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5189. MILITIA, Compulsory service in.—[continued].

I think the truth must now be obvious that our people are too happy at
home to enter into regular service, and that we
cannot be defended but by making every citizen
a soldier, as the Greeks and Romans who had
no standing armies; and that in doing this all
must be marshalled, classed by their ages, and
every service ascribed to its competent class.—
To J. W. Eppes. Ford ed., ix, 484.
(M. 1814)