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to state against the repeated and urgent demands for legislative subversion of our present military establishment to be followed as may be feared by the imposition of one calculated to be dangerous to our liberties, that of a militia organized and paid directly and exclusively by the United States who will in the end tempt the States to that fatal measure, as they have been tempted in other cases.

The civil and social effects of our militia arrangements, are not less calculated to sustain our institutions, that can be courage and discipline to defend the country.

Never was there an instance of the overthrow of despotism without militia, nor an efficient militia without training. In evry case of danger from the time of alarm before the revolution to this period, special preparation has been made by trainings, and we ought always to be especially prepared. Trainings lead to that acquaintance between Officer and Soldier which fits them more advantageously to act together, both in preparatory measures and final procedures.

Military duty if for the equivalent of defense and for freedom is no more a hardship than a tax; if for the common good, no tax is a hardship but a benefit. The inequality urged against this mean of resistance to invasion or domestic tyranny, does not exist, because in other cases property is taxed for persons, and in this case persons are armed in part to resist the tendency to aristocracy and usurpation, and this a balance between the different orders of society is adjusted. As to discipline although it is urged to be imperfect, for any valuable effect, I have only to assert my conviction that with the exception of scientific objects it is sufficiently good.