The Proceedings of a Convention of Delegates

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Excerpt from The Proceedings of a Convention of Delegates: From the States of Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode-Island, the Counties of Cheshire and Grafton, in the State of New-Hampshire, and the County of Windham, in the State of Vermont, 1815Among the subjects of complaint and apprehension, which might. Be comprised under the former of these propositions, the attention of the Convention has been occupied withthe claims and pretensions advanced, and the authority exercised over the militia, by the executive and legislative departments of the Na tional Government. 'also, upon the destitution of the means of defence in which the Eastern States are left, while at the same time they are doomed to heavy requisitions 'of men and money for national objects.The authority of the National Government 'over the militia is derived from those clauses in the Constitution-which give power to Congress to provide for calling forth the militia, to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections and 'repel inv sions - Also, to provide for organizing-arming and discipli ning the militia, and for governing such parts of them as may be'employed in the service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively the appointment of the officers, and the authority of training the militia according to the discipline pre scribed by Congress. Again, The President shall be Com mander in Chief of the army and navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several States, when called into the actual service ofthe United States. In these specified cases only, has the National Government any power over the militia and it follows conclusively, that' for all general and ordinary purposes, this power belongs to the States respectively, and to them alone. Lt'is not only with regret, but with astonishment, the Convention perceive that under colour of an authority conferred with such plain and precise limitations, a power is arrogated by the execu tive government, and in some instances sanctioned by the two Houses of Congress, of control over the militia, which if conce ded, will render nugatory the rightful authority of the individual States over that class of men, and by piacing at the disposal of the National Government the lives and services of the great body of the' people, enable it at pleasure to destroy their liberties, and erect a military despotism on the ruins.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully, any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.