Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-01-29

ing that pictures OF the horrors Of civil war
should divert rs from the impartial consider
alton Of this bill fully agree with the SEN
ator from Hamilton, (Mr. Key that the
military power is dangerous one when 1t
gaius astendeuey over the civil. but do not
see, Ia this bill the dangers which the Senator
seems 10 have discovered Senators are
haunted with dark doubts and gloomy f'r-
bodings, whenever the military system OF the
State Is touched up0R II may reassure them
and also show the foundation ou which the
measure rests, TO refer to one fundamental
law on this subject In article ninth, section
iirst Of the Constitution, We read that "All
white male citizens OF this Stale, being
eighteen years Of age and under the age OF
iOrty.hve shall be enrolled in the militia and
perform military duty in such manner not
incompatible with the Constitution II the
United States, as may be prescribed by law
Also section FIVE, 'The General Assembly
shall provide by law for the protection and
safe keeping Of the public arms We have
then no discretion in the matter. Il is our
sworn duty to provide for enrolling the mill
tia, and for the safe keeping Of the public
arms. There are two bills now before the
General Assembly, one for the enrolment OF
the militia, and this, the other, to provide for
the safe keeping Of the public arms, And
now, Mr.. President, / invite the Senate TO
consider briefly the provisions Of the bill be-
fore Us. Il authorizes the formation Of 5000
active militia in the State-not concentrated
but formed throughout the State, accord
ing to the population OF the different eOun-
ties. Il provides that when companies have
formed chosen officers and uniformed, accord
lug to law, the State shall grant them arms
from the arsenal For the safe keeping and
repair OF which, each company shall give
bonds. Il provides that when each volun-
teer has been faithful 70 all the duties en-
ioined upon him-and his company must
have practced the military driIl at least six
full DAYS in the year-he shall receive Tor
rent Of armory, and necessary repair of arms
the sum OF five dollars. And even this small
amount is payable only to temperate, punctu-
81 and disciplined men, who have kept their
arms in good condition. And this, in the
view of the honorable Senator. is the military
monster (which lifts its threatening head into
the Senate to overawe us in the work Of
legislation" Sir, it is but simple act OF
meagre Justice TO those citizens who perform
military service for the State. According TO
lue EEUQLk OF INC Az uAalle OIAAlAaA AAN "a
penss incurred and paid by the militia
themselves, during the last three years, for
unifOrming and equipping, without including
loss of time, expense OF armories and repair
of arms amounted to more than $40, ,OOO.-
This burden has been found so severe upon
individuals, that It has almost destroyed our
militia organization, and it is believed that
the provision here made win be sufficient TO
restore and preserve the system. Under the
disastrous policy we have pursued, our vOlun-
teer force has dwindled 10 mere handful
aud the great State Of Ohio has new an ac-
tive force Of but 200 men. We have re-
ceived from the General Government over
/ "a. 600 mnskets and rifes-but the policy we
! have pursued has wasted these till we now
! have but 6OOO muskets in good condition.
| Shall the State protect and preserve its own
property Last winter a step was taken in
/ the right direction. An arsenal was built
and tbe scattered arms collected and repaired.
| rhe Senator from Halniton says we propose
to eIu7loy 5000 men TO take care Of the pub
/ lie arms. I answer that the design Of this
| bill is not merely to keep the public arms,
but 70 nut them in the hands of men who
shall use them for the public peace, and for
/ the defense Of the State Were retention
I
! The only question, we might lock them up in
/ the arsenal or siuk them in the artesian well.
This Mr. President brings me 70 what
believe is the real question Of difference be-
tween the Senator and myself namely, shall
the State OF Ohio have any more than her
present'military force of 1909 men2 It's the
policy of our Constitution, and has always
been the policy Of our laws, to sustain the
military arm as a ready policy force proper
ly distributed throughout the State, to quell
the violence Of m0bs, and to aid in the en-
forcement Of toe laws. This is also the set
tied policy of all our sister States, and there
is but one in the Union with weaker force
than our own.
Dir. President l am reminded that last
session opposed this bill as unnecessary
True-but "the times are changed, and We
are changed with them and / make nc
hesitancy in avowing that the prevailing
reason with me for the passage OF this bill j;
the present disturbed and threatening aspect
ofnational affairs Some Senators have op
posed it for this very reason. They say i
looks towards coercion. Coercionl Wha
do gentleman mean by that term Cole
ridge has said that abstract definitions have
caused more of evil TO the human raci
than famine, pestilence and war. And the
use which is now being made Of this term /
, fuIi Of evil. If by coercion 1t is meant tha
the Federal Government shall declare anC
wage war against State, then | have ye
to see any man, Democrat or Republican
who is a coereionist. But if by the term
is meant that the General Government shall
enforce the laws by whomsoeVer violated
shall protect the property and flag of th
Union; shall punish traitors TO the ConstI
: tution-be they ten or ten ihousand-then
am a coercionist-every member OF this Sen
: ate by his vote on the eighth resolution Is
E coerciOnist-nine-tenlhs OF the people Of Obi
are coerciOnists-every man is a coerciOnis
or traitor We mean no war upon th
South-nO war upon any State but we d
i mean that the laws shall be Obeyed, and trea
son shall be punished. But it is asked-doe
Obio need a military force to keep her ow
/, people in subiection! answer-in a tim
: like this, when law and order are tramPle
under foot, when the bands Of society ar
being loosened, there is far more than usui
: need Of a strong policy to meet the emerger
cies which may arise in any part Of th
q State.
{ The Senator from Hamilton (Mr. Key
: says he knows Of no place in Ohio where
Y military force IS needed to execute the laws
unless Il Be IN the HoTth-easterB part Of q
3 STATE IN the city which be represents, b
says they have no such need. ! repel Il
charge thar the people Of Northeastern Obi
: are not a law-abiding people. There is L
section Of the State more loyal than they
Witness, this very week, the execution Of Il
Fugitive Slave law, so odious to the sent
ments OF the people. That law was faitl
fully executed, and yet not a soldier aPpearg
in the streets of Cleveland. It was not n
cessary to call out three companies of Il
!. military to save the policemen from death
h the hands Of msb, as was the case in Il
Senator's own city but a few days since.
q deprecate these individual contrasts, but Il
b. Senator invited it.
Al.