Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-10-20
The Militia.

and exceptions, as Congress,
agreeably to the constitution of the
United States, and the Legislature of |
this State, shall direct. The several |
companies of militia shall, as often as
vacancies happen, elect their captain |
and other officers, and the captains and
subalterns shall nominate and recon-
mend the field officers Of their respective
regiments, who shall appoint their staff
officers"
The meaning Of this article is clear.
1t ia that the inhabitants OF the State,
with certain exceptions, shall be trained
end armed for its defense. 1t does not mean
that none of the inhabitants, or that
some few only, shall be trained and
armed, but that the whole body of citi-
zens, with the usual exemptions on ac-
count of age sex, physical disability,
profession, ETC., shall be enrolled, Off
cered, organized, armed and drilled for
the defense of the State. Nor is it made
optional with the inhabitants of the
State; but it is made their imperative
duty, as the word used, "shaR" imports
Accordingly, under this article of the
constitution, militia system became
established, with the proper enactments
to give it effect, as the Statutes in the
Statute Book sufficiently show And
the system, as carried out, was at one
time very respectable one, presenting
an armed force, much Of it highly uni
formed, and all of it accustomed to the
use of the musket, which, in ease of in
vasion or encroachment upon the rights
or liberties of the State, would have
offered very formidable opposition.
This system has been allowed to go
into disuse, because it became the DEM
ocratic fashion of the times to let go
into disuse, and because it was natural
that triumph Of the moral and intel
lectual over force, in New England,
| should go to extremes. The sanction Of
the constitution and the requirements Of
the laws, however sacred they should
be held by free people, have not proved
strong enough to keep alive a system
which is indispensably necessary to our
safety. For no kind of government
whatever, can long exist withou. some
kind Of military force; and the proper
kind Of such force for a free State; is the
militia. 1t is maxim laid down by
one OF the ablest writers on the science
Of government that-"7he militia and
Sovereignty are inseparable," and that-"It
must be made sacred maxim, that the
militia obey the executive power, which
represents the whole people, in the exc
cution of the laws" Where there is no
militia, therefore, in free State, there
can be no reei sovereignty 1t is evil
deat mat the executive cannot be obeyed
by the militia where there is liz inllula.
| Whether we CLEAN the meaning Of the
word militia from our constitution and
laws, or whether we take it from Web
ster's Dictionary which was first pub
lished when the militia was in full prac-
teal force among u.s. earned and equipt
as the law directs" in either case we
have no militia in Vermont. The defini-
ton of militia given by Webster, as we
remember is, 1.-THE able-bodied men OF
the State formed into companies, regi-
ments and brigades, with officers of all
grades, and exercised several times a
year, being allowed the rest of the time
| to pursue their usual avocations.n Ac-
cording to this, the simple enrolling OF
, men, or their organization into COM
NAMES. regiments and brigades, or their
being armed, does not make them "shs
militia" but they must be drilled OF
trained several times year
It might appear expedient to some
that we should have no militia; but the
question ought to have thorough dis
cussion, and if there is to be none, then
| the article Of the constitution referred to
should be formally abrogated and the
laws enacted under it be repealed; fol
| tuC uCE,iCSb vi tuCoC pioVlSloho Ndh Jill J
have the effect to impair the vigor and
and obligation of all the laws. Others
again object on the grounds of expense
but if we have become too poor to in
sure wholesome execution of the laws
then the sovereignty of the state has al
ready become partially paralyzed ant
impaired; the rebellion has already in
jured our civil vitality and lessened oul
capacity for self government,
1t is indeed true that we no longel
possess that republican vigor which W.
once had; 4br the state could hardly nov
require the militiaman to arm ant
equip himself at his own expense as i
did formerly; it would have to furnish
arms and equipments itself. 1t Seems
desirable, however, to preserve as mucl
of the spirit and frame work of the oil
system as possible, adding only sucl
new enactments as our present condi
ton may render necessary. The ground