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Military duty, if for the equivalent of defence [defense] & for freedom is no more a hardship than any tax; and 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 autocracy & usurpations, & thus a balance between the different orders of society is adjusted. As to discipline, although it is urged to be too imperfect for any valuable effect, I have only to assert my conviction, that with the exception of scientific objects it is sufficiently good. As to commissions, they ought to be considered as the hallowed muniments of an honest & popular credit, to last to future times, as should be such elections as have placed us here, being the testimony of our countrymen that they deem us worthy to be employed. These propositions would appear to be offered in supererogation, if they had not reference to an object, or rather to an opinion which, if you shall not approve it, you will not, it is hoped, censure the submission of it to your better judgment, especially as the object is to prevent the trouble & expense of Courts Martial, now considerably burdensome to the State. The private, as you know, is compelled to his post, and amenable not only on the principle as valuable & dear to him as to his commander, of honor; but his interest is also pledged in his liabilities to fines & costs, to loss of time, expenses & inconveniences. Such is a very imperfect view of the condition of the private. As to the officer, let me freely present the contrast. We have borrowed from the regular army where officers serve under pay & under much of dependence in character & interest on their fidelity, the idea, that cashiering must be equally formidable with us, and that pride of character is a sufficient security against an exposure to so unfortunate a result. Believing this impression to be wrong, while I am bound to acknowledge the great worth of our corps of officers, it appears a necessary result of the comparison to propose for your consideration the providing for