Newspaper Page Text
BY ALBON CHASE.
ATHENS, GEORGIA. FRIDAY; AUGUST 7, 1840,
VOL.- IX-NO. 21:
Letter from Mr. Poinsett.
Washington, June 5(1), 1S40.
Dear Sir :—I have (lie honor (o acknowl
edge the receipt of your le((er, of (he 29lli ulti
mo, stating your belief tli.it the cause of de
mocracy in Virginia had been seriously preju
diced liy tliccxlrnordinal'y use which has been
made of my late report concerning the militia,
bringing to my view the substance of the otyec- ^
lions made to my plan, and asking me to ex-| t |, c re q Iles t 0 f a Committee of ihe House of
Southern States, nnd that the horrors of a ser
vile insurrection might l>c added to the ordina
ry calamities of war, it became the duty of the
Executive to seek to organize and render eflh
cientthe only means of defence at hand.
The President concurred with me in opin
ion with regard to the importance ol re-organ
izing the militia nt this time j but had no agen
cy in preparing the plan reported to Congress
and no previous knowledge of its details. It
was prepared, ns has. already been stated, at
plain the true character of the proposition so ns
to enable tho Central Democratic Committee
nf Virginia, to set this matter in its true light
Iteforc the public.
I avail myself, with great pleasure, of the
opportunity thus afforded me of stating, thro’
you, to my fellow-citizens of Virginia, and to
the people of Ihe United States, the motives
Which induced me to present a plan for the re
organization ot the militia nt this particular
juncture, of explaining the principles on which
it is founded,and of correcting as Well lliccrrors
of some who have opposed it fairly, as the mis
representations of others who have sought on
ly to deceive and mislead the people.
It must be fresh in your recollection, that
Congre-s, very shortly before the close of the
last session, by a vote unanimous in one house,
and very nearly so in the other, expressed an
opinion that the country was exposed to the
hazard of being involved in war; and reposing
a trust and confidence m the patriotism and
wisdom of the President, unparalleled in the
history of our Republic, adjourned after invest
ing him with full powers to avert or to meet the
danger. Immediately after the passage of that
act, which defined the description of force to
which the defence of the country was to Le in
trusted in the event of war, the Committee on
the Militia of the House of Representatives re
quired uie through their Chairman, to prepare
uplaii for the lietler organization of the militia
ol ihe l nited States: and no sooner line! Con
gress adjourned than the President, sensib'c of
tin- responsibilities imposed upon bint by this
act,and anxious alike to justify the confidence of
Congrew and to discharge Ins duty to theua-
tion, called upon the War and Navy depart
ments to furnish him with statements showing
the condition of the defences ol the country.
'I'lie subject was carefully examined, the slate
of our fortifications and military preparations,
and of our regular and militia forces accurate
ly ascertained and attentively considered.—
•j ins examination proved, that the maxim be
queathed to us by the father of his country, I
••ix n:\cK pi:i:i*.\in: for win," had been ut
terly neglected. The avenues to our great com
mercial''capitals and to our most important na
val depots were unprotected, and there existed
no m sms ol manning the forts that were m a
condition to receive their armament. A few
regiments of the army were concentrated in
Florida, from whence they could not bo with
drawn without rlsKing.ilie safety oftliat Tcrri-
tory, and the remainder were dispersed along
the extensive lines of the Northern and West
rrn frontiers. If, therefore, the war which ap
peared to he apprehended by Congress, should
have occurred, the defence ol the.country must
have rested chielly upon the militia of the Uni
ted States. From these circumstances, no less
than from the tenor of the act by which the
only additional force provided for the occasion
and placed hv Congress at the disposal ot the
Executive was of this description, its con
dition became then an object of earnest so
licitude, and the result of my inquiries was
most unsatisfactory. In some of the States
the citizens, liable to militia duty, turn the sub
ject into ridienle, and instead of being armed
and e pupped according to law, appear in mas
querade; in others, when mustered, a majority
of them are armed with walking canes, fowling
pieces, or unserviceable muskets—while in all,
the training produces little else than the ab
straction of million* annually* lrotn tl)C produc
tive industry of the country. In some of the
States, training the militia lias been abandoned
in despair, and the law of Congress on the sub
ject become a dead letter. There were found
in the chief towns companies handsomely uni
formed and well drilled; but their number is
insufficient to man the works or guard the ap
proaches to their respective cities. With this
force only to depend upon, the danger to which
the country would he exposed on the occur
rence of the contingency contemplated by Con
gress, could not be disguised. I shuddered,
when 1 contemplated the scene of contusion
that would attend the appearance of a hostile
fleet before any of our principal seaports.—
The forts manned suddenly with troops unac
customed to the use of great guns, contrasting
their slow and uncertain lire through which
the enemy would pass unharmed until they
moored their floating batteries opposite the city*,
with tlie rapid lire and unerring aim ol the
practised gunner by which an enemy would
probably be destroyed, or so crippled as to Ik?
