Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1864-08-11

the better. AMI that his best security will
be found in the kind forgetfnlness of the
people.
THE MILITARY BILL.
/ como now to the consideration of the
conduct OF the majority OF the State LeglS-
lature. in behalf of whom Mr.. Mcdonald
has male such an elaborate defense. The
great feature in its history. compared with
which the others are trifles. which fllel the
State with alarm aud Indignation. and
threatened us with civil war AMI revolution,
was what is known as the Military Bill.
AMI which he gently endorses. and mildly
describes and attempts to dispose of in tho
following brief and gingerly passages:
"rhe first objection which these men
made to the Military Bill. which they were
so much opposed to. was that it was un-
constitutional. IL it was. then it could
certainly do no harm. All they would
have had to do in order to avoid it would
have been to go to the courts of Justice and
have them decide against it.
IL am not now discussing the merits OF
that Military Bill. nor inquiring whether
its provisions were right or wrong; but, as
I understand it. its main provisions
amounted simply to this: The taking of
the power of organizing and arming the
militia out of tio hanls of the Govern Or.
and placing it in the hands Of the people" I"
The dainty anil ha.ty manner in which
he touches the monster reveals his horror
of it. and he runs from it with all speed,
hoping to draw his hearers after him
But will strip the scanty covering which
he has cast over its putrescent corpse. and
show you what he endeavored to conceal.
Tho conception OF this bill was conspi-
racy. its Introduction an insurrection. anil
its tsconsummation would have been revoiu
ton AMI civil war in CIR midst. II utter.
iy subvcrtel the Constitution Of the State
established provisional military govern
ment. and was intended to enact the part
which similar usurpa'ions hal done in the
rcbelions States. Thank God! the infa-
mcus scheme was defeated, its calamities
avertel; aad the loyal people of the State
will honor the noble men who stool be-
tween them anu tn, horrors OF revolution
an | civil war.
The Constitution expressly declares That
the Governor shall be commander in chief
of the militia o. the State, hut this bill de-
nied him all power to call ont or COM
mand the militia. unler ATTY circumstan-
cos whatever. 1t expressly placed the Gus
tody. Issue and control of all the State
arms in the hanis Of the fonr State Off GERS.
viz: Athon. Ristino, IIord AMI Brett, over
whose action and tn, disposition OF the
arms the Governor was deprived of all
control. The power To- commanl the mi
l'lia without the power to put into their
their hanls single muslSet or cartridge,
would be farce. and this provision com
plctelv nulliiel the VII )ls military plan Of
the Constitution.
Again tho Constitution expressly de-
clares that all officers in tho militia shall
he commissioned by the Governor. But
this provision was boldly violated bv pro-
viding that in ease the Governor refused
appointe | by the four State officers or their
snbordinatcs. then certificates of appoint
ment issued by the four State officers
shorll stanl instead of commissions. and
confer full military power anil authority.
Again. i: dissolved all existing military
organizations in the State. and compelled
the surrender Of their arms into the hands
Of the four State officers.
Again. it conferred upon the four State
officers the power to appoint all general
officers. except the Adjutant General. but
deprived him of all power, and devolved
the duties of his Office upon others. to be
appointed as before mentioned.
Many other features Of the bill might be
described, but these arc suffi ficient to give
you general insight into its character.
aud to show that it was intended to erect
new military government in tho State
upon the ruins of the Constitution, which
woul6 snbvert al legitimate authority
But all these cnormties were sweetly toned
down by my competitor into the mildly
drawn phrase that the provisions Of the
bill amounted simply to this: the taking
of the power of organizing and arming
the militia out OF the hanls Of the Govern
or aud placing it in the hands of tho peo-
ple.' The people here described are the
four State officers the four new executive
heads. of Legislative manufacture. | am
sure my competitor in his cooler moments
will smile at the simplicity and scanty
outlines of the garment with which he has
offered to cover the features of this revolu-
tionarv monster.
One other matter in his defence Of it /
must notice. He saws the bill was oppo-
sell because it was alledSei to be uncon-ti-
tu,ional; that if it was it would do no
harm. as an appeal could be taken to the
Courts anil they would decide against it.
from whichi, would appear that violations
of the Constitution by the Legislature are
Of little moment. and that it is only those
of tho Executive of which he stands in
dread. But | am constrained to ask him
whether he is serons in urging that pro-
lection from bold military revolution
could be founl in the judiciary, and what
assurance he is able to give that the men
who had overturned the Constitution
would pause before the decision Of the
Court?
After the Introduction Of the Ell assur-
ances were given by leading members OF
the majority in both Houses that there was
no occasion for alarm or excitement, as
the bill would not be passed. and had al
ready been killed in the party Caucus
Qnieted by these assurances it excited but
little alarm among Union members uutii