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, M ,a t aik*i the ques'.lou of prcfereure of oral or (
other of the candidates for the Presidential!
ctwir, involves the only question of principle :
which divide* the two parties at this time,
inasmuch a# upon the re-cLctioh of Marti!
Van Buren depends the maintenance of the
principles which have governed the Demo
cratic pa i/ since the organization of this 1
Government, and upon the defeat of William
H. li trrisnn depends our successful opposition
in the Federal, Ah union, high Tariff, United
States Bank and 1 nter*;u 1 Improvement doc
trines of his friends and supporters.
And whereas, since the last Congressional
election, ttie delegates to Congress from tins
state have distinctly and unequivocally taken
t!ie;r positions on this grave, and at tins litre,
id l engrossing question, and whilst six of,
them, from rockiest opposition to the p-esent j
administration, and with utter disregard to
the interests and views of the south, have
thrown themselves into the arms of the whig 1
party, composed as it isofall the heterogene- •
ous materials of the opposition, tint the least !
powerful ui which are the abolitionists of the j
north, thus sacrificing at the shrine of party, j
their duty to their constituents —it is with
pride and pleasure, that this body has seen the
other three of our delegates, Messrs. Black,
Cooper and Coiquht, nolily and patriotically
iwcrificing ail party considerations and preju :
d.ces, to the paramount interests of their coun
try, and boldly and ably rallyingjto the sup
po t of liie measures of an administration,
essentially democratic in its measures, hav
ing tiie the constitution for its polar star, and
a strict construction of that instrument as its
rule. Assembled then ns we are with these
views, and wit hi the determination to carry
out the views, and with the determination to
carry out the views of our constituents, at
this important crisis, ive find three vacancies
in the ticket nominated for Congress in De
cember, las?:, to wit : Messrs. Glascock,
Hulsey, and Cone, who with principles and
feelings entirely in unison with ours, are yet
desirous to retire from the candidacy from
motives which are honorable to them and
satisfactory to this body, and it is now for us
To fit! the vacancies thus occasioned by anew
nomination. Satisfied as we are of the pure
and correct principles of Messrs. Pooler,
Campbell, Iverson, Hiilyer, Patterson, and
Lumpkin, and knowing their devotion to the
cause in which we are engaged, viz: trie re
election of Martin Van Boren to the Presiden
cy, wt most cord.ally unite in the renomina
tiou of those gentlemen, anil in earnestly
recommending them for election in October
nex-t. The decided course in favor of the
leading measures of the administration, taken
by Messrs. Biack, Cooperand Colquitt; the
sentiments, principles and feelings, avowed
by those gentlemen, in their respective ad
dresses to the people, have given to this body
the best assurances of their ability, integrity
and fidelity to southern interests, and strongly
recommend them to us for re-election. And
inasmuch as party lines and distinctions,
which have obtained for some years past,
have now become merged in the question of
presidential election, which essentially brings
us back to the questions on which parties
were formed in 1798, for which ours con
tended successfully in 1799 and 1880, at
which times the party, whose principles were
identical with those, which are ours, was
known as ‘ The Democratic Republican par
ty,’ it is but right and proper that a name so
expressive of our principles, so dear to every
genuine Republican, so odious to whigs, fed
eralists and abolitionists, be now adopted as
the designation of our party.
Therefore resolved , That this Convention
now nominate as candidates for Congress, at
the approaching election :
ROBERT W. POOLER,
D. C. CAMPBELL,
A. IVERSON,
J. HILLYER,
J- S. PATTERf^N,
J. H. LUMPKIN.
E. J. BLACK.
\Y* T. COLQUITT,
M. A. COOPER,
ar.J must earnestly recommend them (or elec
tion to the citizens of Georgia.
Resolved, That ibis Convention he styled
the Convention of the ‘ Democratic Republi
can Party,’ and that the pa.ty reassume ihe
original designation of the Democratic Re
publican Party of Georgia.
The Convention then took a recess until
12 o’clock, M.
Twelve o'clock M.
Dr. F Art, from a committee appointed to j
draft resolutions expressive of the principles
of the Democratic Republican Party, made
flue following report, which was read and
agreed, to wit:
Resolved, That we hail the separation of
Government from ail b inking institute, ns, as
a measure of deliverance and liberty, and ten
der to the President of the United Slates the
expression of our high approbation of the spi
rit and perseverance with which f e has urged
it upon the consideration of Congress.
Resolved, That our warmest adknowledg
mefits are due to our Republican brethren of
the North, for the opeu and independent stand
which they have taken in and out of Con
gress, against the machinations of the aboli
tion lanatics, and (or the able and uniform
support which they have given to democrat-
ic principles.
Resolved, That the address and resolutions
of the Democratic Convention, which met at
Baltimore, on the sth of May last, to the peo-’
pie of the United States, is a document con
taining the pure principles ol democracy, and
wc hereby adopt them as a true exponent of
our political creed.
Resolved, Thai in the present contcsl for
a Chief Magistrate of the Union, Martin Van
Karen is entitled to our confidence and sup- j
port; and that we will exert ouiselves in the I
use of all honorable means to ensure his elec- j
ion. The assumption of Slate debts by the j
General Government, now in Federal con- ;
temptation, we view as a most insidious and
dead;, ussauit upon State sovereignly, and if
•Successful, as sweeping down the bulwarks of
tv Constitution, and prostrating the States
a : the footstool of a great consolidated empire.
The following report submitted by Dr. C.
E Haynes, from trie committee appointed,
v-jreceived and unanimously adopted :
Whereas, Col. William A .Tenmlie, Gen.
Valentine Walker and Gen. Thomas Ander
son with a spirit and devotion to the public j
good, and a desire to sustain the Democratic
. *a ores of tiie Administration, by consum- ;
• . ’.ting a union of aII opposed to the elevation
of William Henry Harrison to the Presiden
.... worthy ot all praise, have declined to run
o Electoral Ticket. And whereas, it is de-.
