Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1840-10-21

sued any system except that Of corruption
all their measures have been either expert
ments, or merely expedients Of the day 10
creep out Of difficulties, into which their reck-
less folly bad plunged them. They have
squandered the public treasure, increased the
national expenditures from thirteen TO thirty
seven millions, enlarged the executive patron
age to the most alarming extent, placed the
government funds at the will Of the President;
and bv systematic corruption and repeated
cncroachmont, have changed the whole spirit
of our Government, and have gone far towards
preparing the minds Of the people for despo-
tism and disgrace. And the President, with
a moanness, cquallcd only by his cxtrava-
rance whilst he has We'd with the sybarite
in sensual indulgence, and has surpassed roy
al splondor IN tho magnifcence Of his house
hold, has fraudulently imposed upon the govern
ment the payment Of his private expenses.
ARMY BILL.
To crown this catalogue of cnormitics,
which might be extended to an almost unlAn-
tied degree, the Secretary of War has re-
commended an organization OF the Militia Of
the States, into regular force of 2OOOOO
men, which plan the President has endorsed
in the strongest terms of approval
BY this monstrous system II is proposed to
divide Che United States into eighty military
districts, to organize force Of 2OO,OOO-one
hundred thousand of whom to be held in &C.
tive service, the rest as a corps Of reserve.
BY tho provisions Of this measure, the militia
are 10 be taken from the authority and COM
mand Of the officers appointed by their respec-
Tive States, TO Ie trained under the directions
of the President; to arm and equip them
selves +; 30 be called out twice year to any
E,ent IN each military district, and TO be de-
taincd on each occasion thirty days. Under
the rules and regulations of war, If they iall
10 arm and equip themselves, or to obey the
calls which may be made upon them at the
most unreasonable period of the year, or under
the most distressing circumstances OF their
domestic affairs, they arc liable TO be fined
and imprisoned at the discretion Of Court
Martial, whose sentence is 10 be enforced by
the United States Martial. But with the
most paternal regard for the office holders,
who are already considered sufficiently tram
ed band, they arc TO be exempt from the oner-
Gus duties imposed by this unconstitutional
measure, whilst the poor and honest laborer is
subjected TO all It's hardships. This system
proposes a violation of the Constitution in |
three respects. 1t assumes the right TO train |
the militia, which is expressly reserved to the
States. Itplaces the mihta under the conf
mand of officers appointed by the President,
IN direct violation ofthe Constitution; and il |
authorizes the President 20 call out the militia
for other purposes than those specified in the
Constitution. II was an old saying in the
days OF heath,n Mythology. that those whom
the gods meant 10 destroy they first deranged,
and surely it seems that the will of Heaven
has scaled the fate of the present administra-
ton. For there never elAenated from any
Government protesting TO be restrained by
regard for laws and the rights OF IFS subjects,
a more irrational, more unauthorized and un-
1efensible measure than this Army Eli. In
lerests are deeply involved, there is some pail
alton for the exercise of strong measures, but
in our present peaceful condition when there
Is not speck Of war in the whole scope Of uor
horizon with the exception Of cur protracted
struggle with handful of Indians for the ter
ritory of Florida, this il-timed zeal Cor the in
crease ofthe Army 10 so enormous an extent
IN utter dIsregard OK the constitution and the
rights Of the States, in contempt OF the advice
ofthOsc sages whose opinions we have been
taught to hold as maxims in politics, and in
direct opposition to the leeli ngs Of our people
aud the genius Of our Government, seems lit
ole less than infatuated madness, or premedita-
ted usurpation, and ought to be met with one
simultaneous burst Of Indignation from every
freeman. A standing army has ever been
the machine with usurpers, by which they
have rveted upon a free people the chains
which may have been prepared by corruption,
and the more we observe the constant advan- |
ces which the present administration party |
have been making towards the accumulation |
Ofpower in the hands of the executive, and
their rapid progress towards monarchy, the
more cause have we to congratulate ourselves
upon that jealousy and apprehension in regard
TO standing armies which were so strongly in
culca; ed in the doct and manifested in
the measures Of our ancestors.-The hietory
of the decline and fall Of the liberties of ev-
cry free people is so intimately connected with
the growth Of their standing armies, that
whilst we retain the slightest attachment to a
free constitution, we cannot view with jeal-
olIsy, too sensitive, any tendency towards
measure fraught with such alarming conse-
quences. | do not say it in the spirit of decla-
nation, nor from disposition to exageratc the |
evils with which we are surrounded, but in
the sincerity ofmy heart, | believe VIC are in
the midst Of a crisis that is to have a tremen-
dous influence upon our future destinies. Let
me then invoke you in the name of human lib
.erty, in the name Of all that is inviolable IN
our constitution, to pause and reflect before
you lend your support to that paracidal
hand that has been raised against that sacred
edifics which our ancestors erected, 10 estab-
Iish the capability Of man for self Government.
IIml rom the temple of liberty that juggling
priest Of Baal, who Is using all the stratagems
which boundless cunning and long habit have
made him master. to pervert the hearts his
countrymen from the noble object Of their adj