Freeman's champion., 1858-03-25

in the particular point assailed by
him, and is as follows:
"Sec. =. 1t is made the duty OF
said Board to adopt such rules and
regulations, under the provisions OF
this act, asSshall Ssecure an efficient
organization of the militia Of the Ter
ritory Of Kanzas."
Osrduty is here plainly set forth.
To effect an efficient organization of
the militia, the first step is the enroll
mcnt Of the people. 10 perfect that
enrolment at an early period, well
qualified person was appointed in
each neighborhood. Many OF the
rolls have already been returned. The
officers thus appointed, charge for
from one 0 seven days service, The
allegation that these enrolling off GERS
shonld have been appointed by the
Governor, is simply ridiculous, The
trouble and expense Of Obtaining the
commission by persons from remote
portions of the Territory, would have
been as great as for the duties they
had to perform. The enrollers were
neither commissioned nor COM
misSioned officers, but mere laborers
for the performance Of that specific
work, and the certificates issued by
the Board were not, and were not in.
tended. as commissions, but mere ev-
licences of selection for the service.
But it is alleged that the enrolling
officers cannot obtain their pay. This
is sheer nonsense. The -th section
of the Militia Bill is as follows:
"Scc. -. The officers provided
for in this act shall be allowed such
compensation as may hereafter be
prescribed by law" .
The Territorial Legislature imper-
atively required this duty to be per-
formed. They have declared that all
officers engaged in the performance
Of duty under the law, shall receive
such compensation as may hereafter
be provided by law. lis fair to pre-
sumo that they will vindicate their
own enactments,, andth is no pow
erin this Territory to Illustrate the
execution of their will. apt..,
To secure an efficient organization
Of the militia of Kanzas Territory,
under the law, it became necessary to
designate some place as headquarters,
where papers could be- issued from
and sent to. Lawrence, being CEN
trail, was selected as that point. 1t
is alleged that the establishment Of
headquarters is an infringement Of
the authority of the COMMANDMENTS
Chief. The duty of the Commander
in-chief commences after the militia
are enrolled and organized, armed and
called into the feld--s0hen there IS a
militia. The people (through their
representatives. have exclusive juris'
diction over all matters, until they
are mustered and IN the field. The
President of the United States is by
the Constitution made the Command
er-iniChief Of the army, navy and
militia; but he cannot call forth a
single militiaman. That power can
alone be exercised by therepresenta-
tives Of the people in Congress assem-
bled. The power to enroll, to organ
ize, to call forth, does not necessarily
attach to the position OF Commander
in-Chiof. 1t may be granted to him
by Legislative authority but until
so granted, it cannot be exerclScd.---
The power to establish headquarters
is with the Oommander-in- Chief,
when the militia are in the field but
there may be other headquarters for
the purposes of organization. That
the people of KanzGs wanted mill
tia organization, is not unreasonable
Their representatives believed that
that organization could be effected by
! officers of their own selection they
therefore gave the power to the Mill,
tary Board, ofwhich the Territorial
Governor is q member, and, when
present attheir deliberations, its pre-.
siding officer. i aeI
The militia law was regularly
passed the officers under it regular
ly elected, their duties clearly and
emphatically defined; they have strict
ly adhered to its spirit and letter, and
their acts, therefore, are Of undoubted
legal authority. We respectfully
submit, when and whore, outside Of
Kanzas, the right was ever questioned
ofa people, even in the absence OF
law, TO enroll. organize, equip, arm
and come forth, ii need be, for de-
fensive purposes? 1t is right at
taching to manhood, emanatirg from
q higher than earthly tribunal--Me
right Of seIfdefence. How arrogant,
therefore; is the pretence, now for the
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