The Portland daily press., 1864-01-08

Britain. kept alive in the bosoms of the peo-
pie, sense OF the necessityo of we'll regulated
militia.
After the paci6cation of Christendom In
1915, no war upon an extended scale occurred
for many years. So large portion OF man.
kind returning from the pursuits OF war 10 the
arts OF peaceful lfe and continuing therein so
long, it seemed as if the world was about to
realize the vision of the prophet, and that the
ploughshare and pruning hook were destined
to supplant the spear and sword. In our own
happy country, blessed as was never nation
blessed before, a conviction seized the minds
of the people that the iron hoof of war was
never again to press her soil. Comparatively
secure from foreign attack by reason OF the
remoteness OF our national position from any
power which could menace us with real dan
ger. as well as in our conscious and conceded
strength, a sentiment obtained that military
preparation on our part was unnecessary and
idle, and that the military duty exacted of the
citizen was burden attended by no cores
spending public benefit. At length military
service became so distasteful, that modillca-
tions OF the law requiring it commenced, and
finally the whole system of active militia was
abandoned. This Is its history in Maine.
The doctrine Of the fathers was, that every
able-bodied citizen, during the period OF full,
manly strength, owed military service to his
country Recognizing this principle, article
seven. section five, of the Constitution of
Maine, has the following provision: persons
of the denominations OF Quakers and Shakers,
Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court, and
Ministers of the Gospel, may be exempted
from military duty; but no other person of the
age ofeighteen, and under the age of forty-fve
years, excepting officers of the militia who
have been honorably discharged, shall be SO
exempted, unless he shall pay an equivalent
fixed by law" Language cannot be found
more clearly to assert the universally Of the
obligation of military service upon the citizen
than is contained in this article. The exemp-
tions therein specified are not mandatory, but
simply permissive, out of tenderness to con-
science, regard for the public necessities, and
theacknowledged incompatibilty of the cleri-
cal profession with military pursuits.
During the last summer, when the surges of
hostile invasion were heard like the distant
rote of the ocean, rolling towards the borders
Of the loyal States, your Chief Magistrate was
interrogated by the Secretary of War as to the
number Of regiments of militia Maine could
furnish to aid in repelling the impending at
tack. lis unnecessary for me to say to you
what his reply was,-what it only could have
been. Thus appealed TO for help, the people
OF Maine could only fold their arms, bow their
heads in sorrow, ii not shame, and await the
inevitable shock they had no power to help
their brothers, who had gone out from among
them, in the time of their exgent need so near
at hand. This, too, gentlemen, when there
were at home thousands Of stalwart arms and
willing hearts utterly unavailable, by reason
of an almost criminal neglect OF. an obvious
constitutional duty. Thanks he To God and
the valor OF the army OF the Potomac, after
weary and bloody DAYS, the foe at Gettysburg
was baied and beaten back. The Thoughts OF
different result drives the blood to the heart
Well had it been for our nation had the
teachings aud practices Of the founders of our
government been needed. Had we en-
joyed the blessings of a we'll regulated mill
tia, the loyal States would not have been so
lily prepared to meet the rebellious host who
sought the nations destruction.
Admonished BY the experience Of the past,
have felt compelled to urge upon you the me-
cessity and duty of making legal provision
for supplying this deficiency aud omission In
all States, necessities far short of actual war
may call for the employment of military force
all States are liable to be plunged into war
almost without notice or time for preparation.
1t is wise sentiment, that the preparation
for war is the best security against it. Situa-
te as Maine is, a frontier State, contiguous the
TO territories of a power withw homtheshadow
Of a collision have fitted athwart the horizon
more than once since the commencement of
our civil war, growing out of circumstances
keenly wounding the national seusibilites,
but which under the influence of wise and
iorbearing councils We may hope have passed
away, it is nevertheless duty we owe to our
selves aud our State TO see that this matter of
q well-regulated militia shall be no longer neg
lected.
EDUCATION.
The subject of education is one which in
Maine never falls on an inattentye ear. The
duty Of making adequate provisions for the
education of youth is enjoined upon the
Legislature by the Constitution. This duty
is one which continually abides. Pressing
as are the calls on the Treasury, the present
is no time to indulge in lavish expenditures
upon any object, but education is one of the
last to be neglected.
A grant of four half townships of land was
made by the State the last year for the endow-
ment OF two normal schools, to be established.
one in the eastern and the other in the west
ern part of the State. Pennington and Cas-
tine have been selected by the commission
appointed to make the location, as points COM
bining more OF the desired advantages than
any,other,of thevillages which were competitors
therefor-each enjoying delightful situation,
a salubrious climate, and easily accessible one
by rail, and the other under arrangements made,
to become SO by steamboat, they fairly fulfil
the conditions Of the law. There is no rea-
son why youth seeking the advantages of
these institutions, removed from the hustle
and temptations of larger towns, may not vim
dictate the wisdom of those who so long have |
urged their establishment refer you to the
elaborate report of the Superintendent of
Common Schools for further details in rela-
ton to these as well as for information in re-
card tn the educational interaete nj thu Sta+a