compelled to abandon thr attack: or, suppos
ing a force to land on our shores, 1 foresaw the
useless slaughter of our best and bravest citi-
Z!iis, who, for want of instiuetion, would, in
all human probability, he oiitnininrHvred and
defeated, and the calamitous scene ot the last
war ill the capture of Washington l>o acted
ever again. The result of this action, in which
raw militia were brought suddenly together
and opposed to regular forces in the open field,
compared with that of Now Orleans, where the
same description oftroops were assembled sonic
days Ih:lore, and stationed behind ramparts,
teaches an impressive lesson. On the one hand,
we. see a gallant but untrained army of militia
wavering before the steady manoeuvres of re-
(jiilar troops, breaking their line, and. panic
struck, living from the field, leaving the ene
my in possession ofllie city, to burn and destroy
it: while on the other, n hand composed of a
few regulars and militia, who had the benefit
of being brought together a short time in ad
vance, and posted advantageously behind lias-
tily-constructe.t lines, achieved one of the most
brilliant and glorious victories recorded in his
tory, saved the city which was the object of the
enterprize, nnd drove the enemy with disgrace
from our soil.
Called by the voice of Congress to prepare
u defend the country, taught by the events of
the last war what might he expected from an
cuierprizing and great naval power, and warn
ed by the English press of the possibility, in
case of war with that country- of black regi
ments being landed within the territory* ot the
Representatives expressed at the close of Inst
session, and reported to this Congress upon a
call of the House, made directly upon the Se
cretary of Warj and, os is usual in nil such
cases, sent to that body without being previous
ly submitted to the President. With it or its
details lie, therefore, had nothing to do. In
preparing it, my attention was first directed to
the several plans which had been recommen
ded to the consideration of Congress by Mr.
Van Hnren’s predecessors, as well as those pro
posed by Committees of Congress, nnd expe
rienced officers of the line and of the militia.
In order that you may fully comprehend the
subject, and justly appreciate the principles on
which the plan under consideration is based, I
will briefly recapitulate the leading points in
the systems recommended.
[Hero follows a detailed aeeount of Executive roc
whole territory of the U. S. into military dis
tricts; an arrangement, which will be acknow
ledged by every* person acquainted with the
subject, to tic extremely* useful to the service
in time of peace, and absolutely necessary in
war.
It proposes a succession in the militia com
panies selected for training, so that one-fourth
part might every year impart to the body ofthc
people a portion of the discipline and skill ac
quired during the period or service, and
is the basis ctfnur Constitution, the orenniza-
hon of the establishment should he sUrJt as to
extehtL without exception, to every individual
of a proper age.
That, to secure this, the contemplated
military instruction should he gi/ell in
distant schools, established for that purpose,
hut that it should form a branch of education
in every school in the United States.
“That a corps of military instructors should
be formed to attend 1o the gymnastic and elc-
onc-fotirth be received for training fresh from \ mentnty part of education in every school in
the people : thus keeping up m the trained
hands the popular principle. It contemplates
the previous legislation of the States, before its
provisions are to he carried into effect, except
in cases where citizens might volunteer their
services.
In proposing to subject the. militia when
called out by the President, to the rules and ar
ticles of war, 1 have done no more than leave
the law as it now stands. Such a provision
lias been found necessary toensnre proper sub
ordination in the field, by all officers who have
commanded militia, and by none of them was
this necessity felt and more frequent acknowl-
ed than by General Washington and General
Jackson.
I have endeavored to answer your enquiries
in the spirit of frankness in which they arc
made, and believe that it will he apparent, from
oniiiun.kiiioiis oil this subject, showing that bom the ; this brief recapitulation ofllie repeated and ur-
(l.iys of \Y usliinglon down to the present time, similar
views have been entertained by almost every President
and Secretary of War. In ibis part ol the letter also,
is an outline of the plan formerly proposed by (Jen,
Harrison, the substance of which will bo seen in an-
oihcr article, comparing the merits of his with Mr.
Poinsett's system, and which we therefore omit in this
place.]
