Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-01-21

some of our large cities but how soon do their memo
ries and names pass to merited disgrace So sir have
no fear that John Brown has sown any dragons teeth
amongst US, from which armed men will spring up or
that for our age any from any quarter will dare TO tread
in his fatal footseps For all such ruthless invaders of
the Commonwealth the calm and deliberate execution of
our laws will bear forever grand lesson and terrible
warning History will din in the of any that shall
dare approach our borders for such guilty purposes
nernetual ",ys,entO nori" assume therefore this ar
morv is not necessary protect us from any of the de-
mented admirers or successors of this deflnct John
Brown Are we threatened by any Of our sister States
Is any one of them arming or founding armores to pre-
mare for an attack upon us? / believe not Peace
s in all our borders and aroun1 u.s. We only have our
nartizan ouarrels-ira nsgrdtO dmoriS-such as many
other happv families have An armory is not necessary
then to repe any anticipated attack from other States
Tpon this point however, of collisions between the
States it would be well to examine and ascertain the
constitutional theory of our military defences. One Of
the declared purposes of the constitution of the United
States is "to provide for the defence" and Con-
gross has specifc grant of poSer to that end That
such power might not be nugatory Congress is further
empowered ITO provide for calling forth the militia to exc
cute the laws of the Union, suppress Instructions and
repe invasions' and further, ITO organize arm and
dscippe the militia and govern such part of them as
NAV be employed in the service OF the United States
serving the States respectively, the appointment Of
the officers and the authority Of training the militia
cordnG to the discipline prescribed by Congress- To
emergency however sudden the President of the United
States is made commandments Of the army and navy
of the United States and of the militia of the States
when called into service To show still plainly that
the trainers of the constitution intended to deyOlye up
on the government of the United States the defence of
all theStaes and prevent armed collisions between the
States this express prohibition exists in the Constitution
namely NO State SHALL without the consent of Con-
anv duty Oftonuagc Keep troops ships of war
in time of peace enter into any agreement compact
with another State with foreign power engage in
war unless actually Invaded or in such imminent dan
ger as will not admit of delay insist therefore, an
Obligation rests upon the general government provide
for the defence of each and all States That obligation IS
acknowledged by law. As far back at least a. April
1905 Congress passed its act for distributing quotas of
arms among the States. Doubtless, our quota if not al
ready drawn in advance would be amentaby short of
our present wants as understood and reported bv the
military committees lt is worthy of notice however
that Mr. Davis a Senator from Mississippi has moved to
enlarge the distribution OF among the States at
this time
Now, Mr. President cannot consent to do any act
tending or looking towards dschargng Congress of any
OF its ducs-lcast OF all its duty to the mitia-at
this particular uucure Our safety consists in evactug
of every department Of the General Government scru-
pulous fulfment of its whole duty Ii in this view
that We may dcspi-e worse than worthless the
hagitOus acts of certain legislatures vanly attempt
ing to uulify the fugitive slave law. II is the sworn du-
purpose he bring his aid the courts and minister
al officers of the government aud the whole military
power OF the country. Nor wOuld | excuse him. if he
failed to exert whatever might be needed Of these great
powers to yindcate the constitution uphold the suprc
macy of the laws and reduce 10 subccOn the passions
of rebellion. populace One such triumph of author-
" and law would be all that is necessary TO teach any of
our deluded people their duty 10 the supreme Ian Of the
irud' For these reasons | cannot relax any hold we
have upon the General Government, by undertaking its
duty-the manufacture OF arms And this would seem
particularly nOpportune when one OF the Senators from
ui- State is pressing upon Congress the necessity of
adopting measures 10 enable the federal executive at any
moment 10 nterpose and repe nyasOns from any quar-
ter upon the States. 1t would lead me too far from the
subject in hand TO discuss the question made by
late Governor with President Buchanan on this point
though incline to concur with Gov Wise in his con-
struction Of this clause of the constitution
While, therefore, would not rely upon the General
Government for the supply Of arms want and
will votcI as have voted, for the purchase Of them,
present these collateral views TO the constitutional
ations Of the States and the General Government in aid
of my main Argument against this first step towards
military estIblishmensin this state.
