The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-08-26
For lie SplfN Cfihe Age.
The Militia.
NO. l.,

bidoth OF our State government has been had eX
ceP'ms the Militia, beg the privilege of your col
nmns, through which to appeal To my fellow sol
dlers, on subject which not only interests us, hn
on which every other interest depends and in fac
the security of the whole population. As an excus
for making Newspaper Of opposite political prin
cples my organ Of communications have only t.
say, that having once sent Il communication on tn,
same subject to the other paper in your village
which was refused, hive made enquiry and fnt
that you hold commission IN the Militia, and o
course conclude YOU will be willing 10 assist ever
n political opponent in indicating the rights of Il
down-trodden community.
After long years of oppression and degradation
the Legislature of this State were compelled Cat
! the point Of the bayOnel as It were) in 1887 TO en-
act a law, which in some measure relieved The
enormous burdens of The Militia; this was effected
by the assembling of Il convention at Montpelier
whose voice conld not he disregardcd. Another
convention in 1889 demanded something more,
which the Legislature dared not refuse, The house
of Representatives, composed mostly of farmers
and others who have PATRIOTISM and love of Justice
enough To confer equality of rights the arm that
protects them were willing TO erase from the sys-
ten those Odious features which served only to de-
grade the Militia, but the Senate, composed of
lawyers and such as esteem themselves abOrc the
common people, were determined to keep their
foot upon the neck OF The soldier ard in fact lhwart-
ed the patriotic purpose of the House.
| | have been informed by one who was n proni-
nent member OF the House in 1910, TIN, L was the
intention of the opponents of the Militia at that Scs-
sion TO PROSTATE the whole system, but some OF
the wiser ones thought best to delay The attempt
another year, when in the absence of any conven-
ton, they should acquire strength more fully TO
accomplish their purpose.
Al the last session the runous purpose sealthily
avowed in 1870 was carried into effect, in the fol-
lowing manner 1t appears from ths journal of the
House, with which | am furnished by friend that
The council of Censors on the 23d of October pre-
senlod TO the Assembly paper in which they de-
cared certain portions Of The Militia laws o this
State " unconslitutlonal!' Having reference to
the manner of collecting fines and penalties, which
they say is violation Of the 10th and Eth articles
of the Constitution.
And what are the portions of the Constitution so
grossly outraged by the Militia laws of tins State
Why one is that " no person in this State shall ha
subjected to iaw martial &c. except those en-
poycd in the army, the militia in actual SERVICE"
The other is, that IN Il prosecutions for criminal
offences, the person Is entitled to Il speedy public
trial by an impartial Jury Of the country" Had
ccnsors, to the Legislature, emana,cd from deba
ting club of school boys, ii might have excited but
lrlning surprise, but that the men selected 10 in
vesligalc the laws of the State, watch over and
guard our Constitution, cannot tell the difference
between io,c martial and the miiiiia law Of the
State, between criminal prosecution and an
enforcement for Delinquency, is Illuminating i'll
deed! And certainly they must plead guilty of ig-
noancc, on this subject, or hostility TO the militia,
and believe they are guilty of both. And who
were the men who drew up the communication,
presented TO the Legislature on this subject
They were Messrs Allen, Paddock and llib-
bard, all of them Lawyers, who ms a class Of nlen
are utterly opposed to an efficient militia. One Of
these has been member Of Congress and one has
been Judge Of the Supreme Court, and yet both
ignorant Of what is meant in the Constitution by
law MARTIAL" and If they cannot learn the ,ciini-
ton of the term in Vermont, would recommend
them to the poor " suffrage men Of Rhode Island
where they may find Il practical commentary on
the subject and they will find too, that the militia
laws Of Vermont approach no nearer to" law mar
tial," than do the Hon. council Of censors, TO n
parcel of jack asses.
Again although lawyers and Judges, possessing
all the wisdom Of the State aud setting IN dgnlliud
solcmnily, with Il chaplain and sergean;-al-armS
10 protect them, that they may have ample oppor-
luny TO concentrate all their wisdom, yet when
brought TO Il focus they cannot tell The difference
between a " criminal prosecution" and the trial Of
delinquent for the non.pcrIcrmance Of Military
duty. In their view The man who shall neglect to
attend the June training when duly warned should
be ranked with the thief and the connterTtler In
deed gentlemen! a Daniel, or rather council
of Daniels 'come to Judgement But it is evident
4 al, t,Ct kn antl nnf ptnp IN
preserve the constitution as to destroy the militia.
For those features have always been found in the
militia law, from the first act on tina, subject TO the
present ine and some Of the men who assisted in
framing the constitution, assisted also in ennciing
the militia law under that constitution, and doubt
less understood nearly as well the meaning Of that
instrument ms do these modern DdnielS
But the Bulletin was sent forth aud under pre-
tence OF Welding obedience thereto, Paul DilIlng-
ham Jr Ca Lawyer) introduced the bill into the
Senate, which finally passed and became law,
and is found on the l7h page Of the last session.
The most prominent provisions OF this law, are LIST
the aboshing the compensation for military drills,
while it still requires those drills 10 be he'd, and
End changing the mode of collecting fines in certain
cases, and requiring suits 10 be brought before
Justice of the Peace, instead of the courts martial,
for the sole purpose NJ 1oub, Diminishing business
for Lawyers. TO this class Of men ii is too grey-
Gus to be borne, that the poor soldier should re-
ceiye the slightest compensation for the drudgery
he is compelled to perform for the State, and they
with few honorable cSceplions,) aie excring
their utmost energies, TO grind the soldier in the
dust.
That this was the object Of the law IN question
there can be no doubt when we find that the 7 h
section of the 10 chapter Of the law of 1889 which
the ccnsors say is the most cSceptionabe part, il
by Mr. Dillingham; left untouched This renders
it evident, that anxiety for the constitution had
less to do in this matter, than had desire TO cp-
press the militia. A CITIZEN SOLDIER.