: h!‘ t;. 1 1 liie vacancies created should be
.1 3 ed that every portion of the people ol
Too.jjia friendly to the Administration should
l’"’ repo sen ted—
Frilled, That Seaborn Jones, of Masco j
■ye, Edward Harden, of Ci.-uk, and Janies
~.rs n, of Burke, be nominated to fi!i the ;
,ea.ic:cs created by the declension of Col.
.“’cunille, Gen. Walker, and Gen. Andeison.
On motion of Gen Glascock, it was
Unanimously ilcsolvcd, That a public din
's c-r be given to our Senators, M ssrs. Lump- :
tn and Cuthbert, and our Representatives
Messrs. Cooper, Colquitt and Black, at the ;
Indian Snrings, ua Butts county, on the first i
Wednesday in September, as a testimonial oi
ir . egird for tlie able cud faidiful discharge
■ ‘ their duties, and their maintenance o pnn
■i’ ‘cs in which the South Icei so great an in-j
-r ; : s \ aid that a general invitation be cx-,
•onded to our fellow citizens throughout the i
‘state, without distinction of parties, and that i
oi; candidates for electors and the balance of i
msr representative ticket f*>r Congress be es
pecially invited to participate.
Resolved further, That s Committee oi fl ;
b* V* tks Ohiirittta at lu Insure 1
.ffi carry the foregoing resolution into effect.
The Committee consists of the tollowing
j gentlemen;
Gen. Thomas Glascock, of Richmond,
Chairman.
Gen. John W. Burney, Col. Fleming Jor
dan. John C. Waters, John Robinson, and
’ Richard Flemislie, of the county of Jasper.
David J. Bailey, Gen. Gustavus Hend
rick, Col. James H. Stark, Col. Henry Dil
lon, John Sanders, Abel P. Robinson, and
Parham Lindsay, of the county of Butts.
F.iijih Phillips, Col. W. C. Redding, John
Pitinin, Eiq. Dr. Sylvanus Burney, and Jus.
Turner, ot tne county of Monroe.
Thomas Wright llendly Varner, an i Ro
\ bert O. Usher, of the county of Newton.
On motion of Col. H. G, Lamar, oi Bibb,
lie olved, That the Secretaries of this Con
vention call on M. Hail McAllister, F.sq, for
the very abe and patriotic address delivered
this day before the Democratic Republican
; Party of Georgia, and that five thousand co
! pit-9 of the same be printed in pamphlet form
| for distribution.
Resolved, ‘lnat the thanks of this Conven
ition be tendered to the Hon. Thomas Spal
ding, for the able and dignified manner that
he has presided over the deliberations of this
body, and that they be alsq tendered to the
secretaries for the prompt and faithful man
tier they have discharged their duties.
The Convention then adjourned.
THOMAS SPALDING, President.
Joseph Sturgis, i
Frederick H. Sanford, > Secretaries.
Wix.liam A. Hotchkiss, j
IN SENATE,
I Vcdnesday, June 3, 1340.
Mr. Clay of Alabama made the following
REPORT:
The Committee on the Militia , to whom was
referred so much of the i eport of the Secre
tary of war, as relates to the recognization
and discipline of the militia, submit the fol
lowing report:
Thai duly appreciating the importance of
the subject, and fully concurring in the opin
ion that ‘a well regulated militia’ is ‘necessary
to the security of a free Slate,’ they have
thought proper to examine it, in reference to
the powers of Congress, the various plans
which have been proposed, and such measures
as have been matured, at different periods,
since the adoption of the Constitution. From
the earliest period of our history there seems
to have been a general concurrence in the
opinion, that a well organized militia is not
only the most economical, but the most safe
and reliable means of national defence. In
deed, when vve take into view that our Gov
ernment originated in the spontaneous will of
the people; that it was organized, and its
fundamental law constructed by them; that,
recognizing man’s capacity for self govern
ment, and the leading principle that a majority
shall govern, all are alike interested in its pre
servation, the conclusion follows, necessarily,
that the national defence must he most secure
in the hands of a citizen soldiery. The ex
perience of former ages had shown the danger
to liberty, from large standing armies, as well
as the ex pence of maintaining them; and our
own experience, during the war of the Rev
olution, had proven That freemen, almost
without organization, and without discipline,
were invincible, when battling in defence of
their own rights, and for the safety of their
own families and firesides. Hence, the Con
stitution, relying on the militia as the best
safeguard against all enemies, domestic and
foreign, expressly delegates to Congress the
power to provide for calling them forth, ‘to
execute the laws of the Union, suppress insur
rections, and repel invasions.’ And the past
history fully justifies the confldence in the mi
litia, indicated by this grant of power; for, up
to the present moment they have never been
called upon, on any occasion, when their
country was in danger, or needed their ser
vices, Irom any cause, that they have not
ral icd to her standard with the most prompt
alacrity, and evinced the most ardent patirot
ism, and determined courage.
To render this arm ol the national defence
more efficient, the Constitution delegates to
Congress farther power, in the following
words:
‘ To provide for organizing, arming, and
disciplining the militia, and tor governing such
part of them as maybe employed in the ser
vice of the United States; reserving to the
Stales, respectively, the appointment of the
officers, and the authority ol training the mili
tia, according to the discipline prescribed by
Congress.’
The mode in which this power could be
best executed, has been, more or less, the
subject of deliberation and discussion during
every Administration since the adoption of the
Constitution. Asearly as the 21st of January,
1790, a plan tor organizing, arming, and
disciplining the militia, proposed by General
Knox, then Secretary of War, was commu
nicated to the Senate bv President Washing
ton. The committee deem it proper to ex
hibit somewhat of the early history of this
interesting subject, both as regards the view’s
of the Executivea nd the legislation of Con
gress. In regard to the former, they present
the foil wing extract from the report of the
Secretary of War, which has just been referr
ed to.
THE n.AN OF GENERAL KNOX.
