Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-10-22

of this feeling laws, which required citizens to
furnish themselves with and equipments, to appear with
them 10y companies for inspection and drill and to attend rg
mental and other muste have been looked upon imposing
expensive and unnecessary burdens and all efforts of legislation
Tor some years past to give popularity and efficiency to such laws
nave proved unayalmg am not now considering the justice
and proprcty of this feeling but merely stating the fact of its
existence fact which ought not to be overlooked any further
attempt at legislation on the SUBJECT For IN our republican
tenn law in order to be permanent and enecua must be sustain
ed, at least must not be condemned, by public sentiment
BY present laws the militia is Divide into two classes
denominaed the enrolled and the uniformed militia All persons
liable militia duty by the laws of the United States and off
this state are annually enrolled by the listers of the several
towns, and TO be made of their enrolment the
Adutan and Inspector General The enrolled militia divided
by territory into regiments bgades and divisions, but its
bers such not liable to drill muster inspection
The uniform militia consists of companies of volunteers from
the enrolled militia Of which there may be one, and under
tain restrictions, two TO each regiment These companies Of
volunteer militia are required TO serve eight years unless sooner
discharged proper security to be furnished with
belonging to the state at their expense furnish them
selves with equipments ana with UNIFORM as directed by the
commandernchicf subject to Inspections drill and muster
and each member of such company who is returned uniformed
and equipped and who has performed three days military
vice is entitled to receive three dollars annually from the
treasury
The paryenc of our agricultural population is mvorabc to
the organization OF military companies, and it probably only
some of our largest villages that they may be expected to be
formed and supported Several companies have recently been
organized in the state who met for voluntary drill and muster
Brandon, on the first and second of September and
viewed by the commandcr-iucel 1t is but Justice those
volunteer companies say that er appearance and discipline
were under the circumstances credabe to them and to the
The of this of uniform militia appears to have
IN some degree awakened military spirit I'm the community.
is understood that several volunteer companies in the
of organization, in different parts of the state that
application for greater legislative encouragement for this class of
militia than is given, is likely he made the present ses-
sion have thought it proper to take this rather heightened
notice of onr militia history and of bo results of o Iroyou
legislation, in order to bring this subject fully you.
trust you will give the matter careful and udcous considcro
ton and that Whatever action you may take, will be such will
be permanently beneficial to the soldier and the community
feel my duty to cal your attention to our laws the sub
jec of the attachment Of property process and
pccaly to that feature of them which gives priority the first
attaching creditor Whatever may have been the effect Of this
law at carly day when credit comparatively limited It's
present operation is in my ud ncnt unayombc to the business
interests OF the community Its operates harshy upon the hon
est debtor by offering premium such creditor shall FIRST
attach and deprive him OF the possession of his property
perhaps ruin his business and il unjust creditors by allow
debt from insohcn to the entire exclusion of all Others 1t
furnishes also to the dishonest debtor convenient mode of de-
iaudng his creditors 10y procuring his property be secured
himself by fictitious attachment would therefore earnestly
recommend the passage act that shall provide for the equal
distribution Of the proceeds of property attached among all the
attaching creditors.
Forming portion of the general governments we are deeply
interested in the and character Of its administrations
and lew words IN reference to them will not it believed be
deemed ont of place in this communications
The marked general feature of the national government for
several past has been its entire disregard and abandonment
OF some OF the most important principles which considered
as political aXoms by the trainers of the constitutions and acted
upon such in the earlier and purer days of governments
and indeed down to very period This has more
particularly manifested in reference the subject of slavery
Thus the principle of onneryeiion whc, arliod M ii
our transactions with other governments has with view to the
extension Of the area of slavery given place TO bc dctsI
doctrine that national convenience forms sufficient justification
for focble appropriation to foreign territory
and its people and in accordance with which doctrine counter
and encouragement have been given lws Invasion
such territory andthc most barboou and cruel robbery
dero tsmocndng inhabitants The congress TO exclude
slavery from the territories of the United States which had
exercised without question: by frequent and repeated enactment
from the foundation OF the down 1913 ma. bee
recently declared he without the pale the constitutions an
the extraordinary promulgated that the cous
lou stl gallc slavery n the territories. and
has consequently authority prevent its introduction Th
doctrine Of the present executive of the general government
sought TO be confirmed and established by the opinions of ma
the highest judicial tribunal country OF these ounon
OF the judges the legislature OF this state at the last session
pressed by resolutions thor decided condemnation, in which
dnaon fully With strong habual reverence lol
Judicial authority, when exercised within its appropriate sphere
for the determination Of individual rights confess have not
high regard for when sought be extended TO poca ouc
tons The history of our parent country furnishes many exam
pies of Judges learned and eminent whose iudca onino
sought and obtained by the government for the purpose
crushing out the rising spirit of liberty among the people In
decd for the character of the judicial crne is to be lament
ed that Judges of distinguished legal attanments have Otter
been found giving coenance to oppression and wrong by nge
NOUS and mclu constructions and that English liberty ha
been fixed upon its present firm foundations by the aid of m
dca Efforts but by overcoming them There hope
that the tudcia opinions of the majority of the Judges in
the bred Scott case contrary they the plain Language
Of the constitution the facts of history and to the dictates
humanity, will the fate which has attended those
Oh the Judges IN the parent country and that liberty will be even
ually established in spite OF them
The extraordinary perscyerng excrtions which, during to
past year. have been made by the chief magistrate of the nation
to prevent the people of Kansas from excluding slavery from
their SOIL 10y imposing upon them a constitution which he we'll
knew they oathed and aborred umshesnow and alarming evil
dence of the aggressive character of the slave power which
controlled him. and shows that the principles of Justice and OF
popular sovereignty stand in the of demands m
political domination than do those Of the constitution The near
approach TO by congressional legislation of this attempt
TO sto the will Of the great majority of the peope of Kansas
Is calculated TO excite strong dstust in the continued success of
republican institutions if the principles of right and ms
u inc influence OF government patronage and party disci