Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-01-25
OHIO LEGISLATURE,
N ADJOURNED SESSION.
Et I'M CEhI AQrE
I'm SENATE.
THURSDAY. January "a, 1861.
IN SENATE.
AFrERNooN SESSION.

Militia) bill He denied that the bill proposes
70 pay for military services. On the contrary
militia pay the State for the privilege of serv-
Ing il. Every man who unites with military
company equips himself at heavy personal ex
pense, and they place themselves in positions
where they arc the first to be called upon to
protect and defend society. II was the original
design of the fathers that our free institutions
should depend, not upon standing armies, but
upon well organized militia. Our constitution
was projected upon this theory, aud the duty of
mainta lining q good militia system is imposed
upon US by our constitution The militia is
necessary to protect the peace in emergencies,
and it ia wise not only to have arms but organ
lied men to use them. The argument of fear
ie fallacious. There is not the slight, st danger
to be apprehendeed from the small Organza-
tions contemplated in this bill. He made
strong appeal in behalf of the militia of the
State, insisting that some encouragement from
the State is due TO them, and denouncing the
refusal of the appropriation oil the pitiful sum
called for in the bill, as shamefully penurious.
The argument to the crisis interposed to de-
feat the bill, is uptenable. Iii not our prov
incc to inquire whether other States will be
pleased with our constitutional acts. When
Kentucky, Virginia, and other states proposed
TO arm themselves, did it scare us? And suppose
we do alarm other States. What have we to
do with the fears of those states who have es
tablished batteries on the banks of the Missis-
sippi, and threaten oisunion. Let them an
swer for the consequences but letus not sit here
like towards and be terrified from the discharge
OF our duty. The times demand we should con
slider them. The people expect US to prepare
for trouble. No man knows what present trou-
bles may bring forth, and we should be prepar-
ed. This people do not want TO fight, but ii
ID IN Grht il,nu ak tok kan
pared. Ii Senators do not give heed TO the
warning, the people will fill their places with
men who will do their duty. IL Was urged by
Mr.. Key that this bill looks toward tho evil OF
| a standing army. There ia IL not an element of
standing army in It.. But 5000 honest, industri.
GUS men, enrolled as MALTA, are not half so
dangerous to the county, as a hundred wire
woI king potitions In conventions. While the
former could not affect legislation, no man can
deny that q resolution of instructions directed
by political convention, to vote for MALTA
bill or any other bill, would commend the vote
of every man Of the party &C instructed. MIR.
Fisher declared HE intel tiOn to vote for the
bill.
Mr.. WHITE quoted the Constitution, and
Bill of Rights to show its position upon the sub.
ject, and argued that this bill contemplated
something in the nature of a standing army
| he ODleCteulO 10 Tue Dil, LudL tue tAleluB
ia ample to discharge all constitutional obliga-
tions The bill will introduce the germ Of an
evil which will corrupt our liberties. The or
ganization will become political elements
which finally will extort its demands from the
legislature. Let the tee in Of war sound, and
YOU will see thousands of soldiers from hill and
valley, rushing to arms for the common defence.
| The object OF the Constitution in relation to the
militia, is simtly to organize them for police,
aud this bill is foreign to this object The ex-
egencles of the times do not demand this fruit.
less expenditure. We are not asked for $50, 900
for one year, or two, but for an indt finite series
of years. Introduce this evil and it will indef-
nitcly expand. Mr.. White at considerable
| length showed the evils to grow out Of such a
system, and held that in time tf real danger
tue freemen Of the country would be found suf.
ficient for the common defense. Let the alarm
of war be sounded aud 100000 men in Ohio
would fly to arms. One weeks time would dis
ciplire them in every movement required by
any system of tactics. But this is new leah
sprung in the public treasury, and the Lore
knows where it will end. Let us hope that i
may not be written in the history of this STATE
that it required thirty. fifty or one hundred
thousand to execute a civil writ, or q simple Law
OF the State or Nation. . -..-.
7 Mr.. MCCALL had been disposed to view thi
bill as a rather modest militia organization, bu
I it seems, according to the views of gentlemen
to be a phanthom starting up, full of Danger
: and fears. He was rather disposed To think |
r right to maintain little organization of thi
kind. If, as some say, we have no arms, IL il
time we are collecting some. He didn't know
there was any reason why wo should sit here
trembling in the presence of this little bill, be-
cause it perhaps may displease somebody. II
1 ~ d,,ky thak 80
our duties like men. He would vote for thi
bill.
Mr.. ORR had voted for the bill last winter
but the times have changed, and the bill has
changed with the times. The change In the
times has caused q change Of views. Excite
ment is abroad, and it is best we should not in
fame it. II eIcites o feeling Of hostility on
the part of other States, and therefore we had
better let il alone. II there were necessity for
such law at this time, he would vote for It,
but for the foregoing reasons, and because il
entails expense upon an impoverished treasury
If you provide for six thousand troops In this
bill, hereafter you will have to equip them
thoroughly, and there is no telling when the
leak will atop. But Ohio is in no danger of in
vasion; no enemy to fight Shall we arm to
fight our brethren1 No! May the time never
come; but let us not hasten IL, but meet this
| question Win ulscretlon'
The question renurring upon the bill, it passed
by the following vote, viz:
| Those who voted in the affirmative were
Messrs. Breck, Ronar, Collins, Cuppy, Cum
minis, Fisher, Garfield, Glass, Harsh, Laskey,
Mccall, Monroe, Morse, Parish, Potrs, PotWin,
Schleich, Smith, Sprague, Stanley-20.
Those who voted in the negative, were Messrs
Esson, Foster, Harrison, Holmes, Jones, Key,
Moore, Newman, Orr, Perrill, White-Il.
Absent-Brewer, Cox, Ferguson, Ready-4
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.
Mr.. STANLEY, from the Finance Commit.
tee, reported in favor of the indefinite postpone.
ment of H.B. Ne l66, by Mr. Jessup, to prevent
an oyercharge Of land tax. Agreed to- The
same Committee was discharged from further
consideration of certain petitions, asking the ex
tension OF the terms of County Auditors.
The President presented joint resolutions of
the Tennessee Legislature, passed. January IL,
| 1861, concerning the New York crisis resolu-
tions. Laid on the table to be printed. y
The President slso presented a resolution
passed yesterday by the Ohio Democratic Con-
vention, asking The Legislature to apply to Con
gress for q National Convention to amend the
Constitution, Referred to the Committee on
Federal Relations.
S, B. 96-T0 amend the act of March 18th,
1881, prescribing the duties of county treas-
urers, with an amendment by the House, vas
referred to the Judiciary committee. ~
Mr.. PARISH, from the Penitentiary commit
tee, reported back the bill for New PeniteD-
tiary, and upon bis Recommendation il was made
the special order for Tuesday next