“ The period of life in which military ser
vice shall be required of the citizens of the
I United States, to commence at eighteen and
terminate at the age ol sixty years. Ihe men
comprehended by this description, exclusive
of such exceptions as the Legislatures of the
respective States may think proper ro make,
and all actual mariners, shall be enrolled for
different degrees of military duty, and divid
ed into three distinct classes.
4 The first class shall comprehend the youth
! of eighteen, nineteen, and twenty years of age
i to be denominated the advanced corps. —
, The second dass shall include the men from
twenty-one to lorty-five years of age, to be
i denominated the main co..fs. Tiie third
‘ class shall comprehend, inclusively, the men
t from forty-six to sixty years ofage, to be de
: nominated the reserved corps.
‘Ali the miiitia of the United States shall!
assume tiie form >r a legion, which shall be!
! the* permanent establishment thereof.
4 A legion shall consist of one hundred and !
! fitly-three commissioned officers, and two
j thousand eight hundred and eighty non com
| missioned officers and privates, formed in the
following manner :
4 Os the advanced corps. —The youth
of eighteen and nineteen years shall be disci
plined for thirty days successively in each’
year ; and those of twenty years shall be disci-.
piined only for ten days in each year, which !
shall be tiie last ten days of the annual en-
campments.
i * The non-commissioned officers and pri
-1 vales are not to receive any pay during the
said time, but the commissioned officers will
receive the pay o ilieir relative ranks, agree
abiv to the federal establishment for the lime
; being.
‘ lu order that the plan shall effectually an
I swer the end proposed, the first day of Janu-.
; ary shall he the fixed period, for all who
attain the age o! eighteen years, in any pait, j
j or during the course of each year, to be cn-j
rolled in the advanced corps, and,to take ihe j
necessarv oaths to perform, personally, such;
leo .l military service ns may be directed, lot j
the full and complete term of three years, to j
be estimated from the time of entering into!
the said corps, and also to take the oath of!
j allegiance to the Statand to the United!
! States.
1 The main conys is instituted to prevent
! men being sent to the field whose strength is
j unequal to sustain the severities of an active
! campaign. But, by organizing and render
-1 mg them tlig'bl* so- domestic service, a gri at
er proportion of ttie younger and tobust pail
u: the community may be enabled, in case of
necessity, to encounter the mut e urgent duties
of war”
Such were the views entertained, and the
plan of organization and discipline of the
i militia proposed by that distinguished veteran
and patriot, General Knox, who had perilled
‘ life, lertune, and sacred honor,’ during our
Revolutionary struggle, and contributed Ins
full share m the achievement of our liberty
and indejrendence. That Lis plan received
the approbation of ttie Father of his country,
then President of the United Sratcs, is clear
ly manifested by the official documents. In
resubmitting his plan to the President, to be
laid before Congress, General Knox express
ed himself in the following language :
4 Having submitted to your consideration a
plan for the arrangements of the militia of the
United States, which I had presented to the
late Congress, and you having approved the
general principles thereof, with certain excep
lions, i now respectfully lay the same before
you, modified according to the alterations
you weie pleased to suggest.’ Gen. Wash
ington, having subsequently ‘ directed him to
lay the plan before Congress,’ accompanied
by the Secretary’s declaration, that he had
approved the general principles thereof, with
certain exceptions’ which he had been ‘pleas
ed to suggest,’ subsantially adopted it as his
own.
There does not appear, however, to have
been any law passed lor the organization and
discipline of the militia, until tiie act entitled
‘At: act more effectually to provide for the
national defence, by establishing a uniform
militia throughout the United States,’ appro
ved May 8, 1792, which was, no doubt, an
emanation from the views communicated to
Congress by General Knox, as already noti
ced, though it did not fuliy carry them out.
This act is still upon our statute book, and
not yet repealed, though it is so utterly disre
garded in many parts of the Union, that its
existence is almost unknown. To show how
far it carried ihe plan of organization, and
the duties and burdens it imposed upon the
citizens, the committee beg leave here to in
troduce the following sections:
‘ Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate
and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
That each and every free, able bodied, white
male citizen of the respective Stales, resi
dent therein, who is or shall be of the age of
eighteen years and under the age of forty-five
years, (except as hereinafter excepted,) shall
severally and respectively, be enrolled in the
militia by the captain or commanding officer
of the company within whose bounds such
citizen shall reside, and that within twelve
months after the passing of this act: and it
shall at all times hereafter be the duty ol eve
ry such captain or commanding officer of a
company to enrol every such citizen as afore
said, and also those who shall from time to
time arrive at the age of eightoen years,
or being at the age of eighteen years and
under the age of lorty-five years, (except as
before excepted.) shall come to reside within
his bounds; and shall, without delay, notify
such citizens of the said enrolment by a proper
non-commissioned officer of the company, by
whom such notice may be proved. 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 spare flints and a
knapsack ; a pouch with a box therein, to
contain not less than twenty four cartridges
suited to the bore of his musket or fiirelock;
each cartridge to contain a proper quantity
of powder and ball; or, with a good rifle,
shot pouch, and powder horn, twenty balls
suited to the bore of his rifle, and a quarter
of a 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 exercise
only, he may appear without a knapsack.—
That the commissioned officers shall severally
be armed with a sword, or hanger, and es
puntoon. And that fiom and after five years
of the passing of this act, all muskets lor
arming the militia as herein required, shall be
of bores sufficient for balls of the eighteenth
part of a pound. And every citizen so en
rolled and providing himself with ihe arms,
ammunition, and accoutrements as aforesaid
shall hold the same exempted from all suits,
distresses, executions, or sales for debt, or for
the payment of taxes.
