University of South Carolina Libraries
c 4 ' * ' r? ? thai In^ispuUi/.e tc^ miic uj a t;^v CMiaieiil constituted U ?ce ?uis ? the UilVa eion o? a military ?pint and military in formation tnronghtout the grtai mass ol the people . '|ne part of the subject which stiil re mains to be discussed, win bp best under- 1 s<ood by dividing it into two distinct pro positions .* ; 1st Is X desirable that the whole male p ?pulauon of the United Slates, ol t?ic proper age. should be trained to j the U?e of arms, so a* to supersede, under any circumstances, the neces *d Is tt practicable i rl he solicitude which has been manifest ed by the great men who have successively fiiied the office of Chief Magistrate of the United >states, for the adoption of a sys tem of military discipline for the militia* which wouJ<T produce the effect contem plated Dy the first proposition, sufflcien ly manifested their sense ot its importance. The subject was often and warmly recom mended by the father of his country, andi at an early period of his administration a for the purpose was proposedt>y the Secretary of War, and, being corrected agreeably to his suggestions, was submit ted to the national legislature. It is be lieved^ that the objections to the expence and supposed d fliculty of executing this plan, and not to ifs object, was the cause of its being rejtcled. Is the opinion, which prevailed at that pciiod. that an en ergetic natibnal militia was to be regarded an th* capital security of a free republic less apparent at the present ? Has any thing since occurred, either in thtJ history of ouVown or of any other country, to show, that a standing " army forming a distinct class in the community. " is the proper de fence of a government constructed like ours ? Do the events of the late war show ? that discipline is net neccssai v for the mili tia? or does the present aspect of the po litical world uffoid so much security as to justify the lmtifierence Which prevails in providing an effectual national defence* , it is impossible that any American can recur to many of the events, t>nd particu larly to the concluding scenes of the late war, without feeling that elevation of mind which a recollection of h^/ country's glory is calculated to produce. ?f There aie, however, others. and not a few, that are eminently calculated to show, that an immense sacrifice of blood and treasure can bit distinctly trared .to the wan t* of * discipline in the militia. The glorious success winch, to sever*! in stances, crowned their efforts, was the re stift of uncommon valor, or "valor united jrlth the advantage of a position suited to their peculiar character. The greater pat i of the American militia, accustomed from then* early youth to the use of file arms, lire doubtless more formidable than any other troops in the Wot Id in the dc KKce'of a line o* rampart. Victories in the field are gained by other qualities? by Hunt* oF disciplined evolutions which give harmony and concert to numerous bodies of men, and to enab'e whole armies to move with the activity and address of sin gle cdmorbataWs* I.et our militia be in structed, and America would be equal in ! a contest with the rust of the world united. , The improvement* which have been made in the art of war since the commencement of the French revolution, giv* greater ad vantages to invading and disciplined armies* acting against those of a contrary chaiac ter, than they before possessed. This arise! from their increased activity, pro duced by the great multiplication of their Ifcgflt ? troops ; the ' celerity of movement given to the artillery ; and above all to the improvements in the staffs placing the subsistence of large armies upon a footing of security* beyond what was formerly supposed to be possible- An improvement in tactics, which given advantagts iQOhr professed soldier, who fin ht* lor conquest ovAlitiien who bears arms only in de fenH^is country, is, perhaps* to be regretted, and no alternative a left to the latter, Ibut to perfect himstit in the same arts and disc p'rine* It is believed that there in no instance on record, of a repub lie, whose citizens had been trained to the use of arms having been conquered by a nation posse%*m? a different form of gov ernment. Small republics have been over thrown bv those which were more power ful; as Sagnntum destroyed by t arthage, and Numantia by Rome; but it has been ob served of those govermnen s, that u walls and towers l>ecame their funeral piles*? leaving nothing to their conductors but their as!?es.M The committee cannot conceive that any aspect, however pacific it may be. which the governments of Europe may for the present have assumed toaards this country, should be used as an argument to procrastinate, even lor a day, any mea sure calculated to render their future hos tility abortive* It cannot be believed that any real friendship can exist in the b casts of the sovereigns of that continent, fot a government which has been founded Upon principles so opposite to theirs, and which, by the happiness it (!?Q'uses, ofTyids an e ternul satire and reproach upon their con* duct. Whatever security there may arrived from their policy, none can cer tainly be expected from iheir forbearance, whenever, from a change of circumstances, they may think it proprr to change their policy. The liberties of America must ihen be preserved as they were won ? by the arms, the discipline, ai>d tin: valor of p ktr fi ee horn sons* - ? ^ but the defence of our country against a foreign enemy, does not constitute the only, (perhaps not the chief) motive of military improvements* to the extent con templated by the proposition we are con sidering? The safety of a republic de pend* as much upon the equality in the use of arms amongst its citizens, as upon the equality of rights ; nothing can be more dangerous in such a government, man to have a knowledge of the military arFcou fined to a part cT the people? fo* sooner or later thai part will govern. The effefcts "bt discipline, possessed by a few, to control numbers without, is to be seen in all the despotic governments of modern, as well as antient times* in general) however, the si.b^cts of those despotic governments# whnW pre serve their authority by standing armies, are no allowed the use of aim? ; but the use of acjus is not alone sufficient. A striking example of this is to be found in one of the Grecian republics .? The Spar tans were enabled, by the force ' of disci pline alone, to keep in subjection for ages the Helots, and o'her ancient inhabitants of Laconia. These men were not only allowed the use of arms, but upon almost everyoccassiorMormed tht^^greaterpart of the Lacedemonian army ; nor were they defii.ieht in bravery ; but they were not permitted to learn that admirable disci pline which distinguished the Oplites, or heavy armed infantry of Sparta. ? Another important consideration, urging the diffusion of a military spirit amongst our citizens, is the counterpoise it will af ford to that inordinate desire of wealth which seema lo have perv&ded the whole nation* bringing wnh it habits of luxury, manners and princj j)l rf^h i g hi y unfavorable to our republican institutions. The first effect of this *tate of society i is the substitution of a standing at my for a national militia Upon this subject the committee beg leave to make a quotation from the repot t of general Ivnox, corrcct ed by President Washington. " It is.'* sav s the patriotic Secretary, 44 the intro duction of vice and corruption of manners into the ma?s of the people, that renders a standing army nccesvarv. ll is when public spirit is despised, and avarice, iir dole. a e and effeminacy of maimers predo minate, and prevent the establishment of i n stitutious wh ie h wort Id t levatc thCffiird* ol the youtl^jifHhte patfa of virtue and hon or, tfapffft* standing army is formed- i.nd liv died forever." So true is the, principle, here c o:. e .(led Tor, that it is believed there is no iutt n -e in histoty, of a nation losing its fibert.ea wnerrttieTniitTaTy^rirof -the people did not decline in the same propor tion that the corruption of manners ad \anced. Nor was any free government ever overturned liJUU* internal convulsion, until thcMeitruction of that spirit had been fiist produced in the body of the fuvfifc. It was not until the amusements* qf thethea- ! t?*e, the and the public gardens hid Superseded .hVexercies of the Campus Mar tius, that a Homan army dared to revok against its country, and with the power ot (ue sword to substitute for its free instil it lions the arbitrary will^of a dictator, eighty years before the successful usurpation of C?*ar-*.ihe revolt of army could have pioduced no Mich conaet{CeT>ce* I Bui the hubitH of the people hr\a been ? changed i no longer in every Human ci lilen was to be found a trained and prac- , tised soldier \ the higher tactics were ? cultivated indeed with seat and success by a partial nobility. No period had been mote prolific of great general*. At home, . had the dicipline of the legions been so per fect ; but they were no longer filled by cl tisens taking their routine of service. The military had become a distinct profession / composed ot menr who, in the habits of war and pillage* had forgotten the sacred' obligations attached to their character as citizens, and who were ever as frady, up on the suggestion of their leader, to turn their arms against their country, as the enemy whom they were raised to op pose. As in every age, then, and in every country the same cause will produce the warn. effects, the palladium of American liberty must l>e the diffusion of military discipline and a military a pint through the whole frt the people But secondly. ? Is the object attaina ble I That it is not attainable by any nf the systems which have hitherto been in use in the United States, it very evident from the little success which has attended them. The late war repeatedly exis ted the melanchol) fact of large corps of militia tuning to the field of battle without understanding a single elementary prinr.i* pie, ? and wuliaui being able to perform a I single evolution* Yd in'ililia Iow? cx.s I and have existed in all the States saiu | wtrofihc rcvatuiioru which set apart I with great precision a number of da* % in I each year tor the purpose of training and I discipline* iiut from tin* plan ito g<K*j | fruit has ever been produced. It was an I cnor mdeed, common lo all military sys I terns in use in the United States, that the J periods lor Uairiuw^ tr>r> *h?im ?nd lnQ I distinct from eacn oilier 10 pioduce much I benefit. I To remedy this defect camps of disci ? 