art OF wal should
be communicated Ivy professors Of tactics to
be established in all the higher Summaries"
No man, except himself, has ever, to my
knowledge, suggested such 4 monstrous pro-
position. Just consider it for 4 moment
What vast patronage and power would it
confer upon the president, to enable him to
appoint and pay military instructors for all
the primary schools in the United States!-
Besides, the expense to the people would be
enormous. Such 4 system Of education
would soon convert this country into a mill
tary despotism. He was a wise man who
said, let me direct the sports and the pur-
suits of the children, and | will mould the
character Of the men into any form / please.
Let all the male scholars of the country re-
ceive military instruction from q public mas
ter, instead Of the games and plays to which
they are accustomed; let them be marched
and countermarched, with tiny muskets upon
their shoulders-let their youthful magma
IONS De mus HteQ Will NlSiOuS " uihitdiN
glory. and when they become men they will
be untitled for the peaceful and laborious
pursuits of civil life. They would then be
the fit and the willing instruments in estab-
fishing 4 splendid military despotism, such as
that of the great emperor ofFrance. Then
place some able and ambitious general in the
presidential chair, and you furnish him the
very best materials with which to subvert
the liberties Of his country. In addition to
this, create a splendid bank Of the United
States, with q capital of seventy millions OF
dollars, such as the wings now propose, and
you NAV live to see the day when the power
of the purse and the sword, in the hands Of
the president, will not be, as now. an empty
name. The wings, in talking about MIR.
Poinsett's standing army, say nothing OF this
, vast project of General Harrison for con-
verting us into a military nation. 1t would
, be absolutely startling TO the Imagination, if
it were not for its absurdity and folly.
!, TuE BANGS CT B,LrryoRE.-We learn that