Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1842-11-04
STATE MILITARY CONVENTION

Col. Gro, G. PRATT, Secretary, and on mo-
,;on of Gen. A. Cushman the following
named gentlemen were appointed a commit
fee to report business for this Convention
Capt. A. Partridge, Gen. Smith, Col DAVIS
Lit. II. II. Hammond, Col Gleason.
On motion Of Col Pratt, the following
named gentlemen were appointed Com
mittee to nominate officers for this Con
yention. viz Gen. A. Cushman, Gen. Flint
Col Peck.
On motion of Col. Pratt, Voted that when
this convention do adjourn, we adjourn TO
meet at this place at half past six o'clock
this evening.
Resolped, That the chair be requested to
notify the President of the Senate and
Sneaker of the House Of Representatives, OF
this Convention, and through them request
the members of the Senate and House to at
tend and take part in its deliberations.
Adjourned to half past six, p. M.
HALF PAST SIX.
The Convention met according TO ADJOURN
ment.
Gen Cushman, from the committee APP
pointed to present a list of officers OF the
convention, reported as follows ;-"The
Committee appointed TO nominate officers
of this Convention, report as follows,-ior
President. Gen. T. B. RANSOM for
Vice Presidents, Hon W. r. RANNEy, Hon.
ANDREW TRACY, Hon. SILAs III. JENIsoN,
General SMITH, Gen. S. b. FLINT, Capt.
ALDEN PARTRIDGE; for Secretaries, Col.
Geo. C. PRATT, Maj. c. g. EASTMAN.
A. CusuMAN. for Committee.
The report was accepted and the officers
severaIly elected.
Capt Partridge, from the business COM
--,;"oo rannrted as follows:
TO the State Military Contention nOw sit
hngj
Your committee, to whom was referred
the arrangement Of the business OF the Con-
vention, respectfully recommend, LIST, That
this Convention request of the Legislature
the repeal of the militia law of the last ses-
sion, entitled Gan act in addition to the
several acts regulating and governing the
militia of this state" I'd, That the Con-
ycntion request also an amendment of the
militia law of 1887, by repeating the I'd Sec
ton Of the LIST chapter thereof, excepting so
far as it relates to persons exempted from
mi itary duty by the laws of the United
States and also that the drills and reviews
he held annually; and that the time Of hold
ing the drills shall be designated by the
commandants Of the several Divisions Sd,
That each person who performs active mil
itary duty, agreeably to law, shall receive a
compensation to money.
On motion of Gen. Cushman the report
was accepted. Capt Partridge for the purpose
oftaking the sense Of the convention on the
subject moved that the report be amended
by etching o"t tho Iast cia"sa Af.o- come
discussion the motion Of Capt. p was car
RED
Capt. Partridge from the committee ap-
expressive of the sense of the convention re-
ports as follows:
Whereas the constitution of the United
States declares that well regulated militia
is necessary to the security of free State,
and the right of the people to keep and bear
arms shall not be infringed and whereas
the constitution Of this State, shall be armed
and trained for its defence, and that standing
armies are dangerous to liberty; both, pro-
claiming hereby, that the militia is the great
constitutional bulwark and security of free
government.
And whereas the constitution Of this State
further declares, that when any man was
called into the public service to the prejudice
Of his private affairs he has a right to a rea-
sonable compensation. And whereas fuctu-
ating and unstable legislation in regard to
the militia, as well as other departments, is
destructive of good government, and ruinous
to the best interests of people and where
as the militia laws Of this State have for
many years past, been not only subjected to
almost annual alteration and change but,
all these modification, and changes they
have uniformly borne unequalIy and oppres-
sively, upon our people, by exempting some
from military duty, and requiring it of 9TH
ers without compensation and by substan-
italy imposing excessive and ruinous ex-
penses upon all those called to discharge the
duty Of its oflicers-Wherefore-
Therefore, Resolved. That it is the duty
of all good citizens, all advocates of free
government, all lovers of the venerated in
situations we have received from our poiti-
cal fathers, to establish, encourage and main
tain the militia as the great constitutional
foundation and support of the right, ibcr-
ties and happiness of this people.
Resolved, That few of the millions
which are annually squandered by the GEN
eral Government for individual and local in.
terests, should be appropriated for the per-
manent good of the militia, and thereby the
benefit of the whole people.
Resolved, That the Legislature of this
State, should call on the General Govern
ment to exercise its constitutional power, to
make provisions for the better organization.
arming, and discipline Of the whole militia
of the Union.
Resolved, That laws exempting particular
persons and classes of citizens from military
duty, while it imposes its burthens and hard