•Sec. 4 And be it further enacted, That
out of the militia enrolled, as is herein direct
ed there shall be formed for each battalion,
at least one company of grenadiers, light in
fantry, or riflemen ; and that to each division
there shall be at least one company of artille
ry, and one troop of horse. There shall be
to each company of artillery one captain, two
lieutenants, four sergeants, four corporals, six
gunners, six bombardiers, one drummer, end
one fiier. The officers to be armed with a
sword or hanger, a fuzee, bayonet and belt,
with a cartridge box to contain twelve car
tridges ; and each private or matross shall
furnish himself with all the equipments of a
private in the infantry, until proper ordnance
and field artillery is provided. There shit II be
to each troop of horse one captain, two lieu
tenants, one cornet, four sergeants, four cor
porals, one sadler, one farrier, and one trum
peter. The commissioned officers to furnish
themselves with good horses, of at least four
teen hands and a halfhigh, and to be armed
with a sword and pair of pistols, the bolsters
ol which to be covered with bear skin caps;
eacli dragoon to furnish himself with a ser
viewable horse, at least fourteen hands and a
haif high, a good saddle, bridle, mail pillion,
and valisse, holsters, and a breastplate and
crupper, a pair of boots and spurs, a pair of
pistols, a sabre, and a cartouch box to con
tain twelve cartridges for pistols. That each
company of artillery and troop of horse shall
be formed of volunteers from the brigade, at
the discretion of the commander-in-chief of
the State, not exceeding one company of each
to a regiment, nor more in number than one
eleventh part of the infantry, and shall lie uni
formly clothed in regimentals, to he finished
at their own expense; the color and fashion j
to be determined by the brigadier command- !
; ingtbe brigade to which they belong.’
It will be perceived there are many ar.alo- j
I gies between the plan of Gen. Knox* iaclud- ‘
! mg the sections of the act of May S, 1792- jas< I
quoted, and that of the present Secretary of
War, now undtr consideration; and that the :
plan of the latter is not entirely original, or’
new. The former proposed enrolling the mi- i
litia for ciffereni degrees of duty, and dividing
i them into three distinct classes, to he called i
the 4 advanced corps,’ the ‘main corps,’ and :
’ the 4 reserved corps;’ the latter a'so propos- j
‘cs three distinct classes—the ‘fust class’ to \
j ‘be denominated the class of the militia’—the
i ‘ second das,’ to 4 he denominated the active ;
; or moveable force'—and a ‘ third class’ to ‘be
I denominated the reserve or sedentary force.’
\ Again: the ‘advanced corps’ of General
| Knox corresponds in ail material respects with
1 ts-e ‘active or moveable force 5 of the present
i Secretary of War, so far as duties are to be
j performed. It was proposed bv the former
i that the ‘advanced corps,’ consisting of‘the j
I vculh of eighteen and nineteen, should be;
; disciplined for thirty days successively, in each
; Year*, and those of twenty vears should he,
I disciplined only for ten days in each year, i
which should be the last ten days of the annual |
encampment.’ The present Secretary pro j
poses that the ‘active force of the militia - may j
be c.aile 1 forth at such places withtn their re- j
spective districts, and at such limes, not cx- j
ceeding twice, nor [exceedirg] days in j
the same year (leaving Congress to designate .
the length of time.) ‘f<*r their instruction, dis j
ripline, and improvement in military know-j
ledge., _ !
Among the principle points of difference in
the two plan; or png- tv, it nriv he rematked
tlut General Knox
all between the ages of eigWeen and
years; while the present Secretary proposes |
to enrol only those between the ages of twen
ty and forty-five. Again : under the plan of
General Knox, ‘the nou-commisioned officers
and privates were not to receive any pay :
during the said time [of their discipline;] but
the commissioned officers were to receive the
pay of their relative ranks, agreeably to the
Federal establishment, lor the time being.’—
The present Secretary proposes to give all
those called out for discipline, including ‘non
commissioned officers, musicians, attificers,
and privates, 5 the pay and rations of the
‘officers, musicians, artificer.’, and privates, ol i
the infantry of the United States.’ Another
l>ointof difference between the law of 1792
and that proposed by the present Secretary ,
is, that, under the former, every citizen
between eighteen and forty live years of age, 1
subject to militia duty, is required to ‘provide ;
j himself with a good musket, or firelock, suffi-;
cienl bayonet and belt, two spare flints, and j
a knapsack, a pouch, with a box therein, to
contain not less that twenty four cartridges,
suited to the bore of his musket or firelock,’
&c.; ‘or with a good rifle,’ and corresponding
equipments. The present Secretary of War
proposes for enactment, ‘that every citizen,
duly enrolled in the militia, shall be constantly
provided with arms, accoutrements, and am
munition,Sic;’ but, in his letter to the chairman
of the Committee on the Militia ol the House
of Representatives, he explains this to mean, 1
so far as regards the ‘active class,’ that they
are to be armed and ccpiipped at the public
expence , as well as paid for their services. In
the communication alluded to, and doubtless ■
with a view to obviate all constitutional ob- j
jeciions, the Secretary speaks of his purpose I
‘to apply to the States to replace, by law,
their contingents at the disposition of the
General Government, for a period of not more
thirty days every year, for the purpose of
their being trained in conjunction with regular
troops, and by veteran officers.’ Contemplat
ing the necessity of this assent, he adds: ‘lt
is not probable that this co-operation will be
withheld by any State, when the advantages
are presented to it of possessing a body of well
organized, well armed, and well disciplined
militia, without any expense, either to the
States or to the citizens thereof, and when
they are made aware that it is the intention if
the Government to assemble such militia at
convenient points, within sach State, and in
the vicinity of depots ot arms, which it is pro
posed to establish as part of the system.’
Notwithstading the passage of the act of
1792, to provide for the national defence, by
establishing an uniform militia throughout the
United States, and though its provisions have
been thought by many to impose individual
burdens of too much severity, General Wash
ington evidently regarded il as inadequate to
the purposes contemplated. More than once,
after its passage, he brought the subject before
Congress in his annual addresses. Recuring
to the militia ‘as the safe and adequate defence
of the nation,’ in bis speech on the 3d of De
cember, 1793, after speaking of the necessity
of procuring arms and other military appara
tus, he emphatically observes:
‘Nor can such arrangements, with such
objects; be exposed to the censure or jealousy
of the warmest Inend of Republican Govern
ment. They are incapable of abuse in the
bands of a militia, who ought to possess a
pride in beidg the depository of the power of
the Republic, and may be trained to a degree
of energy equal to every military exigency of
the United Slates. But it is an inquiry which
cannot be too solemnly pursued, whether the
act has organized them so as to produce their
full effect.’