Mv plan exempts the very young men from
militia duty, and, in this rcspec!, coincides with
that proposed by General 8eott, and recom
mended by Mr. Harbour—not only because I
agree Willi them, that such a. diaiiilmiiuu uf
service is an improper and unnecessary inter-, ^
gent recommendations made to Congress by
-Mr. Van Burcn’s predecessors, and of the plans
for the more perfect organization of the militia,
proposed by former Secretaries of War, by
Committees of Congress, nnd by experienced
officers of the army and militia of the United
States, that the proposition under consideration,
so fur from being new in principle, corresponds
in its most essential provisions, with tlio.<c re
commended by Washington, Jellersnn, Madi
son, .Monroe and Jackson, and is certainly not
less liberal anu democratic. Those illustrious
nil'll rind onlightunal patriotn oxpfovcly ctoto,
that Ihey regard the more perfect organization
given number ol
millil'll'M 011 trainin? ’ amOUUted l ° hhlf a !°. f ambitious military men,and the finalext.nc-
tlon ofthc last hope of freedom for the world,
wouJd follow this terrible system of Grecian*
the United States, whilst tile most scientific
part of the aft of war shall be communicated
by prriessors of tactics, to be established in all
the higher seminaries.”
Mr. Poinsett’s plan proposes nothing of this
sort. I
Gen. Harrison's plan proposed,
2. To classify the militia -and he made the
whole mass of the militia, ns it at present ex
ists in the States, continue burdened with tho
charge ot furnishing tlieif Own arms, as under
the first militia law, which remains in force ;
and also burdened with the repeated master
ings under the old law. He says, expressly*,
that his system “ wilt not affect the constitu
tion of the corps as it note exists, for the ordi
nary duties of muster discipline.’*—Harri
son's Hep. Jan. 1*1, 1817.
His second class was composed of one hun
dred thousand men. This he called his junior
or middle class, and is thus described in his
own words:
The junior or middle cla§s will he com
posed of men icho have small families, or
those who have none, who arc in the full en
joyment of bodily strength and activity, and
whose tninds will he more easily excited to
military ardor and the love of glory, than
those of a more advanced period of life.' 1 —
Report, Jan. 19, 1817
million only!!
But there is another point of comparison !
which distinguishes the political origin of the j military latv.
lW frfe.wi ii*i c i i Let the people put an end to the possibility
tal: plan laid it down as fundamen- , 0 f such « scheme by rejecting Ucueftt\‘ Harrl■
uTliitth.. t> . t ii - ,, i son at the pending Presidential election. If
address his ord/r^Sn T*’ “‘ey pause, and reflect for a moment, they tim,.
address his orders immediately to some ojicer j no t fail to come to this result. The present
»f Ihe inihna, and no, ,l,e of any | Chief Magiairaie i s „ Lc
oifiCj Whose principles are republican, and who
1 guided our a Hairs, at home and abroad,
State. The Governor of a Stale is tint a mi’ v
litia officer, bound to execute the orders of the 1 | ia s
President; he cannot he tried ldf disobedience
of orders, and punished by the sentence df it
court martial.”
This certainly smacks of the school which
first pinned the black Cockade on lInrrison'S
hati The whole of it, indeed, from the tuition
in the schools—the paying the officers uuder
training to the exclusion of the men—to that
feature which enables the President to com
with a skill and firmness lltlSlupassed by any of
Ills predecessors.
inand, through mi nflirer whom fir 11V iv nun ! l " ues i ,lsc ,lle Ycnlicr and linnnic
• i niiicer tviinm.iir.ai.iy ami.;» me people win iciueiildci
loll f rtf.-- >-. I.... 1 . m.. 1 .«• f f ■ a aa a.. I.l I .a: ft a.a.k 1. • *
Will you exchange such ft man for a milita
ry PresiJem. who i* anxious to convert this
great Republic into one wide theatre of mili
tary trainings and discipline, to prepare all the
youth ofthc - ountry for the pomp and prigeari-
tfv Of war. its vices, its honors, and renown;
land to despise the gcnlldr and happier arts of
ish for disobedience by* “court martial,” bears
the impress of the standing army in which
Harrison held his commission in the days of
the Alien and .Sedition laws.
| ncetion with all this, that Gen. Harrison was
in favor ofthc standing army Of John Adams.
It is also an important fact that General Har-
ference with parents and guardians, and has!"' t *"' militia, by. train mg
; , , j! them with superior care, as atlordmg the only
means of avoiding the necessity of keeping on
\f ,i,,t 11 large Standing Army.