1 plinc have been recommended. One of I the reasons which governed the committee I in rejecting1 that part of the Secretary *of I War's recommendation has been explain 1 rd above ; but if that objection couici be I overcome, the commute are iar from I thinking that the object could at all be 1 accomplished that way. There is aim I* Urer more formidable cbsiacle to success ; I more lornuduble, because it arise s from I the nature of our govttnment, ami the I cons itution of the human character" The I sentiments and habits of a free country I necessarily .produces amongst the cttticjis j a superior Yestlessi*e<>5 u niter, restraint, I than is to be met with in tlie subjects of a I monarchy. This spirit frequently manl iest s itself even^n a caireer of military I service where the high interests involved, I (and in which they largely partake,) and I the evident necessity of discipline, might I be supposed able to correct it. There I can scarcely be a restraint more vexa I tiotis and disgusting to a grown man, J than the initiatory lessons of the militai} J art. Military discipline consists.!? the_ 1 observance of a number of minute parti I cularfr, which to the novitiate in arms I have no apparent object ; but which form the links ot a beautiful and connvcud sys_-__ f i?m. ~"ft is believed*- that to this cause is J to be' attributed the little progiess which. I the United States : nor is there much pros I pcci that any ahan^e ? of system ? could, I with regard to the fircsm&m Mtie, pioduce | the result at which we aim. I In searching for l$nd marks .... | us to our object, it will be in vain that we I direct our attention to the modern nations I of Europe c from them we can borrow no I thing to aid our purpose ; governments tormed upon artificial distinctions in soci* I ety ? which estimate their security by the L m.tbilny of thjalr * ubject*4o resist oppres I sion, can furnish a free people with fto I guides in organizing a system of defence I which shall be purely national* Wc are I however, not without resource. The ancient republics, from whicb we b have drawn many oClhe^ choicest maxims I upon which to found our civil institutions I will hitrnishl also a roost perfect model fot [otlr ?y stern of national defence. The I wi ? ole secret ot ancient military glorv ? I the foundation of that wonderful coinbma* It ion of military skill and exalted valour which enabled the petty republic of Athens \ to resist the* mighty torrent of Persian I mvosian# which formedthe walls af Spay I ta, and conducted the Roman legions (in I fluenced indeed Ivy unhallowed motives) I to the, conquest of the world, will be found in the military education of the youth. The victories of Marathon and Vlaice. of Cynocephere and Fydna were the practi cal results of the exercises of the Campui Martins and Gymnasia* It is on a foun dation of this kind, arid of this kind only, that an energetic national militia can b% established. _ . ? " An ex aminatfon Into the employment and obligation* of individuals comprising the socitry," says General Knox, Will e-.: vince the impossibility of diffusing an ade quate knowledge of tl?e art of war by any other infant than a course of disciplines timing the period of non-age ; the time accessary to acquire this important know iedge, cannot be afforded at any other pe riod of lite with so little injury to the pub lic or private interests.0 Nothing is more true than what is here advanced, and yet i it is most singular that the amiable and patriotic Secretary should have founded his plan upon a course of instruction to commence within the limits of non-age indeed^ but at So advanced a period of it, j that all the objections which could be pnade to the disciplining at a more advan- j ced age will apply equally to it, with the addition of others which are more cogent, ! and which are suppl ied to be inherent in the system itself* Of his advanced corps, composed of the youth of 18 19 and 20 year* of ago* those of 1 8 and 19 are to be drawn out. for thirty days in each year, and those of SO for ten days, to be instructed in camps of discipline. fy hat been strongly urged against this ptan, that the sepe ration of the youth at that critical age* from the superintending vigilance of their parents and guardians, would be a very dangerous . step, and that the loss of time from the pursuit 0! their professions and occupations would prove to them a most serious evil. W batterer forcr therfeTHay be in these objections, thecommittec are fully per suaded that the improvement to be derived from the execution of this plan, would not compcmatc far the expehca and loss of i ti:*.e ii wo ;\i oc : sV/.. TI r 'Vv. -ti as v r: pvrd- v~e *u'..?:ct. liie yrace, The p:u ai d address N'itli \ wuicn he pei lot ir* cei lam etoluiions. I'o J arrive at Un> pel faction* long continued + pr^cnce is essential. And since it must be evident, that the I time accessary l?