In his speech of the 19th of November,
1794, ihe President again brought the subject
forward ; aid among other things, made the
following remark:
4 The devising and establishing a well
regnleted militia, would be a genuine source
of legislative honor, and a perfect title to
gratitude.’
There does not appear to have been any
Further legislation on the subject of the organ
ization or discipline of the militia, till the pas
sage ofan act, in addition to the one already
noticed, during tiie administrate,n of Mr.
Jefferson, which was approved Marcli 2,
1803, and which seems to have been designed
to enforce and carry out the provisions ol the
former. Among other provisions of the act
last referred to, it is explicitly declared :
4 Sec. 1. That it shall he the duty of the
ndjutant general of the militia in each State,
to make returns of the militia of the State to
which he belongs, with their arms, accoutre
ments, and ammunition, agreeably to the
directions of the act to which this is an addi
tion, to the President of the United Slates,
annually, on or before the first Monday in
January in each year; and it shall be the duty
of the Secretary of War, from time to time,
to give such directions to the adjutant generals
of the militia as shall, in his opinion, be neces
sary to produce an uniformity in the said
returns; and he shall lay an abstract of the
same before on or before the first
Monday of February annually.’
The second section of the same act declares:
4 That every citizen, duly enrolled iti the
militia, should he constantly provided with
arms, accoutrements, and ammunition, agree
ably to the direction ol the said act [the act
of May 8, 1792, before recited] from and
after be shall be duly notified of his enrol
ment, 5 &c.
Here was a re-enactment of l lie injunction
upon every citizen between the ages of eigh
teen and forty-five years (with very few
exceptions,) to keep himself constantly armed
and equipped, at his own expense, according
to the provisions of the act of 1792, from and
after the day he might receive notice of his
enrolment.
How far (he requisitions of these several
acts have been complied with by officers or
men; or how far they have advanced the
discipline of the militia throughout the Union,
or produced regularity and uniformity in the
returns annually required, the experience and
| observation of the Senate will enable them to
-judge. So far, however, as your committee
jure enabled to speak, they believe, if not
wholly inefficient, they have at least fallen
J very short of tne results contemplated. As
; evidence ol ihe correcteess of tins view of the
| subject, we find the reorganization and better
i government discipline of the militia have been
lever since, one of the standing themes .of al
! most every Executive message, of many
\ reports from the Department of War, and ol
i frequent discussion in Congress. It was a j
j subject of almost constant solicitude with Mr. j
j Madison throughout his administration. In j
| his message of December 3, ISIO, he submit
hed it to the attention of Congress in ihe fol-
j lowing terms:
‘ These preparations fir arming the militia
i having thus far provided for one of die objects
i contemplated by the power t ested in Cos. gress
f with respect to tint great bulwark of the
J public safety, it is fir their consideration
whether lurti.er provisions are not requisite
for the other contemplated objections ot or- i
jganization and discipline. To give to this
! great mass of physical and moral force the
j efficiency which it merits, and is capable ol
| receiving, ii is indispensable that they’ should
| be instructed and practised in (lie rules by
( which they are to he governed. Toward an
iaccomplishment of this important work, f
| recommend for the consideration of Congress ;
jthe expediency of instituting a system which j
| shall, in the first instance, call into the field, I
‘at the public expense, and for a given time. ;
j certain portions of the commissioned and non
commissioned officers.’
| After more than two vears’ continuance ot
j the late war wish Gre at Britain, strengthened
; m Ids farmer opinions by experience, as he
no doubt was, Mr. Madison; i h.s message
of Srptcm.hei 20, !gi, sg-mj brooglfct ti%fe
bsfpre Optigress in the fblifming em
‘ifftawC *
* I earnestly renew at this time H recom
mendation ol such'cna ages in the system of
the militia, as, by elapsing and disciplining, :
lor the most prompt and active service, tliej
portions most capable of it, will give to that
great resource tor the public safety ail the I
requisite energy and efficiendy.’
After the close of the war, in his message of
December 5, 1815, Mr. Madison referred to
the expetience of that eventful period, and
again urged upon Congress ‘ such a classifi
cation and organization of the militia as wotfld
most effectually render it the safeguard of
| free States. Indicating his convictions that
the existing law required alteration ami
|amendment, he pressed ‘ the importance ot
1 tha t skill in the use of arms, and that famili
! arity with the essential rules of discipline,
which’ (he stated) ‘ cannot be expecte 1 front
| the regulations now in force.’ And in his
i last annual message of December 3, 1316,
when just about to retire forever front the
duties and responsibilities of office, in that
spirit ol patriotism which had distinguished
his long and eventful public life, he made a
final and anxious appeal to the assembled ‘
representatives of the nation, in which he”
warmly recommended a ‘ reorganization of
the militia’ tn the following language :
‘As a subject of the highest importance to
the national welfare, I must .again earnestly
recommend to the serious consideration ol
! Congress a reorganization of the. militia on a
plan winch will form it into classes, according
to the periods of life more or les3 adapted to
military services. An efficient militia is
authorized and contemplated by the Consti
tution, and required bytbespi. it and safety
of a free Government. The present organi
sation of our militia is universally regarded as
less efficient than it ought to be made; and
no organization can be better calculated to
give to it due force than a classification which
will assign the foremost in the defence of the
country to that portion of its citizens, whose
activity and animation best enable them to
rally to its standard.’
During the same session, the subject of the
reorganization and discipline o! the militia was
agitated in Congress, and on the 17th of
Janury, 1817, an elaborate report thereon
was made by General Harrison, (then a
! membr ol the House of Representatives from
i Ohio,) as chairman of the committee to whom
it had been referred. The most striking
alteration he proposed in his report was ‘a
system of military instruction which (he said)
should be engraf ted on and form a part of the
ordinary education of our youth.’ His views
upon that subject can be understood by the
following extracts from his report;
‘ As the important advantages of the mili
tary part of the education of the youth will
accrue to the community, and not to the
individuals who acquire it, it is proper that
tiie whole expense of the establishment should
be borne by the public Treasury.