5 They* all inculcate the propriety of relieving
the great mass of the militia from the onerous j niunicating the President’s orde
burthen of frequent mustering, and recoin- pressly interdicted.
mend the classification of it so as to coniine The classification of Mr. Poinsett - ( , .
the duty* of training to defend the country, to a plated three classes, all subject to be called out , schools for that Sl.ite, made in 1837. New "**|h the approval ot General Washington, re-
I select body of men, varying only ns to the j in emergency through the Executive of the j York is estimated to contain about oue-sixth j quired all that Mr. Poinsett proposed ; nnd
ffie'militiV mustered for j ,,,uu ^ jcr i from three to four hundred thousand i State—one hundred thousand men only to
men. ! undergo training probably ten days in a year,
I do not pretend to say, that the system 1 ; for four years—then to remain as a reserve
have presented to Congress is the best that can for four years longer—and then to be exempt,
he devised ; hut I hope my friends arc now I The effect of this system would be to relieve
convinced that it is not without precedent in i seven-eighths ofllie militia of the United States,
our annals, “tyrannical and oppressive in its thus exonerating at least a million and a half
an immoral tendency, hut from the haidship it
imposes, and the difficulty it creates of bring
ing together even a small body of men in sparse
ly settled districts. It includes all free white j
men, from the age of from 20 to 37, separating j
from the mass ofllie militia200,000 men—one j
half of the number to be liable to be called out |
for training, and the other half to he liable to
military duty as a reserve, if their services
I should Le needed
training, to he assembled in the neighborhood
of depots of arms to he established for the pur
pose, each battalion within its own State, and
as nearly as practicable in the centre ofits dis
trict. It recommends llie battalion formation,
as confessedly that best adapted for instruction.
It contemplates arming the militia thus select
ed, with arms, to be furnished and kept con
stantly in good order, by the government—
leaving in force me jsi section or mu iu»
1792, both because no preceding plan proposed
its repeal, and because the act winch provides
for the distribution of arms among the several
Suites in proportion to the number of their mi
litia, enables them to relieve their citizens in a
very great degree, from the burden of lurnish-
iug their own arms and equipments. That
section of the old law is in these words: “That
every citizen so enrolled and notified, shall,
within six months thereafter, provide himself
with a good musket or firelock, a sufficient
bayonet and belt, two spate Hints, and a knap
sack, a pouch with a box therein, to contain
not less than 24 cartridges suited totheborcof
bis musket or firelock, each cartridge to con
tain « proper quantity of powder and ball; or
with a good rifle, knapsack, shot pouch and
powder horn, 20 balls suited to the bore of bis
ride, aquarterofn pound of powder; and shall
appear so armed, accoutred and provided, when
called out to exercise or into service—except,
that when called out on company days to ex
ercise only, he may appear without a knap
sack. That the commissioned officers shall,
severally, be armed with a sword or hanger,
and espontoou ; and that from and after five
years from the passing of this act, all muskets
for arming the militia, as herein required, shall
be of bores sufficient for balls of the eighteenth
part of a pound. And every citizen so enrolled
•and providing himself with arm?, ammunition
and accoutrements required as aforesaid, shall
hold the same exempt from all suits, distress
es, executions, or sales for debt or for the pay
ment of taxes.” This section of the act was
approved by Gen. Washington in 1792; by
Mr. Jefferson, upon a revision of this law in
1SD3, and has continued in force to this day.
The Constitution guarantees equally to the
people ofllie United States the right of trial
by jury and the right to keep and bear arms ;
and lest the people should neglect to exercise
these inestimable privileges, on which their li
berties an individuals and as a nation, in a
great measure depend, the law has from the
commencement of the government provided
that they shall do their duty to themselves,nnd
to their country in these essential paticulars.
The General Government aids the States to
arm their citizens; but its constant policy has
been, that every freeman in America should
be tinned and equipped in order that he may nt
till times he prepared to defend his country and
his liberty.
My plan proposes to train the officers and
men together; whereas, my predecessors ap
pear to be of opinion that it is sufficient to have
camps of instruction for officers. I have con
sidered this question anxiously, nnd am con
vinced th.it the men who are to stand shoulder
to shouldci in the hour of battle, should he
trained together in time of peace; and equally
satisfied that those who are to defend the forts
and light the great guns, must be assembled in
the casemates and on the ramparts, and taught
to load those guns quickly and fire them ac
curately.
