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Defending the Constitution
death itself, by the sentence of a court martial. To this our young men will
be more immediately subjected, as a select militia, composed of them,
will best answer the purposes of government.
Secondly, the rights of conscience may be violated, as there is no exemption of those persons who are conscientiously scrupulous of bearing
arms. These compose a respectable proportion of the community in the
State. This is the more remarkable, because even when the distresses of
the late war, and the evident disaffection of many citizens of that description, inflamed our passions, and when every person who was obliged to
risk his own life, must have been exasperated against such as on any account kept back from the common danger, yet even then, when outrage
and violence might have been expected, the rights of conscience were
held sacred.
At this momentous crisis, the framers of our State Constitution made
the most express and decided declaration and stipulations in favor of the
rights of conscience; but now, when no necessity exists, those dearest
rights of men are left insecure.
Thirdly, the absolute command of Congress over the militia may be
destructive of public liberty; for under the guidance of an arbitrary government, they may be made the unwilling instruments of tyranny. The
militia of Pennsylvania may be marched to New England or Virginia to
quell an insurrection occasioned by the most galling oppression, and
aided by the standing army, they will no doubt be successful in subduing
their liberty and independence; but in so doing, although the magnanimity of their minds will be extinguished, yet the meaner passions of resentment and revenge will be increased, and these in turn will be the
ready and obedient instruments of despotism to enslave the others; and
that with an irritated vengeance. Thus may the militia be made the instruments of crushing the last efforts of expiring liberty, of riveting the
chains of despotism on their fellow-citizens, and on one another. This
power can be exercised not only without violating the Constitution, but
in strict conformity with it; it is calculated for this express purpose, and
will doubtless be executed accordingly.
As this government will not enjoy the confidence of the people, but be
executed by force, it will be a very expensive and burdensome government. The standing army must be numerous, and as a further support, it