Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-08-09
prevent his being taken for perjury; and
expect he will be taken at any rate.

The law says afer one has equipped
himself and trained in 40 independent
company eight years, he shall b. discharg-
ed from military duty, James Warner
was the first that was tried. He proved
that he had trained and belonged to an
independent company more than eight
years. He proved also, that he was gone
on important business training day, bust
ness that could not we'll be deferred Till
another, day. But Notwithstanding all
this. he was amersed in fine and cost,whlch
he is by no means able to pay. Before
his case was decided il was almost mig ht
John Montgomery was tried in the night,
a very poor man, who is a Non Resistant,
| BY making oath that he had conscientious
scruples about doing military duty, and
bpaying three dollars to the town treasurer
annually, he might have been free from
military duty. But he could not get the
money. He said he rather have payed
five hundred dollars, if he had had it,than
to have such fuss. But fine and cost
vas flung upon him. They can put him
in Jail j they please, but the town will be
under the necessity OF providing 70. his
family while he is there.
I Sylvester Wlliington, feeble man with
a very large family Of small children,owes
five hundred dollars and has nothing to
pay. was sick training day, sent his ex-
cuse IN writing TO the Capt, in season, but
he was amersed in bill of cost. Will
lam Cleverly, son of a poor man, and q
minor. | think, am told was gone 10
Massac huselts four weeks before training,
and about two weeks after,w also amers-
ed 10 bill of cost.
! The mex, that was to be tried had an
excuse OF less magnitude than those that
had been condemned. He. seeing that J,
p. Kidder, Judge Advocate General, was
all that the court would pay much alten-
ton to, employed him 20 plead his case.
BY SO doing he was discharged OF both
fine and cost 81 80
| J. "A. Spears name. came next. But
The Court and bis attendants were for skip
ping it for The present, showing evident
signs that they dreaded the hour when
they should try him. But ]. A. Spear
said he was ready for trial, and 10 show
cause why judgment should not be rem
dered against him.
! Seeing they could not postpone his tri-
al, they tried to prevent him from making
lanv defence whatever. saying that he mus
make oath that he had Conscientious scru
pies, &c., when they knew be would no
take an OATH One little peltifogger dis
j, puled J. A. Spears having any conscien
tious scruples about taking human life
|. but he was not sustained 10 that, for it wa
e well known by thousands This acquainl
= ance being soinewhatextensive,) thatneilh
e er he nor his property were protected b
he military ar,n. But when they sal
|, that be was perfectly reconciled to hay
,lljudgment passed upon him without Lein
!, heard in his defence, they concluded TO y
!, him speak for himself. He addressed ii
coutI about an hour. 10 which lime
! proved beyond contradiction that il wa
i Unconstitutional to exact military duty
r. him. or reqpire him to pay an cquivalrn
because he received no valuable conside
alion in return, inasmuch as neither h
a person nor property were protected BY
% only as wolves and vullures protect lamb
aod BY the prayers Of those who say the
< wish somebody would destroy or rob bi
{. Of bis properly. He proved his conslit
ID tional right TO serve Almighty God a
,e. cording TO The. dictates of his own CO.
n science that men were religious beina
n, and serve their God in all they do; al
A That no one can be in the service Of q
h true God and learn the ART of war; thai
he would be idolatry for him to learn a
practice the art OF war, as much as thou:
Id he bowed down to graven image
as lproslrated himself under the wheel of t
Ic. Joggemaul. Sill The court decided agail
he him. He proved from Blackstone that
! if law was bipding that conficted with
md law Of God; that Christ was the tt
uld Messiah and taught the Law of God, I