TUc Committee of the House of Representa
tives of the 14th Congress, of which General
Harrison w.is Chairman, appear (o have been
of the s.ime opinion ; but we differ in the man
ner of remunerating the services ofthc militia
—that committee proposing to pay the officers
alone, while my plan contemplates paying pri
vates as well as officers; it having appeared to
me, that the latter were equally entitled to be
remunerated for their services, as those tvho
commanded them.
My plan recommends the division of the
,, ,, , Muton laws. . j l ison, in his late letter to the Louisville Legion,
? lr * Roinsett’s plan enables the Chief Mngts- d( . clnres tli;l( | lis rtli |j| MV xi ett*s,fes to tlte.thiii-
to command, through tj lc , tia, «fcc., have undergone no change. If tiiifi'
( bief Magistrate of a State; and in tins he , lc so> aild , 1P sho „ ld | ie nmde President, he
discriminates the Administration which won d , probllbly aUcm p t to carry into effect
maintain State Rights from that winch would ! v „ st sc |, c ; 1ie of converting onr Govern-
renew the Federal era. It must not be forgot- mcMt into a ?rea , ni j|i, ary R epil |.|i«? ] s j t not
ten that Harrison, on the 3d ol Lebruary last, j sa f e to p u ,j so q, contemplation of such a migh-
in a letter to the Louisville Legion, which we j t y revolution, which would certainly put ut-
fepubhshed yesterday, referred trt Ills scheme, | haZard , lK . liberties of Hie people!! V
which wc have here analysed, as one he would j . _ _
now urge on the nation, j thc otolc.
The Militia Report once More;
Our readers will recollect how much Mr
PkusTOn complained of Mr. Poinsett ft? f)rd‘
The expense off Use grand project off Gen
eral Harrison for a military llepublie,
exhibited.
It will be kept in mind that Harrison's prop- j P°sing : amongst other tilings, that the miiitiit
Here wc have a body of one hundred thou- jositions are in the following words: j should lx? required to arm themselves, except
< That a corps of military instructors should ] the “ active class,” who were to be drtned at
lx? fnrmeil in atinml in tim pr,’innnuie aiwi uip. ■ iht; expense ot the General GovoruiiiMji —.
mentary part of education in every school in ! '*>11 they ilot la? astonished to learn tliat'Gfftit*
the United States, while the more scientific ; era! Harrison reported .1 bill in January, 1817,
part of the art of war shall be communicated | irhich required every man, subject to fiiilitW
by professors of tactics, to be established ill all duty, without the exception of any class, to do
the higher seminaries.’
sand young' men exclusively, “excited to mili
tury itiUor ui><1 1 ovo of cjlffrv,*' tn »ml:o up
leaven for the great batch of the ordinary mi
litia, all of which, as will be seen presently,
Harrison designated should be under the com
mand of the President of the United States:
the right of tho Executive of the Stales to in
terfere with, or to be even the medium of com
the same tiling t In the debate which recent-*
The calculation is founded upon thc ratio as ' ly took place in the Senate, Mr. Clay of Alalm-:
ers, being ex-j to the number of schools and children, adopt-' *»» showed, conclusively* and (lil.illstVefttW^ 1
jedfrom the report of General l)ix, of New that the existing law of May 8, 1792, wind*
iusett contem- j York, thc talented superintendent of common ! emanated from the report ot General KnoXf
schools for tli.it Slate, made in 1837. New " >*•> the approval of General Washington, re-
York is estimated to contain about oue-sixth |quired all that .Mr. Poinsett proposed; nnd
part of thc population of the United States. i Hurt the latter only incorporated hi his plan so
The number ot'hoys who might he annual-1 much of that law as required-the mass of thc
ly under the control of officers appointed by ' militia, and the “ reserve corps,” (not the “ac-
bc safely assumed ut 1 tive class”) to arm themselves. Ret
details and without a parallel in thc history of
free Governments ;” but, on the contrary, that
in seeking to lessen the burthens of the people
and at the snine time to render the. militia more
efficient, 1 have clone iio'mdrc'tlian "imitated
thc example of the hcsl and greatest men who
have ruled the destinies of this country. Ifl
have erred, so did they. If 1 thought it expe
dient, when the country was threatened with
war to prepare to meet it, they urged their fel
low-citizens to do so in time of peace. It I
considered thc present militia system defective
and likely to lead to defeat and disgrace at the
commencement of hostilities, and rendering
the creation of a large Standing Army neces
sary during their continuance, and therefore
recommended that a select body of citizens
should be better trained, armed and equipped
than the rest, in order that they might be pre
pared at all times to repel invasion or repress
insurrection ; so did Washington, Jefferson,
Madison, Monroe and Jackson ; and 1 am well
satisfied, that in endeavoring to carryout their
views and following their example, I have been
guided by tbc beacon light of Liberty.
