30 



associates, for spending one third of their time^ in public 

 duty. 



Whether these all are the just reward of services ren- 

 dered ; whether consistent with a just regard to " a wise 

 economy ;" and Republican principles ; let the people 

 judge. 



Our militia system is also a burthen ; from which the 

 people ought to be relieved. 



This is a tax principally on labor : and falls heavily 

 on the cultivators of the soil — laboring men fill the 

 ranks — the rich are rarely found there. The actual ex- 

 pense^ of the militia, in time and money, exceeds all the 

 school taxes in the State. This is worse than thrown 

 away. Its tendency is to demoralize. Discipline gains 

 nothing ; and nothing is gained on the score of defence. 

 The defence of a nation consists in the strength and 

 patriotism of individuals. We need an organization, 

 bringing into the ranks, every man capable of bearing 

 arms, with rarely an exemption ; and a rigid annual ex- 

 aminatian of arms ; and no more. This is all the laws 

 of the United States require, or the country demands. 

 If any one doubts the efficiency of fire arms and patriot- 

 ism, without epauletts and feathers; let him look to 

 Bunker hill. If he need more, let him cast his eye 

 across the Atlantic, to Poland. 



3. In promoting the best interests of society, one 

 other subject of increasing moment, requires the consid- 

 eration of husbandmen : Imprisonment for debt. This 

 is a relict of ancient barbarism — and to the honor of 

 this nation, in most States of the Union, done away. It 

 ought to be abolished at once : and the debtor, who se- 

 cretes his property; or, defrauds his creditor; j)uuished 

 us a criminal, or as a felon. 