>r tnis purpose cannot b-s I lake!* from thr :ivi>r;it'u>m> f>| ottT" Ctt?zm~. , I after the^Fiave ai rived at the a^e of man hood; the only alternative is^to dcvr?;r m sysiew of military instruction, winch shall I be ingrafted on. and form a pari ot ths I ordinary education of our youth. 1 The organization ot a system, thus ex 1 tensive in its operations, must receSSai ity be I a work of some time anu difficulty. Ths want ot statistical information vfll piv I vem the committee from submittit g to.ihe 1 Hirti*, at this time, more than the ?iu^\ I line ot digit- plan, it is embiac^d in the [ following propositions . As ilie important advantages of the mil | iiary part of the education of youth, will I accrue to the community, and i?oi to. the I individuals who acquire it, is it proper I i hat the whole expeti~e oT the establish 1 oicnt shottid be botne by the public Trea I sury. I _Tbat, to comport with the equality* I which is the basis of our constitution, th? 1 organization of the establishment should j be such as toextend, without exception, to I every individual of the proper ai?e. That to secure this, the contet^lated military instruction should not bt tfiven in I dist.net schools, established for that pur posi , but that it should form a branch of I educji mi ; u every school -wtthm -the Uni ted btates, ? L That a corps of tlie military instructors I should be formed to attend to the j;yti?na - Ltic- and elementary part : of education ia I every school in the U. States, whilst the I more scientific part of the art ot war shall be commurflfcaTeo by professors of tactics I to be established in all the higher semina ] ries. The committee are fully aware that the establishment of an institution, which from its nature it calculated to produce an im port unt change -in the manner* and hahit* of the nation, wHI he received with cau tion an<J distrust by a people jealous of their liberties, and who boast of a govern ment which executes its powers with the least possible sacrifice of individual riuhts. An encroachment upon individual lights forms no part of their system* It is not a. conscription Which withdraws from an anxious parent a son for whose morals ho fears moh; than . fo? his life, -ft is rtot a ^crsiun or Turkish mandate to educate l he youthv within the purlieus of a corrupt court, but a system as purely republican in practice aa in principle ? he means are furnished by the govern ment. and the .American youth at* eil led upon to qualify themselves under the immediate inspection of their parents, or of tutors chosen by their parents for the sa cred task of defending the fib'eriie? of theJ* couiyny. ? ? -? ? - " ? ""Although the system of general Knox, widely differs from that which has been recommtnded by the committee, hi\ppin ion of the efTect to be pr?*h?ced by it is con ceived to- b* more ^?rttcuiarty applica ble to the latter. "If'the United states" says he, "possess the vigour of mind to establish the first insttuiion, for the mili tary instruction of the youth, it may rea sonably be expecttd to produce the mo*t unequivocal advantages. A glorious nati onal spirit will be introduced with its ex tensive train of political consequences.? The youth will imbibe a love of their country* reverence, and obedience to its laws, courage and elevation of ruind, open ness and liberality of character, accompa nied by a just spirit of honor* In addition to which, their bodies acquire a robust ness, greatly conducive to their nersonal hAppinesa. while habit with its silent but t fticacioua operations, will durably cement the sysiem." / *'/ That the tlotrt* may possess the infor mation ftecessaiy to act tipop this import, ant subject, the committee respectfully recommend the adoption of the follewing resolution : Resolved, That the Secretly of war be required to prepare and lay before this House, at the hext session of i.ongrjess, a plan for the military instruction of all the youth of the United States, ifi the way which is best calculated for the pur pose ? with as little injury as possible to the or dinary course of education. The Sematk, it it Understood, have be fore them a T reaty of Commerce and Na vigation, Mid to have been concluded be tween our late Minister, Mr.it us skl, and the government of Swidin. As on these subjects the Senate acta with closed doors, we are n6t df course apprised of the tern a of the Treaty, nor the proceedings of the Senate thereon* Some progress was yesterday made in Senate, mrttit 1 Cwimisssriat tvirtt, which proposes to aubsliuite, for the sup ply o* the Army, Purchasing Commissa ries in lieu of Contractors. ? ' A itm Intel.' ft bruary 1 1,