‘ That, to comport with the equality which
is the basis of our Constitution, the organiza
tion of the establishment should be such as to
extend, without exception to every individual
of the proper age.
‘ That to secure this, the contemplated
military instruction should not he given in
distant schools, established for that purpose,
hut that it should form a branch ofeducation
m every school within the United States.
‘That a corpse of military institutions
should be formed to attend to the gymnastic
and elementary part of education in every
school in the United States, while the morr
scientific part of the art of war shall he come
mui icated by professors of tactics; to he
established in all the higher seminaries.’
Preparatory to the execution of this project,
its author concluded his report by offering for
adoption a resolution, in the following words:
1 Resolved , Thai the Secretary of War he
required to prepare and lay before this House,
at the next session of Congress, a plan for the
military instruction of all the youth of the
United States, in the way which is best
calculated for the purpose, with as little injury
as possible to the ordinary course of educa
tion.’
What would have been the expense of thus
educating 1 all the youth in the United States,’
as proposed, no estimate seems to have been
attempted or called for; nor is any thing said
in the report to indicate the provision of the
Constitution whence the power is deduced.—
But, if the number of youth amounted to one
hundred thousand only, at an average expense
of twenty dollars each per annum—which,
including the ‘ elementary’schools and ‘ high
er seminaries,’ would have been very reason
able—the expenditure for ibis branch of mi
btary instruction alone would have amounted
to two millions of dollars annually.
There is, ipwever, appended to Ihe report
’estimates of the expenses of training the
officers and sergeants of the militia of the U.
States. These estimates are made, in the
first place, -oh a supposed number of one
hundred thousand men, divided equally, as
nearly as may be, into twenty-five brigades.’
The committee estimated the- ‘ expense of
training officers for one month, at.fUII pay, of!
twenty-five brigades, or one hundred thou j
sand men,’at $178,850. ‘ And estimating
the whole United States militia, then tire to
tal expense of tiaining the officers, alone, of
the whole militia, would be sortie hundred
thousand dollars less than two millions,’ —
That is, about $1,900,000 for training thorn
one month in the year.
Sucli was his anxiety to improve the arm
of the national defence, that the opinion seems
to have b j en entertained by Gen. Haidrisotv
that the power granted by the Constitution
j as it then existed, and still does, was not euf
i ficient for the accomplishment of that object
!in all respects. Hence, on the 23th of Feb
j ruary, 1817, about six weeks after his report,
!just noticed, he proposed an amendment to
ihe Conslituti >n, greatly extending the pow
ers of Congress over the subject.
It will be borne in mind, that the exis'ing
provision of the Constitution expressly re
serves Ho the States, respectively, the ap
pointment of the officers, and authority of
training the military according to the discip-;
line prescribed by Congress.’ The object of!
the proposed amendment of the Constitution, j
which will be found appended to this report, I
was to give Congress, ‘ concurrently with the
States,’ tl.e ‘ power to provide for training the
militia,’ and further declaring, that ‘whilst
engaged in that service, that is, being trained
they shall be subject to the rules and regula-
prescribed for the government of the
militia, when in the military service of the U.
States,’ &c.
The effect of this amendment to the Con
jstitution if it had been adopted, would have
been to concede to the authorities of the ge
neral Government, whenever it might be
deemed expedient to exercise it, the most
ample power to train and d'sctpline the militia,
in such manner, and for such length of time,
as Congress might have directed or authoris
ed, limited only by their discretion. Confer
ring on Congress, in general terms, power
concurrently with the States, and ol course
to the same extent —discretionary authority
might have been given to the President, or
any other functionary of the General Gov
jernmet, to have trained the militia, in any
! number, at any place, in anv season, and for
any portion of the year. Further, it would
have subjected them expressly, while being
i trained or disciplined, to the same ‘rules and
I regulations prescribed for the government of
j the militia, when in the military service of
: the United States in other words, it would
have subjected them in time of peace, and
when assembled for the mere purpose of he- j
ing trained or disciplined, to ‘the rules and j
articl sos war.’
The last clause of the amendment propos
ed, which d*es net seem to have been eonsid
'cnoa Reer*r>tty. the shwre refer
re# lo was majk, gave to Congress the pow- 1
cr ‘to ‘provide for teaching in the primary
schools, and other seminaries of learning in
the different States, the system of discipline
prescribed for the militia.’ To have carried
tfiia power into effect, would have been to
give a military education, at tlte expense of
the Untied Stales, if deemed expedient, to
every male scholar or student in the several
States; as a system of discipline would ne
cessarily include not only the use of arms, but
all the field evolutions required in the army
of the United States. Whether public senti
ment would have sustained the authorities of
the General Government in the exercise of
the several powers thus proposed to be grant
ed to it, may well be quetioned; but it such
had been the case, with the military educa
cation, contemplated for the youth of the
country in the first place, followed by train
ing and discipline in the field for a sufficient
length of time, it would have rendered the
mass of our citizens more emphatically sol
diers, than those of any other nation in the
world.
The author of this amendment seems to
have been so well satisfied of its expediency,
‘that he moved it again at the ensuing session
ol Congress,; and pressed upon their atien
tion on the ground, as he stated, that ‘ as the
Constitution had expressly reserved to the
States the right of training and disciplining
the militia, the adoption of the resolution might
be thought necessary.’ But his amendment
failed to meet sufficient approbation lo se
cure its adoption ; and like many other pro
positions on the subject of the organization
and discipline of the militia, is only to be re
membered as a part of our legislative history.
Your committee might present many other
instances of the continued agitation of this
subject, so intimately connected with our na
tional safety, since the proposed amendment
of the Constitution which lias just been men
tioned; but they will not confine themselves
to the notice of one further effort to reform
the supposed defects of the existing system.
