Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-05-07
UNOFFICIAL.

SontTSSt lHc expenditures VI VIC NoNciu-
ment under the present with those of former
Administrations then read the following,
and reflect before you vote !!!!!i
The following are literal extracts from the
report of the Secretary of War, and the mes
sage of the President of the United States,
on the subject Of the increase Of the Army of
the United States:
sit is proposed to divide the United States
into eight military districts, and TO organize
the militia in each district, SO as to have d
body of twelve thousand five hundred men in
active service, and another of equal number
as q reserve. This would give an armed mi
iitia force Of two hundred thousand men,
80 drilled and stationed as to be ready to
take their places in the ranks in defence of
the country, whenever called upon to oppose
the enemy or repel the invader. The age of
the recruit 10 be from 80 to 81; the whole
term Of service to be eight years-four years
in the first class, and four in the reserve:
ene-fourih part, twenty-five thousand men, to
leave the service every year, passing, at the
conclusion of the first term, into the reserve,
and exempted from ordinary militia duty
altogether at the end of the second. In this
manner, twenty-five thousand men will be
discharged from militia duty every year,
and twenty-five thousand fresh recruits be
received into the service. 1t will be sufficient
for all useful purposes, that the remainder of
the militia, under certain regulations provid-
ed for their government, be enrolled and be
mustered at long and stated intervals for,
in due process of time, nearly the whole mass
Of militia will pass through the first and sec
ond classes, and be either members of the
active corps, or of the reserve, or counted a.
mong the exempts, who will be liable to be
called upon only in periods of invasion or i'm
rninent peril. The manner OF enrolment, the
number days ofservice and the rate of COM
pensatlon, ought to be fixed by law /; but the
details had better be left subject to regulation
"A plan Of which am prepared to submit to
Here is the endorsation of this monsuous
project by MIR. Van Buren,, in his last annual
message.
1.-The present condition of the defences of
our principal seaports and navy wards, as rep
resented by the accompanying report Of the
Secretary Of War, calls for the early and Sc
nous attention of Congress; and as connect
ing itself intimately witt, this subject, can
not recommend too strongly to your conside-
ration the plan submitted by that officer for
me organization Of The militia Of the United
&Gtes.''
= The following is the 18th section of the
plan Of details proposed by the Secretary of
war for the organization of the militia of the
United States, thus recommended by Mr..
Van Buren-by which the power is to be
given to the President to assemble such num-
hers, az such places, and at such times, with
IN their respective districts, as he may deem
necessary-not exceeding twice in one year.
The people are. required. if called on. TO per-
form military duty beyond the limits of their
own States, at the will OF the President. there
beng only eight districts in the Union, and
consequently several States in district.
we nave only to call your attention 10 the
universal prediction made in 1893, at the
lime OF the removal Of the dcposites, and re-
itsrated down to the present time, viz ::
I"rf 'chsn tie Federal ErecufiUc obtained I'M
limited control oyeT The public purse, tire meet
sscD accui3be to raise q sfandina arny.
here it IS In It's full proportion =,
The next step towards the downfall of this
republic, under the false garb of democracy.
we leave you to conjecture. In the mean
Urne' you are entreated to pause before Won
strike this last fatal blow at the liberties Of
your country.
~. mat the President of the United
States be authorized to call forth and assem-
ole such numbers of the active force of the mi.
litIa. at such places within their respective
districts, and at such times, not exceeding
twice. nor - days in the same year, as he
may deem necessary and during such pc
rcd including the time when going to and
returning from the place Of rendezvous, thew
snail be deemed in the service of the United
states ana be subject to such regulations as
the President may think proper to adopt for
,heir instruction, discipline, and improvement
in military knowledge.
!, We the undersigned, hereby certify that
'he above extracts are true copies from the
reports OF the Secretary of War, and from