Camden gazette. (Camden, S.C.) 1816-1818, February 20, 1817, Image 2
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,