The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-09-23
For the Spirit Of The Age.
MILITARY CONVENTION.

| A meeting of the Officers of the 22d Regiment
Of the Militia Of Vermont and others was holden at
S,ockbrdge in the County Of Windsor on the 18th
day of September A. ID. 1912.
The meeting was ca lied to order by Col. /. p.
Matthew'S
On notion the said Matthews was chosen chair
man, and Capt Minot Wheeler Jr, Secretary.
A committee was then appointed to report a me-
mortal and resolutions. Meeting adjourned TO
meet at one o'clock p. NJ. on the mex, day Sept,
jth 1912.
Met agreeaby to the adjournment.
The committee reported the following memorial
preamble and resolutions viz.
To The Honorable the General .qsScmJly Of Yer
front, neat 10 be toarenea at .Noaipeiier in
| Oct. 1912.
! The undersigned Officers md privN,es Of, and
citizens residing within the limits Of The 22h Rcgt.
Of the militia Of this State would respectfully rep.
resent-Thnt they resrrd 80 we'll regulated mill
| lin as necessary 10 the security Of free State"
and they believe that. the right Of the people TO
keep and bear arms should not he nIfmged. -
That whenever any persons property Is taken for
the use of the public, the owner ought TO receive
m cquiyaen, in money-1'hat every member Of
society has II right to be protected in the enjoy
urnI Of life liberty and property, and therefore is
bound 10 contribute his proportion towards the cx.
pnnsn Of thu, protection, and yield his personal ser
Vice whcn necessary or mn equivalent, thereto
Thn, tho people have right to hear aims for
the te(tnce of themselves and the State, and rs
standing armies nre dangerous 10 liberty, they
onah, not to he kept up--'rha,. the nhnhiant, Of
II =. 4 l.. 4
fence.
That any man is called into the public service
to the prejudice Of his private lliars, he has a ish
10 II reasonable compensation.
Believing further that the laws made for The gov
rrnmcn, Of the militia Of this Stale, have been to
1uc,uating and unsteady II, all times, and when in
force. no, always tending TO promote in the best
manner the great objects herein before set forth
and especially that the military net Of the last
sion Of nH Lrgi.aiulr of this State, ia not only not
IN accordance ,rih, hut nCtuay n violation Of
some Of The mos, important Of these principles
not designing hereby to delract from any respect
lhn, may he due the mniircs Of those by whom it
was conceived, framed and sanctioned, but TO cx-
press our opinions, rs ireemen nlOy and should
do.
The undersigned would therefore respectfully re-
quest yOur honorable body. so tn modify alter and
amend the military law Of this State that the pres
rnt system Of exemption from military duty he n
hnli,hrd, and that its bur'hens shall ihll equally
upon all classes nf our czrns, and further !ha,
when any man il called into the public service, 10
the prejudice Of his private affairs, he shall be al
lowed reasonable compensation.
Whereas the Constitution Of the United States
declares that well regulated milliia is necessary
10 The security Of II free State, and The right Of the
people 10 keep and bear arms shall not he infiing
I'd and whereas, The Constitution Of this State de
careI, lint the inhabitants of this State, shall be !
armed and trained for its defence, and that slnrd-
ing armies are dangerous 10 liberty; both, procIa- |
mlrg hereby, that the militia ia the great consi,u-
,ional hulwark and security Of free government.
And whereas, the constitution Of this Slate fur
hc declares, iha, when any man il called into The
public service TO the prejudice Of his private affairs
he has right 10 reasonable compensation |
whereas 1ucuntns and unstable Legislation in re-
gard to the mi'ilia, rs well ~ other departments
il destructive Of good government. and ruinous TO
the best interests Of people; and whereas, the
militia laws OF this State have tor many years past,
been not only subjected TO almost annual nliera-
ton and change; bnt amid all these notifications,
and changes they have uniformly borne nncqnnlly
and opprcssivcly, upon our people, by exerping
some from military duty, and requiring it Of Others
without compensation and by substantially inpOs-
ing excessive and ruincus expenses upon all those
called 10 discharge the duty Of its olicers-Where-
fore
Rssolrel, 'rhn, it is the duty Of all good citizens
all advocates Of free governmen,-all lovers Of
tho yeneraed institutions we have received from
our political fathers TO establish, encourage and
maniain the militia ms the great constitutional
fou jaiion and supper, of the rights, liberty and
happiness Of this people.
Resolrei, That few Of the millions which nre
annually sqnandered by The General Government
for individual and local interests should he appro-
printed for the permanent good Of the militia, aud
thereby the benefit Of tho whole people. Il
Resoired, That the Legislature Of this State.
should call on The General Government 10 exercise
IL constitutional power, to make provisions FOR the |
better organization. among, and discipline Of the Il
yhole miIitia Of the Union. I
Resolred, That laws eSemp,ing particular class
- Of onr citizens from military duty, while they :
impose is burihens and hardships upon others, are
unequal, oppressive and unjust and should be abol-
she'd.
Resolrsd, That the Legislature Of this State, has a
10 constitutional right 10 call one Of its citizens in