American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-02-13
VIE MILITARY CONVENTION.

VHE MILITARY CONVENTION.
WEDNESDAY, Feb'y II, The members of
the Mill AIRY Convention, in accordance with
s call from their President, met on "Wednesday
evening in the Charsber of the First Branch of
the City Council, in the City Hall. Gen. J.
Spear Smith having taken the chair, the Con-
vention was called to order. The President
briefly reca pltulated the circumstances which
lad induced him to call meeting of this Con-
@3ntion again. The following were his re-
parks: Gentlemen,-A formal request has
seen made to me, as chairman of tho Military
| Convention, to Te-asSemble you, to again take
INTO consideration the condition of the Voun
teers and Militia OF our city. 1t is known to
you that the bill, amendatory to the Militia
laws, which was formed with SO much care by
this Convention, was sent to the General As
. sembly. In the House of Delegates it was re-
terred to the Militia Committee, and after
s time, reported to the House. A motion 70
! print il was rejected, and it was referred to
i select committee, composed exclusively of the
delegates from this city. They reported that
. it ought not to pass, but believe that no
! final vote of the House has been taken. 1t is
s then in the condition OF being reported against
by our own immediate representatives, and not
/ likely now to b. entertained with favor. AL
low me to add that the bull lin question is, IN my
opinion, we'll adapted to every purpose OF an
efficient organization of the Militia service
that it is the least oppressive OF any law ot the
kind ever enacted, as instead of four annual pa
/ rades, with arms, there will be but two, with
ont arms, and merely for roll-cal, that our
strength may be known, and the citizen rccOg-
Mise his military obligation, know his officers,
places Of rendezvous, and the company and re-
Giment TO which he is attached; thus enabling
! him on any emergency, to give his aid in de-
. fence OF his country, or its laws. Whilst this
| light duty is imposed on the private, the Off
GERS, under your bill, have 10 undergo a severe
course of training, under heavy penalties for
negligence. THIS IS to qualify them for COM
maCd. They are also to be selected for their
merit, and not to be promoted as formerly, by
mere seniority. Thus the severe duties TALL in
| Tine of peace on the officers, leaving the pri-
wales free from every embarrassment, except
| that Of his mere personal appearance twice in
the year. | will not 90 into further details, as
the whole subject is so familiar to you. Hav-
ing thus alluded to the two prominent features
ofahe bill, will leave the subject now for your
deiberation, with the single remark, that our
delegates should manifest such strong distaste
to measure, calculated to bear SO lightly on
their constituents, as compared with the exist
ing Militia system.
Captain PIckell, of the National Blues, arose
and addressed the Convention, in reference to
| the manner in which the bill had been disposed
of by the delegates from this city. lie said
that the labOrs of the committee who drafted
that bill, were deserving Of more respect and
consideration, than was given by the delegates
TO whom it was referred He read the adverse
report of the delegates from Baltimore, and
commented in strong language upon it, they
having taken upon themselVe: to act in the
matter without consulting any portion OF their
immediate cons ltuGnts.
lie also contended that the proposed bill! was
less objectionable than the old Militia system
He concluded by Offering the following resolu'
tons:
Resolved, That the recent uniavorable action
Of the Delegates from the city OF Baltimore, on
bill for the Te-0rgaDizing OF the Militia OF the
i District, meets with our decided dlsapprobaton
Res lived, That we sincerely believe, if the
details of said bill had been submitted to tft
consideration Of the people of the city of Bal
timore, that 1t would have been sustained anc
approved of by them.
Resolved, That we also believe, that if the
said bill had been printed for the Information o
the Legislature, and It's importance to our ciu
gems fully explained, that it would have passed
that honorable body by large majority.
The resolutions were read and unanimously
adopted. Gen. Steuart and Capt Kane ad
dressed the Convention at some length, recapl
tulatng the circumstances and facts connected
with the summary rejection of the proposed
bill, which had come to their personal know
ledge. Major Law and Capt. Pickell made
few remarks in reference to the conduct OF tn
Baltimore Delegation, when Capt. Kane aros
and offered long manifesto, intended as al
expose of the whole matter. The paper con
cluded by requiring all officers, who SHOULD
sign it, to resign their commissions. Col. Da
ves, Col. Hickman, Capt. Kane, Capt, Wat
kira and Capt. Plckell, discussed the content
of the manifesto at some length, when by re
quest, Capt. Kahe withdrew it, to permit Capt
Watkins to offer the following resolutions:
Resolved, That the foregoing resolutions
(Capt. Pckell's,) and the entire proceedings {
this meeting, be signed by the President an
Secretary, and be published, and copy flu
nished to each member of the Legislature.
Resolved, That the committee heretofor
charged with the presentation of the Mliti