876

JOINT RESOLUTIONS.

No. 5.

WHEREAS, the Constitution of the United States

Preamble.

imposed on Congress the duty of providing for or-

ganizing and arming the militia of the several States;

and Congress did in pursuance thereof, on the

twenty-third day of April, one thousand eight hun-

dred and eight, pass a law making a permanent

annual appropriation of two hundred thousand dol-

lars, to provide arms as aforesaid, to be apportioned

among the several States ; and

WHEREAS, By reason of the increase in the popu-

Preamble.

lation, from eight to upward of forty millions, and

the increase in the number of States, from thirteen

to thirty-seven, the present annual quota allotted to

this State of the aforesaid appropriation, is insuffi-

cient to arm the militia of the State, and an onerous

charge is imposed upon the State Treasury to supply

from time to time the deficiency ; and

WHEREAS, the Governor of this State has adverted

Preamble

in his message to the importance of arming the

volunteer organizations with the improved breech-

loaders; and the said organizations are now for the

most part armed with inferior muzzle-loading weap-

ons; and

WHEREAS, a bill is now ponding before Congress

Preamble.

largely increasing the animal appropriation for the

purpose of providing arms and ordinance stores for

the whole body of the militia of the United States;

among other things, providing that all arms issued

to the States and territories shall be of the same pat-

terns as are adopted for the United States' Army;

therefore

Requested to

urge.

Be it resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That the Senators in Congress from this State be

instructed, and the representatives requested to urge