The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1877-11-16

necessary, is authorized by the Consti.
tuition, but that Il Is required, whether
necessary OF not, cannot be maintain.
ed. The clause hearing directly upon
this point Is in these words
Congress shall have power to raise and
support armies. but no appropriation of
money to that use shall he for longer
terra than two years"
II the intention was to provide for a
permanent force. why use the plural
number--why is the word armies in.
stead Of army employed? In refer.
ence to the navy, which was necessa.
rily to be permanent and perpetual
institution, the language is-"To pro-
vide and maintain nary" -rnot ndries.
That armies were to he regarded
and treated as temporary bodies. rails
ed to meet emergencies, and to he dis
banded when no longer needed, is ev-
idenced by the proviso that no appro-
pristion for their support should he
for longer term than two years. And
if the authors Of the Constitution
meant to empower Congress only to
raise armies from time 10 time, ~ the
common defense" demanded. to he
with when the necessity for
them ceased, then they very correctly
worded the provision in writing arm
les instead of army. Those wise old
patriots had an eye to an economical
"A government whose
burthens should be light, and a whole
some dread of anything savoring Of
military despotism, and. no doubt,
they looked forward toa happy day,
when this nation should enjoy the
friendship and good will Of all the
world so fully that there would be no
occasion for a standing military force
in this country. Surely, they had
better hopes Of their countrymen. bet
ter faith in their patriotism and fitness
for selfgovernment, than to anticipate
4 necessity for great armed Nation
al force to be held at all times in read |
iness to keep the peace in the States.
If they had any such uncomplimenta-
ry apprehensions with reference to
their posterity they left no evidence of
it in the Constitution. They had
none; but it remained for the extreme
ly smart men of 1877 to make the
suggestion concerning their |
We are in favor of a regular army |
for the common defense" when nee
essary, and such one in point of
as may be necessary. We
are not in favor of an army of any
strength to be raised and employed
and exclusively for police
purposes. We are in favor of a stand
ing army at this time Of such strength
rs the common defense" requires, but
with no strength added for police pur-
poses. We do not think the present
OF affairs either demands or
justifes an increase Of the army.
We would not be understood as OPP |
posing the use, if necessary and prop
erly called for, OF the regular troops
in the suppression of domestic vio-
lence. But, We object to the raising
and maintaining of an army express
y for police purposes, or the regula-
ton Of its strength with reference to
which somebody may imag.
Inc to be awaiting us in the future.
w tuiuh u DOtu uuCOIstltutlOndt anu
Impolitic to do so-unconstitutional
Tor the reasons herein assigned, and
mpolitic because it involves an I'M
necessary and unjust expenditure of
he peoples money, and. being in the
nature of menace, il has a smell of
tyranny about it, and is, therefore,
calculated to irritate freemen and
llienate them from their government.
We are not the defenders nor the
biologists of violators of law of any
Kind, but their denunciators. We
want faithful! execution of the laws
# the land; we want protection for
he persons and property of all citi.
ems, IRE spective of their condition in
lie; and We want to see the "Star
'pangled Banner" upheld and defend.
d against all corners, now and al
vays; hut we do not want to live un.
Ter despotic, sword-and-gun govern
nent.
THIRTY armed men from Estill