1787-11-13 (static/transcriptions/1787/11/283.jpg)

standing army must in effect become a standing party of our constitution.

Such however is it’s supposed inconsistency with the general system of English liberty that the Parliament has never consented to establish it in England for any longer time than a year. And therefore in every session the Statute, called the Mutiny act is re-enacted from which Military law and courts Martial desire their Authority.
In this remote country it is manifest that any power which should depend on the annual renewal of a British Act of Parliament, would frequently be in danger of extinction; for which and other obvious reasons, that Parliament in the 27th year of the late king passed a permanent statute
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