They allude to that made by the secretary of
War in the year 1826, to whom had been
assigned, by a resolution of Congress, ‘ the
duty of having prepared a system of cavalry
tactics and a system of instruction for arlille
ly, for the use of cavalry and artillery of the
militia.’
To aid him in the performance of that
duty, the honorable James Barbour, then
Secretary of War, thought proper to convene
a ‘ board, composed of officers of the militia
and of the army.’ In his report lo the Presi
dent of the United States, which was submit
to Congress at the ensuing Session, the Se
cretary remarks:
‘ The occasion was too favorable to be lost,
and was, therefore, eagerly seized, of profit
ing by tiiis collection of talent and experience
lo review our present defective militia system,
and if possible, by an entirely new organiza
tion, to plaee it on a fitting which would re
alize the expectation and wishes of every
patriot in relation to this great arm of nation
al defence.’ The Secretary futher said :
‘ Important changes in the present system
are indispensable, to make the militia any
way equal to the standard assigned it by the
wishes of the patriot. To the end that every
source from which information might he col
lected should be approached, I addressed a
circular letter to the Governor of every State
and Territory, and to many citizens distin
guished alike by their intelligence and expe
rience, asking for information upon this inter
esting subject.’
To the interrogatories propounded, in this
circular, many of the distinguished officers and
individuals responded minutely and elaborate
ly. The board of officers assembled, took
those communications, and tiie various other
matters submitted, into grave consideration,
and reported a ‘plan for the enrolment and
organization of the militia of the United
States,’ involving many alterations in the
system. The whole of this voluminous cor
respondence, and the report of the board of
officers, were submitted lo the consideration
of Congress: but what was the result ? No
definite legislative action took place upon- the
alterations proposed: the law was permitted to
remain as it before existed. Indeed, as often
as the subject has been recommended, and
urged, in the messages of our several Chief
Magistrates, and agitated in both Houses of
Congress, no law has been passed, materially
changing the provisions of those already noti
ced during a period of more than thirty-se.
veil years.
W ith so ma ay instances of fruitless attempts
to change our militia system, before them,
your committee are not prepared lo adopt the
plan recommended by the Secretary of War,
nor to make any other material change in
the organization and discipline of the militia,
at present. If it be desivuble to cause those
who constitute the militia to arm themselves,
the acts of 1792 and 1803, passed during the.
Administrations of General Washington and
Mr. Jefferson, already require them to do so.
If they should be trained and disciplined, a
system for that’ purpose has already been
prescribed and furnished ; and it only remains
for .the State Governments, to which the
t Constitution very properlv reserves that au
thority, to enforce it. But the committee
are almost constrained to believe that no
system which can be devised, will ever render
the mass of citizens engaged in the ordinary
avocations of life, to which they arestimulat-
ed by the impulses of duty and interest, a
well trained and disciplined soldiery. In a
time ol profound peace, when they do not
pere#ve any probable necessity for their
: services in the field, they cannot appreciate
the importance of such attainments, as can
only be acquired by considerable expense,
tabor and sacrifice of time. Yet we are as
sured, by the experience of the past, that ,
however reluctant our fellcuv-citizens may be |
| to undergo the drudgery of militia discipline, j
m times of peace and security, they are ever j
j ready t<> rally in defence of their country, j
! when assailed by enemies, foreign or domestic. |
| When so called out, or rather, coming forth j
i on such occasions spontaneously 3S they do, j
! they regard no privation or exposure; no
’ severity of discipline nor danger ; no sacrifice
! of ease, comfort, interest, nor even life itself,
! if demanded by the honor, safety, or welfare
of their country. With such feelings and a j
love of country, predominant over all selfish ■
! considerations,” the proudest citizen becomes
at once a soldier in courage, and very soon,:
in discipline and subordination.
Were ihe committee disposed to suggest !
any new legislation on this occasion, it would j
he that more efficient measures should be j
taken ty arm and equip the whole body of !
the militia. The act passed on the 23d ol J
April, 1303, appropriated ‘ the annual sum
i of two hundred thousand dollars’ ‘ for the
I purpose of providing arms and military
i equipments for the whole body of the militia
j of the United States, either by purchase or
; manufacture, by, and on account of the U.
j States.’ Your committee concnr in opinion
! with the hoard of officers, assembled in 1526.
| as hereinbefore mentioned, that this sum is
j ‘inadequate’ for the object contemplated ; for
they state, no doubt on due consideration, that’
‘ according to the present rate of appropria- j
lion by Congress, for that purpose, it would
require, even supposing the population to he
stationary, about seventy-five years more to
accomplish a measure so congenial to the
whole theory of our institutions.’ The act
has now been in operation a period of thirty
two years, and the whole number of small
arms, and field artillery distributed among ail
the States since its passage, would perhaps j
not be more than sufficient to supply the militia
of the State of New York. This is sufficient
lo prove the total inadequacy of Ihe existing
law to supply the wants of the whole body ofi
the rnilt’ia throughout the Union, within any;
reasonable time. Without arms it i* impns- j
slble to train men lo Hie sc f them; and for
I the , meil i0 Procure them, cf ibat uniform
and proper quality which- is almost essential
to the purposes ol discipline, would involve
| individual burdens, regarded as oppressive by
those who constitute ihe mass of the militia,
j Such are the general views ol your com
mittee upon this mteiestiug and important
, subject; but they regard the present financial
condition of the country as inauspicious to
! their accomplishment, and, therefore, beo
leave to submit the following resolution :
j Resolved , That the committee be discharg
ed from tiie further consideration of the sub
ject.
