sent to a power to keep up an indefinite number. He proposed that there should not be kept up in time of peace more than ——— thousand troops. His idea was, that the blank should be filled with two or three thousand.
Instead of "to build and equip fleets," "to provide and maintain a navy," was agreed to, nem. con., as a more convenient definition of the power.
A clause, "to make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces," was added from the existing Articles of Confederation.
Mr. L. MARTIN and Mr. GERRY now regularly moved,—
"Provided, that, in time of peace, the army shall not consist of more than ——— thousand men."
Gen. PINCKNEY asked, whether no troops were ever to be raised until an attack should be made on us.
Mr. GERRY. If there be no restriction, a few states may establish a military government.
Mr. WILLIAMSON reminded him of Mr. Mason's motion for limiting the appropriation of revenue as the best guard in this case.
Mr. LANGDON saw no room for Mr. Gerry's distrust of the representatives of the people.
Mr. DAYTON. Preparations for war are generally made in time of peace; and a standing force of some sort may, for aught we know, become unavoidable. He should object to no restrictions consistent with these ideas.
The motion of Mr. Martin and Mr. Gerry was disagreed to, nem. con.218
Mr. MASON moved, as an additional power,—
"to make laws for the regulation and discipline of the militia of the several states, reserving to the states the appointment of the officers."
He considered uniformity as necessary in the regulation of the militia, throughout the Union.
Gen. PINCKNEY mentioned a case, during the war, in which a dissimilarity in the militia of different states had produced the most serious mischiefs. Uniformity was essential. The states would never keep up a proper discipline of the militia.
Mr. ELLSWORTH was for going as far, in submitting the militia to the general government, as might be necessary; but thought the motion of Mr. Mason went too far. He moved,—
"that the militia should have the same arms and exercise, and be under rules established by the general government when in actual service of the United States; and when states neglect to provide regulations for militia, it should be regulated and established by the legislature of the United States."
The whole authority over the militia ought by no means to be taken away from the states, whose consequence would pine away to nothing alter such a sacrifice of power. He thought the general authority could not sufficiently pervade the Union for such a purpose, nor could it accommodate itself to the local genius of the people. It must be vain to ask the states to give the militia out of their hands.