I have now presented to you rny motives for
submitting this proposition at this particular
juncture, and as briefly as practicable, n sketch
ot thc several plans which have been sub
mitted to Congress since the foundation of our
government; and after reviewing the whole
subject as you request, aided by the lights de
rived from tbc objections of its opponents, I am
satisfied (hat the organization proposed, so far
fiom being tyrannical and oppressive in its de
tails, would prove less oyeroiis than that now
in existence. It is true, thc objections of its
opponents have not afforded me much aid in
considering the subject, for they Apply almost
exclusively, as before remarked, to the exist
ing system. They impute to me all that may
appear defective in thc present organization
under thc militia law of 1792, and in order
that this glaring attempt to deceive the people
may he fully understood, 1 respectfully sug
gest that the act itself may be published.
That a man who like Mr. Van Bttren, hns
throughout his whole political career, placed
bis sole relirmco upon tho virtue, intelligence
and independence of the people, should seek
to enrol a select body of militia undei (he pre
text of defending the country, when threaten
ed with war, in order to organize a body of
voters to favor his re-election, is too improba
ble to require refutation: and I may be per
mitted to say for myself, that every act of a
long life spent in tbc public service, and devo
ted to the cause oi freedom, forbids the conclu
sion that I would insult my fellow-citizens by
supposing them capable erf being made the
the tools of any man, however exalted in sta
tion or character.
I have thc honor to be,
Dear sir, very sincerely,
Yottr obedient servant,
J. R. POINSETT.
Thomas Ritchie, Esq., Secretary to thc
Central Democratic Committee of Virginia,
Richmond, Va.
!v.
Conijiariiioa off ISarrisou’s xvitli !Wr.
Poiusett's 7Iiliitiffi Organization.
GENERA!. ItARRISOJj’s PLAN PROPOSED,
1. The educating of every boy in the U. S.
at the public expense. These are his words,
in his report of the 19th January, IS17, on this
head:
“As the important advantage of thc military
part of the education will accrue to the com
munity, and not to the individuals who acquire
it, it is proper thni thc whole expense of the
establishment should be borne by the public
treasury.
“That to comport with thc equality which
of men, from the present onerous and useless
masterings; and to make ten day's’ effective
training substitute it with the rest. Mr. Poin
sett nn**- . ‘V**.maximum ofthc number to be
m active training, one mitiuiuu uiuumhu, .mu
these to be called out in small bodies, near thc
depots of arms, at convenient seasons for their
business; and to be paid for the five days, ten
days, or greater length of time, if circumstan
ces required it, (not exceeding thirty days dur
ing the whole year, and in ordinary times, pro
bably uot exceeding thc first five days,) out of
the public Treasury.
Compare the burdens of thc two systems.
Harrison's plan would have burdened thc
nation with the charge of teaching “every in
dividual of the proper age, the gymnastic and
elementary part of education'’ iii one class of
schools, and “the more scientific part of war,”
in “a corps of military institutions,” “the
whole expense of the establishment to be borne,
by the public Treasury.” Wliat thc cost of
this universal military education would amount
to, it is impossible for us to say. YVc think
that the pay of a private would hardly defray
the tuition bill of each military scholar. Upon
thc supposition that it would take this sum,
the effect would be to saddle the Government
with the expense of maintaining all the male
minors in the country, as a standing army.—
The outlay would scarcely lie less. Mr. Poin
sett’s scheme is at least free from this prodigal
waste.
llarrisotrs plan in keeping tip the militia,
“as it now exists, for the ordinary duties oi
muster discipline,” would burden all subject
to that duty, throughout the Union, to the ex
pense of arms and accoutrements, militia fines,
loss of time, «fcc. All this is done away with
in Mr. Poinsett's proposition. By mustering
the portions of militia near arsenals placed in
convenient situations, Mr. Poinsett would
have the active class of the militia perfectly
armed on parade, without expense to litem.
Harrison’s militia establishment (in addition
to thc old system, which lie would still keep
up) consists of the Junior or Middle Class, of
100,000 young men, to be trained for one
month. For thc pay of these, lie makes no
provision. But lie submitted, with his report,
(we use hi» own words,) *• estimates of the
expenses of training the officers and ser
geants of the militia of thc United folates.
