The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-07-25

which - Tepugnanf 10 inc iAN 1890 lis
ern sia,es. ana many Of The other 5iales.
x..rv dsnoero.s doetrine. and an alarming pr
cedent "A yould destroy all security ~ pr
perry liberty. and life itself, u negroes s,,' ~,
boundl are allowed 10 give evidence ~ -
eo,,rts against white persons. think .,.ar
,xcon0 and Of thai opinion was Genera ha.',
son. IN 1897, when he signed the following ="
Of Indiana
Sc q. 4 No negro, ,nulstto Indian, shall &c :
witness errepa IN pleas o. the United s'.ie
negroes nusfioes Indiana o. ~ essn psr..
1890 ,aust.,s or Indians alone shall be parties
Now look upon Mr. Van Buren's opinion
and. then look upon Gen. HsnisoD's opinion' siu
say who i right aud who j. for the SCUM o.
rather LEI me ask, Tor The tnion' inc -
and The Laws.
President Van Buren, has recommended 70
CONGRESS the adoption u the proposition Of me
Secretary al War, for recognizing ihs Wilma
which substantially converts them into regular
Army. This plan proposes 70 enron fs@ s. MaH-
edfE0nsdRd men. and divide the United Siaiss
into ten districts North Carolina, South 1aro-
lima Georgia and Florida. are 20 form one his.
,fric, the Presidenrretaining power 10 order an
me militia in that extensive district 10 march and
meet M any time and place he may please, frice
~ mis- 0ura erpeRse, 10 furnish his own musket
and all necessary ammunition and aecou'fehisnls
while engaged IN performing military duty. ne
President recommends that the militia shah
have no officers Of their own choice above Ma
Tor; but that all officers above that rank saii Dr.
federal officers Of the regular army, appointed BY
himself. who are 10 have the command d the
militia
Ry this plan the militia when IN service shall
be subec, 70 The same rules and articles Of war
as the troops OF the United States. In this way
The free miitiamen would be under The arbitrary
authority and iyrannical discipline, 10 time Of
profound peace, OF federal officers Of the regular
army, who nigh, treat him a slave and pun
ish him as felon. 10 LEI you understand the
practical operation Of this plan, ] viii copy only
three Of the rules and articles Of war, which are
proposed 10 govern the militia
An s. ANY officer o. soldier who shall use con-
temptuous or dsrespecu words against The President
Of the United Ststes, against the Wee President
thereof against the Congress ~ the InIiea States 90
against the Chief Magistrate Legislature Of any Of
the Z niled Sate~ IA which he may lie quartered #
commissioned officer shall be eashered otherwise
punished a. d court martial shall direct II non
commissioned officer or soldier he shall suffer such
punisbmen, a. shall be inflicted him by the sen
tence OF a court martial
AArg ANY officer or soldier who shall strike has
superior officer or draw lift any weapon offer
any violence against him being IN the execution Of has
Office on any preence whatsoever, shall disobey
am fanful commend Of his superior Qfcer, shall suf
cr death or such other punishment as shall accord
ing the nature Of his offence be inflicted upon him
by the sentence OF a court marital. a
- Art A. All non-conm- sione,l officers and sol |
diers who shall be found mile from the camp,
loitoi itare rriting from their commanding OH
Ger shall suffer such punishment shall be inflicted
upon them by the sentence of a court martial
A free man BY this new militia plan cannot 60
one mile from the camp without TTinen pass, |
and if he goes without permission, he shall sui !
fer such punishment as shall be inflicted upon |
him by the sentence OF court martial.
q II. L. -.
cond sedifi0n or gag ldT, which declares II
you speak disrespecJui uords against the
President, and others in high places, you shall
be punished The limits Of letter do not give
me space 10 present other objections.
| am decidedly opposed to this measure. j
would much rather vote 10 take more power |
away from the President dislike and abhor
the accumulation ~ so much p0iner IN one man. |
The Sub-teasuary law, which has just passed, |
gives the President the custody and control Of
all the public money amounting TO many millions. |
Now il he can get two hundred thousand mill |
Tia put under his command and direction, then |
indeed wall the purse and the sTOrd be united |
an one man. II is not two years since the regu- |
lar standing army was raised against my con
sent) from about seven thousand TO twelve thou |
sand five hundred men So you see when |
usurplng power gains an inch then il wants an |
ell. The first departure from the rule of right is !
The most dangerous step. Let the friends Of
liberty be yigilant and guard well the just diyi
SION oil powers IN the Constitution Fellow |
citizens, hope soon 10 return home and learn |
your opinions concerning public affairs. Let US
never despair Of the Republic, nor surrender the |
Government no matter BY whom administered, |
still the true friends Of liberty should tcdtch |
their rulers closely, and speak out like freemen |
IN defence OF their rights against usurpation and
oppression.
Respectfully presented,
JAMES GRAHAM
" .eurNcrnN Inlv dth 1Stn