The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1840-04-30
MR.. vAN RuREN,s GRlND ARMr

Mr.. VAN RuREN's GRIND ARMY.
We Las before our readers to-day thc
letter from the Secretary Of War to the
Speaker Of the House Of Representatives.
giving u foil his plan for forming an army
Of 100000 men, one-hai' to be N active
service. In the days Of the elder Adams,
and At time when the country was unset.
tied and war expected, his administration
was condemned for recommending a stand.
ing army OF 10000 men: bat in this acc
of Democracy President recommends the
cmbodying Of the Militia 50 a. 70 form ali
army Of l00,1 men-and wc shall eX.
pee, 70 hear approved as hong a. il is re.
commended by Democratic presidc.'.-
1t VIII also Be seen BY an extract below
from his annual report that the Secretary
has somewhat changed his original plan.
Now, as a standing army is considered an
ti.rcpubhcan and dangerous to libcrty, what
will the only true Democrats say to this
plan
ExrRhcT rRos TIE sEcHErAEYs RgFoRr.
at is propos,-s 10 divide the United States into
eight military districts, and to organize the MIL
ia ~ each district, 10 have a body 81 ~ eiye
thousand Eve hundred men IN sctlve s,ryice. and
another Of equal number az 3 reserve This
would give an armed militia force OF tao hundred
thousand men. 80 drilled and stationed 81 to be
ready to tekr their places ia the ranks IN defence
OF the country, whenever called upon to opposr
the enemy OF rcpcl tho invcdci Tho acc Of tho
rvcruit 70 ~ rom got 81; the whoa term Of
service 70 = eight years four years IL the first
class, and fnar Ia Ito reserve one fourth part,
twenty i've tbousAnd men. 70 lave the service
every year. passing, al the conclusion OF the first
term. into the reserve and exempted from o.din.
ary militia duty altogether a, the end Of the ST..
oond. ~ thismauner, twenty FIVE thousand men
will bc discharged from militia duiy every year,
and twenty FIVE thousand ircsh recruits be receiv.
~ into TIE service. Il viii Dc sufficient for an
useful purposes That the remainder Of the mill.
TIA, under certain regulations provided for their
government, he enrolled and be- mustered az long
and stated intervals; for IN due process Of time,
nes rly tba whsle mass of the militia will pass
through the iifst and second csssrs. and be other
of the active corps or Of the reserve, or
counted among tie cXcmpis, who sill De liable 10
hc called upon only N PERIODS &, INVASION ~ i'm.
mineut peril. Tao manner of enrolment, the
number Of days Of service, and tie rate Of com.
oagi: - BE- fixed by law; bat the dc.
ia,k had better be lefi subject 10 reputation
plan of which J am prepared 10 submit 10 you."
Here is the extract from the Presidents
Message recommending the above plan
EXTRACT gRoN rir PRESIDENTS ANSrAI MESSAGE.
"Thc present condition Of tho defences Of our
principal scaports aud navy Yards as represented
by the accompany ing report Of the Secretary Of
War, calls for the carly and serious attention Of
Congress; and as connecting itself intimately
with TINS subject, | cannot recommend too strong.
~ 10 your consideration the plan submitted by
that officer for tho organization Of the militia Of
The United States,"