These estimates are made on a supposed
number of one hundred thousand men, di
vided equally, a* nearly as may be, into Urea-
tij-five brigades."
lie gives then thc details—for which wc
have not room—upon thc supposition that
Congress would allow “full pay;” and lie
thus stuns np thc aggregate;
“ Estimating the "whole United States mili
tia nt a million, then the total expense of train
ing the officers of tl»e militia would be some
hundred thousand dollars less than two mil
lions.”
The militia is now nearly double the num
ber for which Harrison estimated. The esti
mate to pay* for training thc officers would,
therefore, now be nearly four millions !
He, however, submitted another estimate
upon the supposition that Congress would not
allow so much, Ott a basts which he tl>«o
“The following estimate is made on thc
the United States, may
1,590,000.
The number of schools to he established so
as to include all the youth, taking the data of
9,718 now in New York, as thc oue-sixth part
for the whole Union, would he not less than
50,000.
If we suppose each instructor to be nppoin-
tcu uy nits utmeu ouuta uuutu uv |uullu nt
charge of two schools, the number of instruct
ed would then be 25.000.
Able instructed, qualified for the business,
could not be had lor less than §500 cadi, per
annum, which would require n sum equal to
§12,500,000.
Contingent oxpenses for each school,
annually, such as arms, books, &.e.
would lie at least §100, equal to 5,000,000
Total amount of (lie expense to Lc
paid out of the Treasury of the
United States, by taxes upon the
people, lor primary military
schools, annually, would be 17,500.000
The number of higher seminaries
would be. at least, 1,000. For
each of these there would have to
be, at least, one professor of mili
tary tactics, making 1,000 profes
sors. The salary of professors,
well qualified, would have to bo,
for the. high seminaries, at least
$1,000, annually, making the to
tal sum for that branch 1,000,000
The contingent expenses for the
higher seminaries, annually,
would be, probably, not less lhatt
§200 for each, making 200,000
id the foL
lowing section of General Harrison’s bill oC
1817:
“A bill :br orpanizing, classing, litttf arming thcmilK
tia, and fur calling ilicm forth to execute the lalvs'
of the Union, suppress iusunwtkm, anti repel' inva
sion, anti repeal the laws heretofore passed for those'
purposes.
_ lie it enacted by Ihr Senate and House of Represent!!?
scudded, That each and every free ablo hodied white’
male citizen of the respective Stales and Territories,
residsrnt therein, who is or shall tie of the age of eigh
teen years, and under the age of forty-five' years, (ex
cept as hereinafter excepted,) shall severally and res
pectively l>e enrolled in the inililia by ihe captain pr,
commanding officer of tho company, tvftlu'n whoso*
hounds such citizen shall reside, anti that w ithin twelve?*
months after the* passing of this art; and it shall, at all 1 '
imes hereafter, he thc duty of every such captain Ojf,
commanding officer of a company, to enrol evor/i
such citizen as' aforesaid, and also those who shall/
from time to time, arrive at the age of eighteen years.*
or bring of the age of eighteen years, and under the
age of forty-live years, (except as before excepted,J
shall conic to reside within iiis bounds, nnd shall,
without delay, notify surh citizen of thc said enrol-'
inent, by a proper non-commissioned officer of thtf
company, by tvlmhi such notice may be proved: That
every citizen so enrolled and notified, shall, within six'
months thereafter, provide himself w fih a good inus.
ket, a sufficient bayonet and belt, two spare Hints,'
and a knapsack, a pouch with a box therein, to contain
not less than twenty-four cartridges suited to the boro
Ofhis musket, each cartridge to contain a propr.'
quantity of powder and ball: or, with'a good rifle,'
knapsack, shotpouch and powder-horn, twenty balls'
suited tu thc bore ofhis rifle, and a quart ?r of a pound
of powder ; and shall appear.so armed, accoutred, and
provided, when called out to exercise, oi into service,
except that when called out on e*>Aip:rtV? days ft) ST-'
crcise only, lie may appear without a knapsack : That
the commissioned -officers, non-commissioned officers^
musicians, and privates, shall he armed, equipped,
nnd uniformed, like thc army fd ffib' Fnlctl ; anil
every citizen so enrolhrsV, rfnff providing himself *;ith
the arms, ammunition, and accoutrements, required asi
aforesaid, nhall hold the same exempted from all suits/
distress, execution*/ or salos fot debt, or for the pay
ment of taxes.”
