The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-01-08

were not blind to the necessity in every well
ordered government, of competent military
establishments for national defence, and to
arm the magistrate with the power OF enforce
ing the laws. Accordingly the Consultation
of the United States authorizes Congress to
"provide for organizing, arming and disciplin.
Ing the militia, preserving to tho States, 70.
spectively, the appointment Of the officers,
and the authority Of training the. militia, &C
cording to the discipline prescribed by Con.
gress." Article two Of the amendments to
the Constitution declares, " that q we'll regu.
lated militia being necessary to the security
Of free State, the right Of the people to keep
and bear arms shall not be infringed." This
declaration contains not only o substantial
guaranty of right Of the people, but an AK
ION Of practical wisdom. the disregard. Of
which has brought heavy penalties on the No.
ton. lFlt. IC .EHaaI VITA
Complying with these constitutional re.
quirements, Immediately on the establishment
Of the government of the United States, Con-
gress and the States made provision for or.
gsrizing, arming, cquipping and training the
militia. For many years lively interest was
felt in this branch Of tho military establish
men.. Commissions in its service were re.
garded as objects Of an honorable ambition,
and its titles, for long time. as evidences OF
consideration and worth. European wars
commencing almost Immediately after the
birth of our nation. and raging so many years,
coupled with threatening complications in
our own affairs first with ono belligerent and
then the other, and finally ending In 1872 in
war with Great Britain, kept alive in the
bosoms Of the people, sense Of the necessity
of we'll regulated militia.
After the pacifcation Of Christendom In
1918, no war upon an extended scale occur.
red for many years. So large q portion OF
mankind returning from the pursuits OF war
to the arts of peaceful life, and continuing
therein so long, 1t seemed as II the world
was about to realize the vision Of tho proph.
ct, and that the plowshare and pruning hook
were destined to supplant the spear and swords
In our own happy country. blessed as was new.
er nation blessed before, conviction seized
the minds of the people that the iron hoof OF
war was never again to press her soil. Com.
paratively secure from foreign attack. by req.
/, son of the remoteness Of our national position
from any power which could menace US with
real danger, as well as in our conscious and
conceded strength, sentiment obtained that
military preparation on our part was unnec-
essary and idle, and that the military duty
exacted of the citizens was burden, attended
by no corresponding public benefit. Az
length military service became so distasteful,
that notifications Of the law requiring 1t com.
menced, and finally the whole system OF &C.
tive militia was abandoned. This is its his.
tory in Maine. ,.... r.
Tho doctrines 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: "Per.
sons Of the denominations Of Quakers and
Shakers, Justices Of the Supreme Judicial
Court, and Ministers Of the Gospel, may DO
exempted from military duty; but no other
person of the age of eighteen, and under the
age of forty.fve years, excepting officers OF
the militia who have been honorably dis
charged, shall be so exempted, unless he
shall pay an equivalent fixed by law" Lam
guage 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 exemptions therein specified
are not mandatory, but simply permissiye, out
of tenderness to conscience, regard for the
public necessities, and the acknowledged In.
cOmDhNUlilty VI snS SaeiaSa PAoASSs'ou Wv"
military pursuits.
During the last summer when the snrges
of hostile invasion were heard like the distant
rote of the ocean, rolling towards the borders
Of the loyal States, your Chief Magistrate was
Intercepted by the Secretary of War as to
the number OF regiments Of militia Maine
could furnish to aid In repelling the impend-
ing attack. 1t is unnecessary for me to say
to you what his reply was,-what II only
could have been. Thus appealed to for help,
the people Of Mssne 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
exigent needs so near ut hand. This too,
gentlemen, when there were at home thou.
sands of stalwart arms and willing hearts ut
| terly unavailable. by reason Of an almost
criminal neglect of an obvious constitutional
duty. Thanks be to God, and the valor of
the army of the Potomac, after weary and
bloody days, the foe at Gettysburg was bafled
and beaten back. The thought OF different
result drives the blood to the heart.
Well had il been for our nation had the
teachings and practice of the founders OF our
government been needed. Had we enjoyed the
blessing of a we'll regulated militia, the loyal
States would not have been so lily prepared TO
meet the rebellious hosts who sought the ma.
tons destruction.
Admonished BY the experience Of the past,
have felt compelled to urge upon you the neces-
sity and duty of making legal provision for
supplying this deficiency and 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. Its
wise sentiment, that the preparation for war Is
the best security against 1t. Situated as Maine
is, frontier State, contiguous to the territories
of n mower with whom the shadows OF collision
have fitted athwart the horizon more than
once since the commencement Of our civil war,
craving out of circumstances keenly wounding
the national sensibilities. but which under the
influence of wise and forbearing councils we
NAV hope have passed away, 1t Is nevertheless
duty we owe TO ourselves and our State to see
to il that this matter OF well'regulated militia
shall be no longer neglected.
EDUCATION.
The subject. Of education is one which In
Maine never falls on an inattentiye ear. The
duty Of making ADEQUATE provision iUr inc ecu
ture by the Constitution. This duty is one
which continually abides. Pressing as are the
calls on the Treasury, the present Is no time 10
indulge in lavish expenditure upon any op)ect'
but education IL one Of the last to be neglected.
A grant Of four half townships OF land was
made by the State last year Tor inc enaowmeht
the eastern and the other in the western part OF
The STATE. Pennington and Castine have been
selected by the commission appointed to make
the location, as points combining more OF
the desired advantages than any other OF the
village. which were competitors therefor-each
enjoying delightful situation, q saluorious cli'
- ...u. ..;hla One bv rail. and tho
o,ber. under arfanpemrnts made, to become so
l.. .,n,rho,, they f,iyiv fulil the conditions Of