Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-08-06

CONSUMPTION, The Albany Evening
Journal is engaged in unearthing evidence
as to the position of the Democratic party,
in times past, upon consumption, and brings
to light some rather interesting matters.
1t is true that those who style them
selves democrats" at the present time,
stand precisely in the tracks of the Fed
eralists and "Blue Lights of 1912, while
the present supporters of the Administra-
ton maintain upon this question the doc
trine held by the democrats of that day.
The similarity between the clamor of
the present self-styled democrats, and the
following extracts from the manifesto of
the Hartford Conventonists of 1872, will
at once strike every reader, The Hart
ford manifesto declared;
"In certain specified cases only has tn
National Government any power over the
militia; and it follows concusi 5ely that
for all general and ordinary purposes, this
power belongs to the States respectively
and 10 them alone. 1t Is not only with re-
gret, but with establishment, the Conyen-
ton perceive that under color of an au
thority, conferred with such plain and
precise Limitations, power is arrogated
by the Executive Government the Demo
cratic Government OF Madison and in
some instances sanctioned by the two
Houses of Congress, of control over the
militia n. e.. the arms, bearing citizens of
the several States, which, # conceded,
a0W render augatOry the rigbJM autbor-
ity 0fthe indjUidUab States 0Uer that class
Of men, and by placing at the disposal of
the National Government the lives and
services of the great body of the people,
enable 1t at pleasure to destroy their liber-
ties and erect military deSpotism on its
rWinS.n
Further on the Hartford manifesto de-
clared
"The power of compelling the militia
and other citizens of the United States by
forclble draft or Consumption to serve in
the regular armies. as proposed IN late
official letter of the Secretary of War,
TMr. Monroe is not delegUted to Congress
By the Constitution, and the exercise Of ii
aoouJd be not less dangerous to their Hber-
ties than hostile to the sovereignty Of bt
States. The effort to deduce this power
from the right of raising armies, is a ia
grant attempt to perceH the sense Of the
clause IN the Constitution, which confers
that right, and is incompatible with other
provisions of that instrument"
As to the position of the democrats
Of that day; President Madison recon-
mended to Congress in his message that
entire dependence on the militia be dis
carded that the regular army be filled
up, and 100000 men be raised by draft
to be ordered by the General Govern
ment.
James Monroe said -
The idea that the United States. caaao,
raise regular ormy on any oth6r mod,
than By accepting the voluntary SERVICE O
iadiUiduGl8 is believed to be repHgndat Il
the uniform. construction Of oil grants o
poDer, and equally so to the first primer
| pies and leadiag objects Of the Fedora
compact. an unqualified grant Of po,ceJ
gives the means necessary to carry it init
effect. This is an universal maxim, which
admits of no exception. The Common
wealth have a right to the service of al
its citizens, or rather, the citizens compos
ing the Commonwealth, have right, col
lectively and individually, to the service
of each other, to repel any danger which
may be menaced. The manner in which
the service is to be apportioned among TIT
citizens, and rendered by them, are OBJ
jects of legislation. All that is to b.
dreaded N such case is the abuse o
power, and happily our Constitution ha;
provided ample security against that evil
The Democratic Congress of 1874 was
of like mind. Its voice was largely in IA
ver of Conscnption. The conclusion Of
peace arrested the discussion Of the ques
ton and rendered the passage Of Mr.. Gile':
Bill a modification of Mr. Munroe's plan
unnecessary; but the position of that body
on the subject was unmistakable. Not
only was the right of the Federal Govern
ment to enforce draft indirectly through
a State Executive insisted upon, but an
amendment to the original bill, authorize
ing the President, "i@ case Of neglect On
refusal of the GoUernor Of the States 10 &C.
scute the provisions Of the lap, to call dj,
rectyy on the militia officers Of the State:
to carry them into eject" was engrafted
by the Democratic majority.
VALLANDIGHAM's DEPENDENCE A
rebel letter written from Shelbyville.
| Tenn. on the 9Th ut., says that " Val