The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-05-07

IL.
misIed bv This same Thoma Richie, as TO the
merits and qualifications Of Gen. H., the much
traduced patriot. III so, he was ready to come
forward before the whole world, and retract any
calumny that he might have ignorantly circula-
ted He had the good fortune TO BE- acquainted
with this old gallant. war-worn soldier and he
never uttered any thing derogatory to his pre-
tensions He said he thought he kneio Mr.. Van
Buren, al the last Presidential election. He sus-
tanned him, beau ,e he thought him Republi-
can, but had found himself mistaken, and now
considered il the highest duty he owed TO the
country, TO assist in retaining the power he had
aided in putting in his hands
Mr.. Rives next referred to the charges made
against him in the last Enquirer, by an Albemarle
CORE spondent, in relation TO his course on the
Senatorial election Mr.. Richie he said, had
been written to collect evidence on the subject
These little tricks might perhaps be excused,
when we consider what terrible CRISIS the
party is now in. But the Albemarle correspon-
dent had INDUCED in iasinudficns alone This
was g whipping the Ds+t* round the stump -
Let him come out like a man and make his
charge openly and in the face OF day. II is
nsinuated that he had written letter 10 some
friend away off in Washington or somewhere
else, showing his preference for General Harrl-
son, with directions or some understanding that
that letter should be sent TO Richmond TO be
uceu ~ OCCd>lOil isoNs s"io VA
Riyes, this nsinuation is utterly without foun-
dation. He had received during the winter
various letters from both Wings and Conserva-
tives asking his opinions; but he invariably de-
| clined giving them He had determined TO give
no pledge OF subserviency. II might be true
that he had written letter TO some intimate
friend in Washington, in which he had repealed
the falsehood of certain charges which had been
made by Gen. Harrison's enemies against him.
He had felt the embarrassment of his situation
He regretted that circumstances had thrown
these letters around him, and he burst them
asunder as soon as the que stion was no longer
before the Legislatur But that he wrote a
letter to any man, any where, with directions TO
be used in Richmond, he utterly denied. II q
letter was shown il was against his declared
wishes; and if there be such letter let Thomas
Richie. the great plot-fnder, exhibit it to the
world. But said Mr.. r. have dwelt long
enough upon these matters.
What, he asked, is the gist and the burthen OF
the new indictment which had been filed against
him II is the subject Of the standing Army,
which has been denounced by my accusers as a
coinage and invention Of my brain. | declare
before this people, said Mr.. r., that more dar-
ing, more dangerous, or more unconstitutional
project, never was preached in thi; country
And though do not take to myself the credit of
having first pointed ont its enormities, yet de-
clare that if no other man does, will keep il at
the bar of public opinion till the great contest
ahead is decided. He here read a portion OF the
scheme of the Secretary of War, and stated
that the first design was to recruit force for
eight years term Of service, TO be called a Mi
lita force
Mr.. r. said he believed il was to be perma-
nent militia force segregated from the great
body of the people, standing army in fact, in
the pay and service Of the United States to be
recruited and emil ted in the same manner that
regular soldiers are. Whether they are 10 b. de-
tailed for fighting or voting he could no, certain
-ly n--but thought il highly probable that tn If
services would be required at thepoll'. The party
knew full well that regular soldiers were MED
the privil &c of voting, Will 1 militia men were
not. and thu, their in idiou' plan Of raj ing a
standing my in fact und tn. guise Of mill
tia fo.ce. Mr.. r. rsma ked that there was a
most striking and extraordinary coincidence be-
tween the recommendation Of Mr.. Poinsett and
that made during the administration of tn elder
Adam, when the object was to organize an ar
my. The language was identical, and it was
acknowl, dyed by the whole world, that Mr.
Adams -cha me was to raise standing army.
Mr.. r. reiterated the importance of this ,ques-
ton, and wished the report Of the Secretary Of
War in the hands Of every man in the United
States. He called attention 10 the peculiar
phraseology used therein. The Secretary speak
Of tn militia Of the United States, VIII n the
militia of the States is the language Of the Fee
deral Con stitution. The militia belong to the
and badge of State severe ignty, and they never
can safely sunder their conttol except in time of
war. They belong xclu lively to the States in
time of pe ace, ard the F, deral Elk ocutve has
no authority over them, except when thy are
called into the service of the United States in
the three cases specified in the Constitution
But the President in the new plan of his Secre-
tary, proposes to strip the States Of the authority
TO train the militia; they are TO be taken into the
service of the United States when he becomes
the commander-ih-chief and they are to be sub
ject TO his ord RS and directions. A more dar-
ing and dangerous project Mr.. r. again asserted
had never been proposed. What is to be its effect
Is it not perceived that the State sovereignty
and State jurisdictions are wholly disregardcd
The whole country is to be laid off in Military
Districts-into Military Divsions-after the or
der of Oliver Cromwell, and the Virginia militia
will be subject to be called off TO Maryland, Del
aware, and the District of Columbia, to be I'M
der the command of the officers of the regular
standing army. II is against this monster of
usurpation, said Mr.. Il. which every freeman in
the land should raise his voice But said he
have not yet exposed all its horrid features
This force was first to be raised by recruit, now
1t is to be done by draft. And suppose any
should refuse to obey-suppose there should be
refractory conScrlpls-hoW is IL proposed TO force
obedience The Marshal of the United States
is armed with authority to enforce compliance
Fines are imposed, and if they are not promptly
paid the Marshal is clothed with the power to
levy upon the goods and chattels Of the delin-
quent, and forthwith expose them TO sale But
should he have no goods and chattels, he is TO
be seized and thrown into Jail. This is the sys-
tenn OF confiscation and imprisonment recon-
mended by our Democratic, Republican, States
rights President. Does such recommendation,
asked Mr.. r., smack of the spirit of Liberty ?
Is not Mr.. Van Buren, treading, in this re spect
precisely in the footsteps Of th9 old Black Cock
ade Federal Administration of the elder Adams2
Mr.. Riyes next examined the assertion, now
| going the rounds Of the Admin stration nress