5221. MILITIA, Officers.—[further continued] .
I enclose you a charge
against * * * [three militia officers], as
having become members of an organized
company, calling themselves the Tar Com
pany, avowing their object to be the tarring
and feathering citizens of some description.
Although in some cases the animadversions
of the law may be properly relied on to prevent
what is unlawful, yet with those clothed
with authority from the Executive, and being
a part of the Executive, other preventives
are expedient. These officers should be
warned that the Executive cannot tamely look
on and see its officers threaten to become
the violators instead of the protectors of the
rights of our citizens.—
To Henry Dearborn. Washington ed. v, 383.
(1808)
