The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-03-28
EXECUTIVE OEFIcE.

COLUMBUS, Feb. II, 1855.
GENTLEMEN: Your letter of the l4,h
inst, informing me that you had been
appointed committee by the Jackson
Guards TO ascertain my views, as Com
msnder-in Chief, ION the subject Of dis
trbutng the public arms TO companies
composed entirely or in part Of adopted
citizens" has been received.
The Constitution Of the United States
coniers on Congress the power ITO provide.
for organizing, arming and discipliniDs
the Militia" and also for calling them
forth when necessary. ITO execute the
laws OF the Union, suppress insurrection
and repel invasions." Congress, in pur.
suance of this authority, passed an act as
early as 1899, requiring that leach and
every free, able bodied white male citizen
OF the respective States, resident therein,
who is or shall be OF the age OF eighteen
years and under the age Of forty five
years, except as is hereinafter excepted)
shall severally and respectively be enroll
ed in the Militia by Tho captain or com
manding officer of the company, within
whose bounds such citizen shall reside,''
together with those who shall from time
TO time arrive at the age Of eighteen years
or being Of the age of eighteen years and
under forty y-6ve years. Except as before
excep,ed) shall come to reside within his
bounds The exceptions referred to are
a portion Of the civil officers and employ
ees OF the Government.
By the act Of March 9. 1908. il is made
the "duiy OF ,he adiutant general Of the
Militia in each State, TO make return OF
The Militia OF the State to which he be-
longs. 10 the President of the United
States, annually, on or before the first
Monday of January in each year" an
abstract of which is required to be laid
before Congress-.
In April. 1903. Congress passed an aci
| approprating annually there alter, the sum
of two hundred thousand dollars "ior the
purpose Of providing arms and military
| equipments for the mAole body OF the Militia
OF The United States" and directing that
the arms procured in virtue OF such act
.shall be transmitted To the several States
comprising this Union. and Territories
thereof, to each State and Territory re-.
spec'ively in proportion 10 the number OF
effective Militia in each State. and Ter
ritory TO be distributed. to the Militia in
such state and Territory. under such
rules and regulations as shall be by law
prescribed By the Legislatures Of each
State. and Territory
The Constitution OF Ohio in the same
spiri, and in accordance with the forego-
ing enactnients, requires .'thst all white
male citizens, residents OF this State, be-
ing eighteen years OF age. and under the
age OF iorty FIVE years, shall be enrolled
in the Militia. and perform military duty.
in such manner. not incompatible with the
Constitution and laws Of the United States.
as may be prescribed by law"
The fourteenth section OF the act OF the
General Assembly Of March 19. 1874
provides .sthat the acting Militia of this
State shall consist Of volunteer companies
raised at large by order of the comnand.
ant Of brigade or division; if there be no
ommandan, Of brigade. such companies
to be composed oi men between the age
of eighteen and forty five years. provided
no minor shall be enrolled by any officer
OF such Hight company without the con
lsent OF the parent, guardian or master ol
such nyiuor, and all volunteer com.
panies, &c. formed according TO law
new raised. and organized shall be re,
Itained."
i The nineteenth section oi the same ac'
makes it the duty OF the Quarter Master
4 General in the distribution OF the public
arms. TO apporiion the same TO the severa
divisions according TO the number Of vol
unteer troops therein; and the command
ants Of division, having within their re
spectivs commands a greater quantity o
public arms than are necessary to supply
the volunteer militia therein. are hereby
required to return the same to the Quarter
Master General" SIS
Il In all the legislation which has taker
place upon the subject, whether by lhs
, General or State Government. | have no
beer able 10 find the slightest allusion te
the distinction which you mention. The
. trainers OF our laws seem to have beer
satisfied with the relation of ..citizen,'
without any reference to the qualiiyin,
terms Of ..native" or "adopted. Con
gress ordains that every free able bodiet
, white male citizen of the respective Stste
resident therein" shall be enrolled, ant
thus constitute the Militia Of said States
7 The constitution and laws Of Ohio max,
"all white male citizens" OF certain age
subject to military duty. and il is upoI
. The number OF such persons, returned I,
e the President OF the United States, ,ha
!, the public arms, SO purchased aud pal,
9 for by the money ol The whole people, ar
!. appropriated by the General Government
e 10 this State Their subsequent and 10
. cal distribution among the several division
J, is governed by :he number OF voluntee
u troops as aforesaid.
. The Governor and al other officers
!, civil and military are required. before en-
!, tering upon their official duties. to max
j solemn oath or affirmation that they wi
h seyerelly support tho Constitution Of III
: United States and Of this State, and the
. they will be governed in the discharge
E! all such duties by the utmost imparl'alit
snd fairness. | cannot, therefore, So