The Ohio Democrat and Dover advertiser. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1839-1840, 1840-07-24
IN SENATE OF THE U. STATES.
JUNE 3 1910,
Mr Clay, ,OfAIabama, ,mado lho fOl!Owing
Report

miitiG, submit tie JOL!oDing repOrt'
That, duly appreciating tho imPor-
tance ofthe subject, and fully concur>
ring in the opinion that "a well regu!a-
ted militia is necessary to the security
Off free Staie,' they have thought prop
,er 10 examine it, in reference TO the pow
ers Of Congress,the various plans which
have been proposed, aud such measures
as have been malured, at different peri-
DDS. since the adoption Of The Constilu-
zion. From the earliest period Of our
history there seems TO have been gen.
eral concurrence in the opinion that
well organized militia is not only the
most economical, but the most safe and
reliable means Of national defence, In
deed, when we take into view that our
Government originated in the sponlaGe~
Gus will oflhe people; that it was organ
izsd, and its fundamental law construc-
ted by them; that recognizing mans ca
pacity for selt-government, and the ledd
ing principle that a majority shall gov
ern, all are alike interested in its press
ervation, the conclusion follows neces :
sariIy, that the national defence must be
most secure in the hands CT citizen
soldiery. The experience Of former
ages had shown the danger to liberty,
from large standing armies, as we'll as
toe expense Of maintaining them; and
our own experience, during the war OF
the Revolution, had proven that lrecmen
almost without organization, and with"
out discipline, ,were invincible when BAT
Ting in defence ofthcir own rights, and
for the safety OF their ogn families and
fire sides. Hence, the Constitution, re-
lying on the militia &c ,ho lie Safeguard
against all enemies, domestic and for
eign. expressly delegates to Congress
the power to provide for calling thom
forth 'sto execute the laws of:he Union
suppress instructions, and repel inva-
sions." And the past history OF our
country fully justfes the confidence in
the militia, indicated by this grant OF
power; for up TO the present moment,
they have never been called upon, on
any occasion, when their country was
in danger, or needed their services from
any cause, that they have not rallied 10
hef standard with The most prompt alac.
rity, and evinced the most ardent patri-
.ollsp, and d,s ae,ss.asniRrSHa4,cHSHaarage. snglrSa cSar
To render this arm Of the national &c sc
fence Eere eaicicot. the Constitution
cstegates 10 Coagfess iuTtnsr PU"O'y ."
the following words:
"1'o provide for organizing, arming,
and discipiniDg the militia, and tor gov
erning such part ofthem as may be em~
pIoyed in ihe service Of the United
Stateq; reserving 10 the States, respec-
lively, the appointment of the officers,
and The authority of training The militia,
accordingto the discipline prescribed
by Congress-
The mode in which this power could
he best executed, has been, more or less
the subject Of deliberation and, discus"
eion during every administration si0rc
the adoption oflht. Constituted. .As
early as the 2lst Of January 1890, q plan
for organizing, armipg, and disciplIning
The militia, proposed by General Knox,
then Secretary Of War, w.ag communl-
Gated to the Senate by President Wash
ington. The committee deem it pfe5er
TO exhibit somewhat of The early histcy
oftbis interesting subject, as rOgards
the views ofthe Executive and the leg
islation of Congress. = In regard 10 the
former, they present The following ex-
tracts from the report Of the Secretary
Of War, which has just been referred to:
THE PLAN OF GENERAL KNOX.
E'The period ofhle, in which military
Pervice shall be required Of the citizens
of the United States, TO commence at
eighteen and terminate at the age of six
ty years. The men cOmprehended by
Ihis description, exclusive Of such OK .
ceptions as the Legislatures Of the res
pective States may think proper 10 make
and all actual mariners, shall be enrol
led for different degrees Of military duty,
and divided into three distinct classes.
"The first clasG shall comprehend the
yoath Of eighteen, nineteen, and twenty
years Of sge, to be denom!nated
the Advanced corps. The second class
shall include the men from twenty-one
to forty-fVe years Of ago, to be deDom-
'inated the main corps The third class
shall comprehend, inclusiveIy, the men
from forty.six to sixty years of age, to
be denomnated the reserved corps
"All the militia of The United States
6hall assume the form of the legion,
which shall be the permanent establish
ment thereof.
"A legion shall consist Of one hundred
and fifty.three commissioned officers,
and two thousand eiCht bundred nm