What will the WirioYify rtf the Committee oft
the Militia of (lie House rtf Representatives say
to this? In tlieif repoH,- thOsefour Whig gen
tlemen set forth the cla'ftSft rtf Mr. Pftrnsett’s
projet, which required the militia to provide;
themselves with arms,-and went into ft formal
estimate and calculntioti of the expense to each'
individual,and the aggregate rtmoftfit ofexpensei
to thc wholeofthc inililia of the Union,.vw/i/ife.r-
sing the fact that the present lair requires pre
cisely the same individual and aggregate!
expense, if it were enforced. VS lint will they
now say, when they find thfft their own “mili
tary chieftain” proposed a rc-enattmeiit ot the
same law by his bill of 1817 ! Does not ning-
§21,052,500 j nnnimity require them to admit that they have!
done Mr. Poinsett injustice, rtf hftld tip Gen;
Harrison to equal censure and condeffifiafion /
But Gen. Harrison did not stop at tiiis. Irf
the set'effth section rtf fits bill,- he distinctly
proposed to subject the militia to the ruled
and articles of war in time of peace. Dili
any ftiart ever go farther ? Did ftny fnfill ever
go as far 1 Under such a provision, if enacted/
any officer, uon-comfiiissioncd, or private/
would be subject to all tlife rigor 6f tnUftldl law/
with its odious and ignominious punishments,-
for any and ttcry fietcndillo which might be
committed during the period of (raining, evert
in profound peace.
Here is fife section (6 tvhifcft \vfe allude:
Sec. 7. And be it further enacted. That fhfe rulM of
j service, ami the system of discipline and police which
are or may be adopted for thc government of the army
in th0 toHiUa - ** be '
’‘I'he bill from which he have ffinefe IfiescJ
quotations is now before the public, ten thou-’
There can be no doimi max | ^ copies hnGngbecn printed, 6h the molioii
nroiects would, if carried rfittf effect, destroy of Mr-Preston, with the report.of Mr. Foin-
PJKIS mu, and sub- sett, Gen. Knox, and Gen. Harnson. We
thc liberties o pe P^ cyer (, or „e ! ftfisf t(ie people will examine the tepbtls and
Consolidation nnd des-1 bills, and detei mine for themselves, with what
of families, the justice the friends of Gen. HarrisOfr have Raised
Total expense for schools, if the
project was faithfully carried out 18,700,000
To this enormous expense General
Harrison, in the same report,
proposed to add the plan of train
ing and paying thc officers. lie
annexed a table to his report, mid
set down the day for eaclt brig
ade, and estimated thc militia
then, in 1817, to be 1,000,000, the
total expense
To this should be added about half
a million of militia men, proba
bly. at this time, if we suppose
the plan of General Harrison in
full operation, and thc sum would
be
1,505,000
iS7,500
to
The grand total
Making a grand total, width it vfc-ould take.
carry out General Harrison’s two great plans
of military instruction and discipline, of twen
ty-one millions fifty-two thousand five hundred
dollars; a sum more tlintt equal to the whole
ofthc ordinary expenditures uccessnry for our
Government!
These schemes Of General Harrison, to Con
vert this pure Republic into a great military
government, training all its boys, by a milita
ry education, for war and conquest, and also
to discipline all thc militia officers at the ex
pense, arc the most stupendous and dangerous
of any ever proposed to the American people.
Let (he people beware how they venture to I
make such a scheming military man President! I"
of Congress, and have been reprinted at this
, by order of the Seiiate!
be no doubt that swell mighty
supposition of the officers receiving only half
pay. The estimate proceeds, however, upoh
a supposition that no officer is to receive less
”" d " ,0 ii*'"*"* to SSSTSl!! 8» & people 4m e*Smi»e if,, fefom M
After givin 0 * the details, he Slims lip the COSt | jeet them to * —.4 A«»e-! hills- nnd detei mini* fr»r tlremselves with wllaf
of ,r«lnmg the officers ot -one m.ltim onottoUp'Or^Klf- COTS6hf
. a riftilnrs t” ! nntism. the ruin Ot trie peace
hundred and seventy-eight thousand dollars!” potism, ® the* total overthrow of the recent outerv against the present Secretory*
Mr. Poinsett's estimate, Which provided to dcstrnefien > th< f rivalry! Of Wafc
pay thc men, as well as tlw officers, ior their moralify^oTCigrrand domestic
