The Unpopular History of the United States
it up? Oh dear, no. They built it up. They made it bigger and clumsier and worse. As the militia method was so bad to begin with, they went the limit, and converted everybody into militiamen. By Act of May 8, 1792, every free, able-bodied white male citizen between the ages of 18 and 45, was required to be enrolled in the militia of the United States, and served with notice of his enrollment. After that, every citizen should, within six months, provide himself with a good musket, or firelock, a sufficient bayonet and belt, two soft flints, and a knapsack, a pouch with a box therein to contain not less than 24 cartridges suited to the bore of his musket, etc., etc. Ah ha! Congress is learning; they specify by law that the cartridge should fit the gun. It now becomes the citizen’s duty to appear for exercise or duty when called upon. However cumbersome this legal contraption, it was the first step ever taken by the United States Government towards universal military service.
One glaring defect of the law—if your Un-
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