Having step by step excluded aud nOgatved every sup
position could imagine to Justify the establishment Of
this armOry as a measure Of defence repeat for what
purpose is It designed:
We are told it is to out 10000 stand of arms a
year. to be an unlimited manutctory, 10 all the peO-
pie aud put the state IN lnllltaN pluopy from mead 10
heel This is It's avOwed object Let IL be accomplished
and what then, You have putarms in the hands Of all
the people; YOU have gotten ul military spirit eager
and restless for the iray Can be simple not TO
be able 10 orctc the next the dramay The task
will then be TO eXasperate and ntiame the public mind
to encourage and prepare the PEOPLE to use against
mics nced real, the arus, you have put in their
hands and to turn to some account good, bad this
large aud expensive military organization and armament
History and experience alike Idmonish that
thus situated and prepared ma he welded or msed by
few leaders. Thus sir, in M Judgment dangerous
mine will have been laid and charged under the foundI
tons of our glorious conedery ready 20 be gnted by
any rash or set of rash Hen A dangerous be-
ginning OF q system iumical the Union, deny that
this measure is deSire h contrary in its effect and
tendency fear not denoume it dggrcSSiUc-as
standing against the peace and safety OF the
Union do seek to tie otipey OF projectors
do not say, that all must yiw II as do; ! am well
aware shall be accused of mgnfying the scope char
acter and effect OF this But this can safely
saw that this bill shall pass u it stands will
sooner have become law thar the ayOWed disunonists
in and around this capital Of WON, God be praised
have only few, and their bethren elsewhere, will of
one accord send forth loud cclaim Of JOY from every
quarter and State in which thy exist. Perhaps hen
when, alas it is too late, shall more clearly discern
the effects to flow from this measure. With these inn
pressions Mr. President, cannot refrain from terming
this armOry, the first born project of disunon. wish
TO call the attention OF the puuc 10 II, ana apprse the
loya and UniOnlOying people whom represent of the
earliest indications of the storn desCry upon the poll
teal horizon Other clouds fast gathering around
and il will not be long fear before the most incredu
lous and supine will be complied to acknowledge the
reality of the struggle shallhave TO meet or avert
For one sir amid all these troubled waters cling to
the Constitution of the UntedSates the ark of our
safeiy honor it as the highest achievement Of
manshp; regard it as the las hope Of rational liberty
| revere il for the expanding development of civil
zaOn it nurures; and for the countless blessings So
cia moral religious and political 1t has difuSed still diff
fuses and under the Providence of God, | trust will
continue to diffuse through our numerous and in
creasng galaxy of States | am more than
tent with that Constitution. ! seek amendment
70 il. | complain of none OF its provisions
accept it and stand by it, in all its parts as the
vencrated work Of fathers leave Others, sir, TO
conemn and deride it, The vile language of the abo
onist in denouncing it "a league with He'll almost
blisers my tongue and paralyzes my lips by its utter
atce Sir il is consecrated TO Nirginian by the MEM
ores the fame, the public services, the wisdom, the
warnings of Washington aud Madison IL is priceless
heritage we have derived from them, in part and be-
cause Others dare to pater with its sacred guarantees
shall we surrender it to the spolersy No! sir let
hold this temple of freedom against all who do not feel
that il is hOly ground" Shall We, sir who respect and
love it. flee from it at the assaults of its enemesy No
sir let us maintain ourselves in its friendly portals and
stand upon It's frowning battements TO give hot recep
ton TO those who shall dare to tear down the one and
enter the other with a hostile purpose. Let those who
plot against its integrity take themselves out OF the
Union If then can. For my part deem Virginia safer
under it than out of it, and that she has right in
erest she cannot better defend by virtue than in spite
of the Constitution but give another form of express
sion to sentiments lat ly uttered in higher and
horitative quarters by the late Governor Wise and
of our representatives in Congress- Ir. Pryor and
trust my echo of them II not impair their Just weight
There is contingency for the use of these arms to
which must now alude. They may be wanted, we are