Litchfield enquirer., 1850-05-02
For the Enquirer.
The Militia Law.

The Militia Law,
SCI voted for it to get rid Of it. SO as to
sstat other business, and not because ]
lied the law" sYra s ga
This is the language used by one who
voted for our present Military Law on its
passage through the Legislature. The
subject had engrossed the attention of the
House so long, that he had become im-
patient to get rid Of it. and very possibly
Insufficient number Of others acted upon
the same principle, when, ifsthey had
acted according to their own sober con-
victions of its merits, it never could have
passed, But what must we say of such
principle of legislation? Truly, it may
bessaid, sit is much easier to preach
! than to practice = but it,appears to US
that any matter thatis worthy of being
embodied into q law, is worthy Of all tee
time that is necessary to expungc its OBJ
iectionnble features and render it as near
" perfect as may be-and thatin no case
should a person vote for an objectionable
bill to taset rid Of it," Perhaps q ma "
iority may have voted for the bill, really
thinking that it was just the thing that
was needed to keep up our military sys-
tenn, and maintain the public security
against foreign invasion and domestic
.broils. To,such we would not ,impute
any blame, for had we been placed in
their situation at the time, we might have
acted IN the same way .zsss ..ssa
The law has. now been in operationa
sufficient length pf time for US TO discov-
er its merits and dement's. Wepropose
briefly 30 notice some Of the latter--some
ofswhich were enumerated in a petition
for its repeal which was presented to our
last legislature, numerouslyp signed by
citizens Of Norfolk and which they res
pectfully had leave to Withdraw. sIf the
law gave general satisfaction. then, why
this petition, signed BY between one and
two hundred legal voters in a town no
larger than Norfolk !? If other towns
were to speak out upon this subject, is,it,
not reasonable 70 infer that il would be
with like result ? We object to the
law because it Is unequal inits operations.
Some comparatively able bodied men are
returned as exempt, while others who are
less able TO perferm military dnty are re.
quired TO psy,a dollar communication tax,
or d finesof two dollars, or in case he
neglects to do the latter the officer is
directed to east him into prison. We
object to il further, because fines are col
lectedsof some and not Of others, and
therefore taxation in this respect is not
equal seq 81 9srei aeasa. h. hshaa /. a
As the object Of maintaining a militia
law is to protect property ~ well as per-
son, we object 10 laying an ertra tax up
on the poor to protect the pr operty tot
the rich. Under the prcscnt1 law. they
are to- meet insregimants and camp out.
This feature ofthe.systepa as exhibited
Liich6eld county evidently fruitful Of
much evil, as particularly, at our last
review, it was the resort Of the ,intempG-
rateapd vicious who found ample means
of gratifying theirsinful propensities. A
person, than whom perhaps u more zeal
Gus advocate Of militia parades. and who
is somewhat advanced IN life, remarked.
that be. never saw 50 much drunkenness
NJ, q smilitaFy muster. Some Of the,
drunken ones wore of those votsesteers \
Who asetosbe paid Shopper day from
The ;cnmmutation tax and fines. And for
what are they to be paid this Il itnot
to- aid them to pamper their appetites
with strong drink, aiastsad of learning
Them the art of war which was evidently \
the design Of the lawsa Nourmoney is
appropriated q huch purpose, how far
does justice To our fellow man, Or re-
gard for the welfare of The State, require
usto pay our communication fees or 6nes?e
In this region, but few Of those who !,
enlist are Temperance men, AMI the pros
pect Is, that il the present law Is corltin-
med ia force. the proportion will gro
'aess and less. IS, 80 spStsss r
But some win ask. What shall be loneg
How often has Il beenFemarked by those
Who have drilIedraw troops and led them
;nto actual service. that such would make
sDetter soldiers and sooner learn the arts
az war. than those who have been partly
drilled IN our militia !? II this be true.
would not 81 arrangement something like
xhe following. be al that Is necessary 70
s. 81 this time 2 Let ell white male
nersons. between tie ages Of 70 and -.
be enrolled as subjects Of military duty !;
AK ii be the duty Of some civil officer 10
,nali them out ID case Of sins or, in d
49,. lek sarne one instructed ia mililnk,
tactics have charge q fhe militia
arns b kept p convenient places.