The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-02-12

from the de mocratic commissioners all power over
the work, by allowing the superiatendents 10 nave
exclusive control all the men who are employ
ed. The commissioner, who has charge OF his sec
ton, is responsible TO the State for the manner IN
which the work is done; yet, by this bull he Is to
| be excluded from all authority over the workmen
Il seems as If partisan preefe might ma more
| legitimate scope, than TO thus cramp highly re.
spOnsible public officer in the performance of duties
| for which he alone is held accountable to kat
people
| are all from the woolley section. The day afte
| Mr. Beekman refused to vote for Mr. Fish, ever
silver gray, all the lines of canal, in the service
of the State, was discharged 1t was supposed tina
Seymour would not allow them to be victimized
but his courage oozed out when the time came TO
action.
ALBANY, Feb 10, 1851.
IN Attempt in High Quarters to Demolish the
NlltttG System.
San Act to abolish Militia Fines, and TO provid
for the paymen4of the uniformed Militia" This i
the title of a bill introduced in the Senate few
days since, by the Hon. George B. Guinnp, Sena
tor from the Chemung district, and Chairman o
the Military Committee of that body. In orde
that correct understanding of the merits of the
bill may be had, will quote few of its sections
The first section states, that all able bodied "whte
male citizens" of the age Of Is, and under 45, shall
be enrolled in the militia. The second section is
as follows
at shall be the duty OF the in the several
towns, villages and cities in this State, to make .
written return under OATH Of the number of persons
liable to be enrolled in the militia living within their
respective Districts and every housekesper within
such districts who shall refuse to give the assessors
the information required BY them for the performances
of this duty shall liable penalty Of ten dollars
recovered the suit any in any court
Of competent jurisdiction. The shall respec-
lively be paid for the services required BY ths act By
hA NJ 2n nf MT Af
than enc dollar, nor more than i've dollars"
The subsequent sections declare that the asses
sors shall deposit list Of such names in the offices
of the county clerks; said clerks TO transmit 10
the Adjutant General the number of persons 30 ap-
pearng by said returns liable to be enrolled; and
from such returns are TO be made the aggregate of
the militia of this State. Assessors or county
clerks, who neglect or refuse TO comply, shall for
felt from So TO 500, aud also be deemed guilty of
msdemeanor.
The ununiformed militia are not required to per-
form any duty, nor be subject to any lines or COM
mutations for Don-performance; and the uniformed
corps doing militia duty, shall be distinguished by
the appellation of national guard. Returns are TO
be made to the Adjutant General both by the coun-
ty clerks of the whole number enrolled, and also
by the several brigade inspectors OF the number
performing duty. The eleventh section of the bill
being an important one, we give il eDtire:-
The Adjutant General, upon the receipt Of euch
returns and lists from the brigade inspectors shall
OF the number of field and staff officers In each Iegi
ment who were present at inspection, and Of the
lists having parsded for three days in the year
and also Of the number OF horses parade In such
regiment at inspection and the Comptroller shall,
thersupon draw his warrant upon the State treasurer
in favor Of the county treasurer of some county in
which such regiment or . part thereof, shall be To-
Gated fer co ua three dollars for each ofcsr
an person and one dollar each horse referred
In such statement of the Adju.ant enerat and the
State treasurer shall forthwith transmit such sum to
I'D In aai1 amt and
received, by such county treasurer shall con-
stitute the regmental fund Of said regiment subject
to the directions OF the regimena board hereinafter
provided for.n
The thirteenth section being also an important
one, We therefore quote it =
THE Board. of Supervisors in the several counties
in this State sha add to til usual taxes imposed By
them, a eq ssl to one-tenth Of mill on each dol
lar Of taxable property in their respective countless
and the levied shall b. collected with and in
the As the other taxes in such counties
and paid to the county treaeurere and by
them transmitted to the State treasurer to be held
by him the military fund OF the State exclusively
for the purposes Of this act and other military uses
The above quotations comprise the main features
of the bill.
Now, although amajority of the people of this
State may prefer some modification Of the militia
laws, as they now exist, still IL cannot be posi-
bic tina! one in thousand would be in favor OF
the sweeping alterations as proposed IN the bill
now under consideration in the Senate. The
duty of aScertaining who are subject TO duty, -
They are consti uted 30 many courts OF inquiry,
10 ascertain who are and who are not subject TO
militia duty. In The FIRST place, the age OF every
white male citizen Is 10 be ascertainef, and
those appearing between Is and 10, are TO be
constituted the military force of the State. Will
such an enrolment be such one as the United
States constitution requires "A well regulated
militia being necessary to the secsrty OF free
State" How are the assessors 10 ascertain who
are exempt from duty for the laws Of Congress
and of thus State, include many classes OF persons
who are not subJec CT 10 the performance of militia
duty. Or is il intended that the assessors shall
take, for granted, all the statements made TO
them Rder such system, there would not be
&c, 900 men returned ht for service
But will the assessors perform the duty imposed
on them by Senator Guinnip's bill! lie proposes
to pay them one dollar, and In no case over hive
dsllers as q compensaiion tor visiting every house.
making the necessary inquiries, returning list TO
the county clerk, &c., &c and IN default, or
neglect TO comply with the provisions OF this act,
the assessors shall forfeit and Pay not less than
twentyt nor more than one hundred dollars;
and also be deemed guilty OF a misdeineanor. The
labors and responsibilities OF assessors are now SUI
fcienty onerous, considering the recompense
which they receive for the performance OF their
legitimate duties; and It is hoped the Legislature
will hesitate long before this military duty Of
rolment Is imposed upon them.
The bill sbolIshes the present method OF raising
a military fund by Communication and fines; aud
though the system now pursued, IN accordance TO
law, Is regarded by manyas unequal and IN numsr-
oLs Instances, extremely UNI list; sun, the propo 81
ton To resort to duecs taxation for the payment OF
militia duty would be fraught with much more par
TALLY end injustice No man is now compelled 10
pay any thing, but GUinnip's law fasiens tax up
on the people from which they cannot escape.
There u no discrimination made; those who are
disabled, incompetent, discharged from duty, the
aged, the widows and orphans, alike, under the
proposed plan, subject 10 the support OF military
establishment The amount Of tax which this bull
imposes on the city OF New York Is not far from
twenty Elk thousand dollars We opne, that the
people will never consent 10 a direct tax for the
support OF a State military peace Organization
Mr.. Senator Guianip's opinlon 10 the contrary
Notwithstanding.
And 10 order 70 give prominence and respecla-
biity to the uniformed corps, the bill proposes 10
Halter them with French cognomen-the Ma
uonal Gsardl" The PRIDE OF both men and officers
would have been more easily BATTERED, by styling
them the New York State Guard, for such they
emphatically are.
There are other features Of the bill which are
equally erroneous and impracticable; but for the