The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1840-09-04

OF every enrolled citizen to De constantly provided
with arms, accoutrements, and ammunition at his
own expense, is not the least Objectionable. He
then says:
"But in my opinion, the difficulties
which beset this subject lie deeper than
this. You have seen that the Committee
of Congress have reported against re-
organization Of the militia upon the
principle of classification, and that they
have been virtually sustained in their
objections by their respective houses.
You have seen also, that plans embracing
the same principle have been recommend
ed in vain for the last half century by
Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Mon
roe and Jackson; men. who have always
commanded the respect Of Congress, and
whose measures seldom failed to receive
its support. This may be in part ac-
counted for by the just rpugnance of the
American people to a standing military
force, which unavoidably extends itself to
large and protracted encampmcnts even
of the militia. But the principal difficult
ty has undoubtedly arisen out Of the
provisions Of the Federal Constitution,
relating to this subject. By that insuu-
ment the power TO train the militia is
reserved to the States. TO reduce the
number TO be relied upon for active SER
vice by classification might easily be
done, because the right to organize is
given to Congress by the Constitution
but the desired efficiency would not be
secured, unless that number were better
trained, and to that end it is requisite that
they should be kept together for longer
periods of time than is now practiscd.-
70 do this without manifest injustice,
provision must be made for their pay
meaf. Nor is it believed that they would
in general be properly instructed and
disciplined, unless they are called ont
and received into the SeryiCc of the Unit
cd States. If this can be constitutionaIly
done, the payments may be made our of
the National Treasury. But the Con-
stitutiou authorizes the Federal Govern
ment to call the militia into service in
only three enumerated cases, viz: to ere-
cute the ia,cs Of the UaioR, suppress
instruction, and rCpel u'rasiOa. Not
only is the authority to assemble for
training not granted to Congress, but 1t is
expressly reserved to the States. If,
therefore, the right to call out, or to re-
ceive the militia into the service of the
United States for such purpose be as
sumed by the General Government, it can
only be under the authority to provide
for disciplining the militia, a construction
which, to say the least of it, is extremely
doubtful; for, the same sentence of the
Constitution which reserves to the States
respectively the authority Of training the
militia, directs also that it should be done
according to the discipline prescribed by
Congress ; thus excluding as it would
seem by necessary inference, the idea,
that its authors used the two terms in the
same sense"
In concluding his letter he notices the attempt
Of the opposition to create belief that the Presi-
dent approved Mr.. Ponsctt's plan, aud had de-
sign to establish standing army of 100000 men,
&c. in the following manner:
"Mr. Poinsett's unconroverted account
of the origin and progress of his plan is
before you. He shows, that it grew out
of a request made of him by the Commit.
tee on the Militia of the House of Repre-.
sentatives, at the close of the session be.
fore the last, in contemplation of a posi-
BILE collision between this countr, inc
Great Britain, and that il was maluret
and drawn forth under call made upon
him by the House at the last session.
Some surprise has been expressed and
doubts appear even TO be entertained of
the correctness of his declaration, tina,
the plan was not seen by me, or submit
ted TO my consideration, before it was
communicated to Congress. Those who
take this view of the subject, entirely
overlook the fact, that such is almost inva-
riably the case on all similar occasions
and that in replying to calls made upon
them by either branch of the Legislature,
the heads of Departments act for Congress,
and not for the President; except only
on occasions where his acts are brought
in question. The impracticability OF
pursuing different course, if even ii
were otherwise desirable, will be appre-
ciated, when it is considered how very
numerous these calls have recently been,
amounting as they have done to go at a