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assume for a time, his common sense never fails to detect and to see things in their true light. He obliges the member of the Assembly and Congress to lay before him, in particular cases, the questions to be decided upon. From the constable up to the President, he is accustomed to consider his magistrate as the public servant, who is bound to act according to the public will. If a functionary fail in his duty, meetings are convened, proceedings are organized, and resolutions passed either in approval or disapprobation of his conduct. All this is done in a style of perspicuity, the very reverse of diplomatical. These resolutions pass from country papers to numberless others. His independence is greatly nourished by his solitary mode of living in the woods, (his residence being at a distance of from one to two miles from his nearest neighbour,) a course of life which originated in necessity and at last became familiar to him. A more populous neighbourhood would be painful to his love of independence, and he would rather renounce all intercourse with his neighbours, than alter his unsocial habits. Villages are inhabited by journeymen, trades-people, tavern-keepers, blacksmiths, &c., who hold small parcels of land,

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but from whom the farmer, properly so called, lives at some distance. After the lawyers, the farmers and planters are the most numerous in the Congress of the United States. It is much to be wished, however, that their knowledge would keep pace with their independence and industrious habits, as the distance between them and their co-senators the lawyers, is much too disproportioned.

They maintain the same spirit of independence in respect to all other professions, and firmly adhere to their own mode of life, drinking, if necessary, tea raised on their own lands, and speedily adjusting disputes with their neighbours, thus baffling storekeepers and lawyers. Even the ties which unite him to his preacher are not very binding, to whose support, if he be not pleased, he refuses to subscribe; he will read his Bible at home, or choose another meeting-house. In short, he may be considered as an independent man; than whom, no one enjoys more liberty in its widest sense, or is more conscious of his selfimportance.

CHAPTER XV.

THE MILITIA.

LITTLE as the American cares about titles and distinctions unless they are connected with the main-spring of all his actions, money-making, he is not indifferent to the title of captain, major, or colonel of the militia, and he seldom refuses these honours when offered to him, although his years might excuse him from military service. Every citizen, from the age of twenty-one to forty-five, is obliged to serve in the militia: none are exempt but magistrates, the clergy, physicians, and teachers. The opulent join volunteer companies, the less wealthy attach themselves to rifle corps, while the poor, and those less fond of military parade, are enrolled in the militia of their country. The volunteers in their appearance differ very little from the regulars, and are considered to have a very martial air. They wear blue uniforms, a ci-devant hat transformed into a czacko with a cockade, and home-made sashes; these, and epaulettes made of a piece of sheep

skin, pantaloons, and Monroe boots, a musket, and a sabre, complete the equipment of a volunteer. The officers are rather better dressed, with sashes and silver epaulettes; the serjeant has the latter of an immense size, of tinsel. The rifleman wears a cotton dress, with white or red lace, a fur cap, pantaloons and shoes, a huntingpouch instead of the cartridge-box, an immense powder-horn, and a poignard by his side. The officers wear the same dress, but of finer materials. The militia-men appear in their common dress, with their rifles, and frequently with a stick. The standard is procured at the expense of the county, the ladies supplying the ribands. When the officers are chosen, a time and place are appointed, the latter generally a tavern, at which the militia are to meet. The subalterns and captains are chosen by their companies, the majors by the battalion, the colonels by the regiments, and the brigadier-generals by the brigade. The election of the staff officers is confirmed by the governor, as Commander-in-chief of the State militia.

At the election of officers, the vote of the common soldier is equivalent to that of the major, who at the next election may happen to be in the ranks as a private.

The officer elected never fails to show his gratitude for the honour done to him, by treating the voters with a quantity of whisky or brandy, sufficient to make many of them miss both horse and road, and take up a night's lodging in a turnpike ditch. Every captain has the right to call out his men for field exercise. It would not, however, be advisable in him to make too frequent a use of his privilege, unless he wishes to be turned again into a militia-man in the following year. Two fifes and as many drums constitute the whole of the military band. Brigade reviews are held twice a year, and every militia-man has to appear on these occasions, unless he chooses to pay a fine. The Washington guards, the county volunteers and guards, riflemen, and the rest of the militia, all

appear together at these reviews. The staff-officers arrive on horseback, and are dressed in blue, with immense scarfs not unlike the grand cordon of a military order, large epaulettes, and a sword left behind by some English dragoon, and either round or three-cornered hats, according to the taste of the wearers.

The brigade being assembled, they put themselves in motion, first parading through the town,

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