Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-05-28
The Standing armp.
From the Abingdon Statesman.
ADDRESS
OF JOHN CAMPBELL,

I
Late Treasurer Of The United States, TO ths Pee
pie Of has aative County.
| FELLow-CfTIzENs-ln the remarks |
had the honor Of submitting TO you on
your last court.day, at the request of ma
ny old friends and acquaintance, | had
not then an opportunity of seeing the Bill
which is at this time before Congress, in
relation TO the re, organization of the Mi
lltia of the U. States. My remarks were
founded upon the Report Of the Secretary
OF War, made 10 the President of the o..
i States at the commencement of the pre-
sent session of Congress; and, in order
that might not misrepresent the oecreta.
ry, or do injustice to the Presidents in
commenting upon the plan Of an Army
he so strongly recommended, | quoted the
Report itself, and read it precisely as it
acds made TO Congress, and called upon
every man to read ito take it home
with him-to study it--and to form his
oacn opinions upon ii, as it appeared pub
lished before the world. | had read it
over repeatedly, and had reflected on it
naaturely, and could make nothing of it
but the recommendation of great Stand
ing Army, in period of profound peace
Ito be organized out of the Militia, and,
of course, to be raised by forcing the
young men of our country into the ranks,
as regular soldiers! Here is the plan of
the Army, aoord for reord, as it was re-
commended to Congress by the President
the plan which the President says he
cannot too highly recommend:
" 1t is proposed to divide the United
States into 8 Military Districts, and to or.
| ganize the Militia in each District, so as
to have body of 1880 men in each
District, IN ACTIVE SERVICE, and
another, of equal number, as reserve.
"This would give an armed Militia
force OF 100000 men, so drilled and sta.
toned, as to be ready TO take their places
| in the ranks in defence Of their country,
whenever called upon to oppose the ene~
my or repel the invader. The age ofthe
recruit to be from 20 to 81; the whole
term of service to be s years. years in
| the first class and in the reserve. One
| fourth part, 25 900 men, to leave service
every year; passing, at the conclusion of
the first term, into the reserve, and ex-
empted from ordinary militia duty alto
gether at the end Of the second. In this
manner, $4,000 men will be discharged
from ordinary militia duty every year,
and $4,000 fresh recruits be received in
| to the service"
According to this plan, $4,000 men
were to be kept Gin active service" in
each District, and yet we are told i. was
not to be Standing Army!!i
What is Standing Army, but one
that is kept in active servicel But how
was this Army to be raised? Not by a
voluntary enlistment. The Militia were
to be so organized as to have a body OF
! 100, 900 men in actipe service; Of course
| they were to be drafted and forced into
| the ranks.
But we have the law now before us, as
proposed by the President to Congress.
1t is here in The form of Bill, and is now
before me in the official organ of the Go
vernment, published at Washington
Here it is, fellow-citiZens, read it for
yourselves, and form your opinions about
1t. am vastly deceived, if you do not
see in it Standing Army. and one, too,
that threatens to iasten upon you forever
military despotlsm. 1t is proposed,
| first
"That every man on the Militia roll,
above the age of 81, and under 45, shall
provide himself, at has otca expense, with
a good musket, bore of capacity to re.
ceive lead ball Of Is in the pound a
sufficient bayonet and belt; two spare
flints; a knapsack cartridge box, to
contain at leas, "a cartridges suited to the
bore of his musket, and each cartridge to
contain ball and three buck-shot, and a
sufficient quantity of powder; or, with a
| good rife, knapsack, shot.pouch and pow
der-horn or flask, with sufficient powder
and ball for "a charges, and two spare
fllnts; and that he shall appear so armed,
accoutred and provided, when called out
| for exercise or into service. And every
citizen SO enrolled, and prouiding himself
with the arms, ammunition and accoutre.
ments required as aforesaid, shall hold the
same exempted from all debts, distresses
or executions or sales for debt, or for pay
ment for taxes"
One million and half of men in the u.
States are then, in the first place, required
by this law TO provide for themselves arms,
ammunition and accoutrements, at their
oaon eupense' The honest young farm
ers and mechanics OF our country, many
of whom, we all know, are poor, and who
are struggling, by their laudable and ho-
nest exertons, to MAINTAIN their little fami-
lies, are required to do all this at their own
expense, to raise up an imperial Army for
the President, whilst the militia-man, who
is worth thousands and tens Of thousands,
| is required to do no more The poor and