Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-09-24

Fi"n STANDS mus, the ffesident cannot nave the
sr to call out and prescribe such rules TO this
militia as the plan proposes
The constitution expressly says that the training
Che militia shall be reserved TO the states them
selves. This act of Mr.. Ponsets or Mr. Van Blu.
res says that they shall be trained when and where
The President thinks fit, and according 20 such rules
"a he may prescribe. Now, then, lay the two side
by side. Put that and that together, and see how
they compare with each ether Take them home,
read the Constitution, and read the other and you'll
lind them just as say.
Aud now, then 10 resort 10 the line Of my arsu-
meat. What do we want with all this force of
100000 men In time of peace-of universal tran
quihity and repose-with neghbors our from
tser that we a button for-wth none on earth
that afraid of-to have an armed force in the
pay OF the government, and entirely under lis
troll, of l0o 600 Is that very democratic doc
triac Is it very democratic to put all this military
Power in the hands of the President If it is
should like to know in what school that democracy
wyarnt.
What good patriot would wish to do thisl What
good patriot would want to possess such power?
don't mean that this thing woad be dangerous in the
hands of the mere President Of the day. l don't
niean TO charge him with desiring to place himself
a. Che head POO 600 to control the liberties of free
people Indeed, Mr.. Van Buren, saws in enc of his
letters that he never had any idea of doing So; he
says moreover that he should think of pla-
eng himself az the head Of 100000 wild beasts
(Great laugher.) And between you and M mean
no disrsspect 1 should think that he would look
sss' as well at the head of one " " the head of The
(This sally was followed by tumultuous roars of
laughter in which the Locofocos present all ioined
But I'll ask what government, tbroEgh the histo-
sizes of the Republic of Greece and Rome-what
government of a popular form in any age part of
Che world FELL but by surrenderng their rights
70 those who said that they would not do any harm;
aud who, perhaps, in their own day and generation
never did do any harm.
Still I don't believe that there is any prospect
ahat wv'hali be enbroiled in a war in our time |
don't believe that any European army would be
fo0ish enough 90 here to attempt to trouble us
aud ifthey didhe only things that we want TO repel
10 army steam batteries and shore forts ell man
he'd. Bat in the name of conmon sense, what do
Sos want with 100, 900 men in the interior armed.
and under the pay of government in zine of uni
sersal peacel
= Bat what we want is good system of shore de-
Fence We have great many good ferts from
Georgia to Maine along the line of our coast but
there isn't man in 'em. / am willing TO 90 all
Ae@gths for any reasonable expense. necessary TO
seaport proper system of national deience-to man
these forts, TO erect steam batteries to furnish
ammunition. All this ! go for
Vat look at this subject in every point of view,
and examine well all its important bearings. and saw
az you mean, in your day. to set such an example,
'CCries of no, ne.') For my own part can saw
that don't meaa to do il. I'll not move one s,en
on it.
(Here voice roarej out .'To vote" $40 vote -,
10 vote, Ell Well, then ! should be verv zeal |
mas OF all such votes. CHEERS and lar liter
fsilii don't mean TO charge il the government
tsat they desire 10 have this system in effective /
Operation, in order that they may control the votes
OF the men But Just look at the thing With 100 =
900 mea, scattered through the different states in
large bodies Of 5000 and 10000 men. all in the /
pay and under the control of the government, that
government might, by possibility, exercise over
cese men, through the process of the right Of suf
frsge an influence that would be very dangerous 10
he Constitution.
&nt. then, in another point Of view. Just look at
the Inconvenience attending the prosecution Of this
TIE place appointed for drilling for this state
o'SJVbs Kphaib~aRd those who live at Mentsuk /.
Point would have 10 De armed aud equipped at Buff
MO 10 drill according 70 the regulations Of the stand
rag army. Or the place appointed might be Mon.
sauk Point; and those who live Buffalo would have
% go down to Montauk Point TO drill.
Az - true that SEINE exempt from this nconve-
Silence. The Office holders Of tire custom house
post office, and so on, exempt; but all the rest
- cot to go, and no mistake. (Laughter)
Bat there is another point to be considered in rea
lion TO this law. | do not know how il 10 IN your
state, but in the New England States we have
. large number of that respectable body Of people
called " Friends and IN all the New England States
a the militia laws have exemption in favor Of all
tacse who have conscientious seruples against serv-
sag IN the militia. But there is none here in this
sslace-all must gO-broad brims and all. laughter
They all have got to march when the time comes
~-D- zShaieTcE we ought TO 90 in case Of war or
an important emergency, there is no sense no Jus.
Tee, in making neglect all the duties of domes
tic and social life for such projeets-,ueh humbug.
Look at IL. Go read it. II the bill becomes
hr, there will be exceptions Stop. / said
ioae. The custom house officers pos, Office clerks
Ind other Office holders will be exempt; their SER
fees are required elsewhere; they have more
Important duties TO attend for the administration
Nan drilling in the militia They have 70 drill in
Isother manner. (Great laugh,er)
Now, my friends, ifthis measure was az an neces.
sary, the expense would be nothing: If IL was ne.
- esaary, the Inconvenience would be nothing n
evasion required rs O. march 10 the frontier or sea
Board, al would so but there must be an occasion:
here must be cause, and then all would go cheer.
Oily.
Bot after all, this project is poor spery, mise
rzble mimicry Of foreign estabhshments And bv
tsc BY, its one Of the greatest mistakes in the con.
dset Of this go lernment mat they are 50 prone 10
ape foreign governments. L is 80 in the case Of
aabori At IS 50 IN the case o. the subTressur Tor the
plan Of which every niseraby petty o.. onarchv in
80 VIZ ->a<aj. taI,T an example. Andit issa
che case Of this u.iiit.s p-alect
N Net Mr. Ponsett is quite a gentleman But then
he fact Is that lie Is schening. (Laughtcr) Mr..
Foinsett wants o. produce a striking impression.