In tiif House or Retrfstntativfs of thf
(United States, Fe'uru'iry 28, 1817—Mr. Haiirw
■ SON .submitted the following proposition of amend*
j ment to the Constitution of the United States :
j. Resolved by the Senate and House of Repretenta
i fives of the United States of America in Cingressas
! sembltd, (two-thirds of both Houses concurring then in \
j That the* fol,owing amendment to the Constitution of
the United States be proposed to the Legislatures of
j the several States ; which, when ratified by the Legis
| latures of three-fourths of said States, shall he valid
• to all intents and purposes as a part of the Constitu
tion :
I Congress shall, concurrrntlv with the States Lavo
|P 0 t 0 provide for training the militia, according to
j the discipline prescribed lor that purpose, nfid whilst
j engaged in that service, they sha'i be subject to the
ru.es and regulations prescribed fyr the government
ot the militia when in the military service of the Unit
ed States; and also to provide for teaching, in the pri
mary schools and other seminaries of learning in the
several States the system of discipline prescribed for
! the militia.
1
SENTINEL & HERALD.
COLUMBUS. JULY IS, 1840.
“ This Institution is one of the most deadly hostility
existing against the principles and form of our Consti
tution. Ihe nation is, at this time, so strong and united
in its sentiments, that it cannot be shaken at this mo
ment. Rut suppose a series of untmvard events should
occur , sufficient to bring into doubt the competency of a
Republican Government to meet a crisis of great dan
ger, or to unhinge the confidence of the people in the
public functionaries ; an institution like this, penetrating
by its branches every part of the union, acting by com
mand and in phalanx, may in a critical moment , vpstt
the government. I deem no government safe, which is
under the vassalage of any sef constituted’ authorities,
or any other authority than that of the nation, or its reg
ular functionaries. I Chat an obstruction could not litis
Rank of the United States, with all its branch bunks,
be in time of war ? It might dictate to us the peace wc
should accept, or withdraw its aid. Ought we then to
give further growth to an institution so powerful, so
hostile ?— Thomas Jefferson.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICAN TICKET.
FOR PRESIDENT,
MARTIN VAN BUREN.
FOR VICE-PRESIDENT,
JOHN FORSYTII.
FOR ELECTORS OF PRESIDENT AND
VICE-PRESIDENT.
WILLIAM B. BULLOCH, of Chatham.
JOHN BATES, of Murray.
MILNER ECHOLS, of Walton.
SAMUEL BEALL, of Wilkinson.
WILLI AM B. WOFFORD, of Habersham.
JOHN ROBINSON, of Jasper.
SAMUEL GROVES, of Madison.
THOMAS WOOTTEN, of Wilkes.
SEABORN JONES, of Muscogee.
EDWARD HARDEN, of Claik.
JAMES ANDERSON, of Buike.
FOR CONGRESS.
ROBERT W. POOLER,
D. C. CAMPBELL,
A. IVERSON,
JUNTOS HILLYER,
JOSIAIi S. PATTERSON,
JOHN H. LUMPKIN, <
E. J. BLACK,
WALTER T. COLQUITT,
M. A. COOPER.
TO THE PUBLIC.
The following facts are submitted
as reasons why General V\ iiliam H.
Harrison should not be elected Pre
sident of the United States, and
more particularly why be should not
receive the support of the Republi
can party, and especially of the
South :
That General Harrison is an Ab
olitionist, and is unfriendly to shive
ry, we submit the following address
to the people of the Congressional
district in which he lived in the State
of Ohio, published by him as a re
futation of the charge made against
him that he was ‘ accused of being
friendly to slavery,’ viz :
“TO THE PUBLIC.
D Q~ “ Fellow Citizens. — Being called sud
denly home to attend my sick family, I have
but a moment to answer a few calumnies
which are in circulation concerning me.
“ 1 ant accused of being ffiendly to slavery.
From my earliest youth to the present mo
ment I have been the ardent friend of human
liberty. At theatre of eighteen I BECAME
A MEMBER OF AN ABOLITION SO
CIETY, established at Richmond ; the object
of which was to ameliorate the condition of
slaves, and procure their freedom by every
legaJ means. My venerable friend Judge
Gutcli, of Claremont county, was a iso a mem
ber of this Abolition Society, and has lately
given me a certificate that I was one. The
obligation which I then came under I have
faithfully performed. I have been ihe means
of liberating many slaves, but never placed one
inbondage. Ideny that my votes in Congress,
in relation to Missouri and Arkansas, are in
the least incompatible with these principles.
Congress had no more legal or constitutional
right to emancipate the negroes in those sec
tions of Louisiana, without the consent of their
owners, than they have to free those of Ken
tucky. These people were secured in their
propcity by a solemn covenant with France
when Ihe country was purchased from that
power. To prohibit the emigration of citizens
of the Southern States to the part of the
country, tire situation and climate of which
was peculiarly suited to them, wonld have
been highly unjust, as it had been purchased
out of tire common fund. Particularly, too,
when it is recollected that ail the immense ter
ritory to ihe Northwest of the Ohio had been
ceded by Virginia, and that with an unexam
pled liberality, she had herself proposed bv
excluding slavery from it, to secure it for the
emigration of those States which had no
slaves. Was it proper, then, when her re
served territory was in a great measure filled
up, to exclude her citizens from every part
of the territory purchased out of the common
lund ? I was the first person to introduce into
Congress the proposition that ail the country
above Missouri, (which having no inhabitants
was free from the objection made to Missouri
and Arkansas.) should never have slavery
admitted into it. I repeat what 1 have bclbre
said, that as our Union was only effected by
mutual concession, so only can it be preserv
ed.
‘My vote against the restriction of Missouri
in forming her constitution was not a conclu
sive one ; there would have been time enough,
had I continued to he a member, before the
question was decided, for mv constituents to
have instructed me, and I should have re
joiced in any opportunity of sacrificing mv
seat to my principles, if they had instructed
me in opposition to mv construction of the
constitution. Like many other members from
the non-slaveholding States, cf whom I men
tion Shaw, Holmes, Eason of Massachusetts,
Lanmanof Connecticut, and Baldwin of Penn
sylvania, I could see nothing in the constitution
which 1 had sworn to support to warrant such
an interference with the rights of the States,
and which had never before been attempted.
And where is the crime in one set of men not
being able able to interpret rhe constitution
as ether jr;pn interpret it. At tre had a;!