Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1806-12-11
RICHMOND, Dsc.s.
csnsras Asse1s5ly Of szggs "a
COMM sJagfC ALTON OF THE COVER
NOR OF VIRGINIA..
ICoNcLUDED


creasiug nu mber of conrs.nsrslass, arising
fron the la.isade of constructors given e
certain parts ef tae miii,ia Jaw, Is, con-
ceive, worthy the attention OF she leglsaa'
cure. Taeir inserpositioa is ,he aoFe &C.
ccssary, because the constructioa given &C
S che law varies with different officers In Gil.
fsrent parts of the state, and viii aattet.
eus ofisers 10 the same neighb Thood' ny
the 23d section of lhe nilltia law. passed
In the session of 1905, II is directed, thas
.. aay officer who may De guilty OF ossooe-
diencs, or other mlsbehas1oF, wnea on
daty. or SHALL, at any tine, be guilty OF
any coaducs unbecomiag the character OF
an officer, shat be put under an arrest oy
his commanding oGcer, and sr'ed as nere-
after directed.S Some cheers hasa given
avery broad construction TO the genefas
words of this section, and hase nos censi'
desed tteaa restrained By any thing 10 DC
found iii other parts CT the same law -
Their eoastracsias au,aoFises and requires
the arrest of officers for acts @hich are
narTe violations of morality, or OF law, IN
no manaer reiasiag to Sheir o&ciai chasac-
Ter or conduct an6 it is believed hae In
soale cases simple violations of the rules
OF decoraa have been exhibited as the
fouudaslon Of arrests. Other officers have
given 70 this section more limited con-
stractiop, believing it TO be restrained 10
Ats application bv the 27sh section, which
IN prescribing the organization OF courts
martial, speaks of them as being 'lnssi-
sated for the trial of offencss as they are
to be viewed in a military iigh. ;" aod
therefore, Ia che ESTIMATION OF ihe advo.
Gates OF the limited CONSTRUCTION, preciudes
cour,s.usarsial from enquif.og lnso ac's.
which, although they may D. violations OF
the laws Of honor OF morality, aad even
of the positive laws of the laad, cave 40
relssios 10 the official conduct Ct the &C.
cused. | beg leave 10 represent 'fia. II Is
believed the facility OF procuring arrests
has 10 many instances been #ansoniy abus,
ed. To The vexation of individuals anu sae
Injury Of the public, and unless restrain.
cd, bids fair &c absorb very considerable
proportion OF The fond usually aPpro?fiat-
cd TO the coasingenG exPeaces OF govern
meat. On some occasions courts III ari'at
have been erected into cossrts OF ch'vs'Fy,
for the trial of nice points OF honor, which.
although important TO the parties, did nor
interest the com mun;ty; while On otaers,
il is believed. they have been made the
iastrunscnss Of private pique. resentment,
or malice, TO wound the feelings, and OBJ
scure, for time, the reputation OF merit
torioas ofacers, by the exhibition CT charg
es which frequently were gTcaodiess, or II
true. ought never to have bsen made rhe
subjects of investigation before military
tribunal. 1 therefore invite the attention
of the legislature TO this subject. aud beg
leave TO submit whether it has no; become
necessary to de6ae, with more precision,
the offsnces for which an officer may be
tried, and to require that the charges shall
be supported by affidavit before an arrest
shall be ordered.
By the 18th section of the militia law, IT
10 declared that every officer who shall be
appointed TO command any volunteer com
pany. and shall fail TO complete BIS quota
within six months alter receiving his COM
mission shall be discontinued. at the dis.
erection Of the executive, unless good cause
shall be shcwn to the contrary. But tive
nv often happens that officers, after having
completed their quotas, suffer companies OF
troops to be reduced far below their lega
standard, without making successful exer
tons to complete them again. Il is not be
Iievcd that the executive have any powel
20 discontinue officers thus situated, al
though the public interest nigh, require it
,Ooght got the same policy Which direct
the disconsinuance of an officer for faiiin,
to complete his quota ia the 6rst instance
also to direct such discoutiuuance wbe'
he nerniss his company 20 be reduced AM