Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1846-11-21


deemabie will be exchanged for Fights, except a 8
small amount which should be at once redeemed.
The part which the State has taken In the war O
now being waged between the government Of the [
United States and that of Mexico, and the action
which it may be necessary for the legislature TO
take on matters connected with that subject, will
form the material for separate message at an
early stage Of the session. 1t may be proper to
add here, that Missouri has shown herself ready
and willing, and prompt to meet every requisition
for troops, having sent one of the first volunteer
regiments to Texas, two regiments and two extra
battalions to Santa Fe, and having raised third
| regiment, one of the largest and best which has
been organized during the war, also for the Santa
| Fe expeditions; the regiment to Texas being foot
men; the two first for Santa Fe, horsemen; one OF
the extra battalions foot and the other horse; and
the last regiment for Santa Fe, footmen. But nine
| companies of the last reached Fort Leavenworth
the place of rendezvous, when they were ordered
by the War Department to be paid off and honora.
bly, discharged, with the assurance that they would
be called for If more troops were needed in that
direction. and they desired the service. They were
discharged, because the commanding General in
formed the War Department, from Bent's Fort, on
the first of August last that the forces then under
his command were Sufficient to take Santa Fe, and
because the urgency Of the service did not seem to
Justify abe trouble, expense and hazard Of march
ing troops across the plains at so latea season oil
? the year '- |
The present war has drawn the attention of
many persons to the character of our militia sys-
tenn. This is found TO be utterly useless. The
system is subject of ridicule and buresque, and
4, is calculated to bring,-what is intended to be
n serious preparation for the defence OF our coun-
" trv-every effort 10 discipline the militia of the
u State into utter contempt. Our militia officers,
" many of whom have exerted themselves to intro
1t duce some sort of organization and discipline, and
D. who have had cause to examine the whole subject
IS thoroughly, are well satisfied of the facts above
Ill s,ta, .Nnrth z.-
h try, have regretted the existence of system so
Is defective.
It is idle and useless in time of peace, to force
y men to perform military duty who do SC against
q their will. Such men prefer farce, while on pa
rade and under duty, to any serious preparation
Of defend their country, and being generally in
p ority on such occasions they not only refuse to
learn themselves but prevent even very competent
n officers from learning Others-they not only re-
- fuse to be subjected to the order and discipline of
the soldier, but they teach disobedience and dis
h regard Of all order and discipline And, although
g no good, but much harin is the result of forcing
II such men to perform military duty, yet the system
lie imposes heavy tax upon that part of the CON-
IS munity capable of bearing arms. Each man sub
J. ject to duty under our system is required to mus
r. ter four times annually. Estimating the value OF
- his labor at but fifty cents per day, this loss Of
IL time is equal to a tax of two dollars per year
o. upon every man capable of bearing arms: ana
y where the service is rendered reuctontly, il
SIS amounts to a clear loss boil to himself and hi.
". country.
in 1t is better TO require military duty of sucl
TO men only as discharge it Voluntarily and as mat
or ter of choice The service of the balance, when
ITS ever they prefer it, should be committed for
IS small tax. Let each man who prefers it, join
volunteer company and serve regularly in that 70
:, a given number of years, and then be discharged
~ And let each who prefers the other course
a. pay his small tax annually, and get a full exemp
It's ton from military service in time of peace. LIE
the money thus collected be applied the support
he encouragement and discipline of the volantee
to companies. Let it be expended in the purchase
he colors, musical instruments, and particularly il
At the instruction of musicians the purchase of books
of discipline and the laws, rules and regulations
ne of the army for each officer, and in the employ
ment Of few competent drill officers, and fo
D. other purposes, such time and experience ma,
he prove necessary. 1t is believed that such sys
m tenn would be much less expensive than the pres
he ent one, and much more efficient and useful.
~ ~ We entitled annually to quota of from
ne the United States. Very few Of the receive
co fit for efficient service. The common gun-smith
ST Of our country with vevy inferior preparations an
he mach merry, make an article much more efficient an
gs serc able than the guns received from the Unite
ne States armories, when they should have the hes
re mechanics and the very best machinery for maxim
An them. Prepared, as our armores ought to be. witt
r. good materials ma and good machinery, good mater
" never be distributed. This subject is importan,
mt and merits attention. To send our country men t
1t war with defective arms, is to send them TO til
r slaughter pen to be butchered.
ey In the two years which have passed since tn
IS. meeting OF The last Legislature, reasonable shar
IT. of the blessings of kind providence has beeu be
n. slowed on our country In the ret, the crops wer
ell GENERALLY good; in the latter they have been MOI
varied, in some places being superintendent, in 9th
ers abundant, and in others short, the rains hal
- pened to be more or less plentiful the drougf
IN great, but enough has been made to supply on
ISL wants and much to spare.
y. We have rich soil and climate adapted to tn
Ut growth OF many produ cts. and with proper cutui
- and favorable seasons, the husbandmen reap abur
TO dant harveSts Yet it is q fact, which it is needles
ss to attempt to Disguise that, with rich soil
W genial climate and oil industry, and econt
nd my, we are not prosperous and thriving people,
ns the gre at mass of us not growing in wealth.
accumul ating ny Of the comforts even OF tn
- necessaries OF lite
90 The of this want af prosperity various
- The mass of us have not learned enough. Fc
- want of more skill and science, and better imple
~ ments OF husbandry, we do not cultivate the soil
.. the best advantage. The people of some othf
countries make more, and better articles from int
DIS rior soils, than we produce from rich lands
~ We sell productions with the udest preparation
for market, and Of course at the lowest prices Will
II, othe prepare them for consumption and resell
ha US, and of course at the highest prices. We max
too mu ch Of the same articles, Of the same elias
W Of arti cles and thus reduce the price by glut,in
he the market and destroying the demand for pre-
M ducts; while we make none of another article, @
n class OF articles equally necessary to supply GU
he wants; and thus we create market and a deman
ar for those articles and enhance the price. In th
If way our system reduces che price Of all that we max
he to sell and enhances the price of all that we hav
d. to buy. Almost our entire population are engage
in agriculture, and partly in consequence OF this on
lnnr yhaat and ohnns