The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-12-05

gave, however, 10 remark, that the rules OF dit
cp'ine as eeab!ied by concrsf, in their refolu-
ton OF the e9th of March 1879. and which BY
the directions of the AHembly have been diNri-
buted among the officers of the Militia, have
no relation to cavalry excrcifc or difciplinr nor
has any fyftem of dfcplinr ever been furniheG
the officers of cavalry for their information.
Permit me to recommend to the confederation
OF the Afcnbly, frall "trcatife on the new
iword-exercite for cavalry" which is faid tn
have been digefed, partly from the PrulIian
and partly from the Hungarian exercifc for
liuilars, and to be universally introduced into
the armies of Europe and is believed to con-
tam the beit fyRem of cavalry cxerciic now ex-
jtant. l am indebted for this trcatife to Major
John Clarke, the Superintendent of the Manu-.
factory of Arms, who enclofeti il to me in very
fen'ible and we!-written letter. with the patri-
otto with that it might he pubnied and circu-
lated among the officers of cavalry, with the
addition OF Engravings, executed in the ftye
OF thoie in Steuben's ditcpline, exhibiting the
IIorfeman in all the various attitudes of per.
forming the motions and evoutions drfcribed
IN the Tea.ife. The executive approved the
plan, but determined, before its execution, to
liuhrnit II for the confederation OF the AiIembly.
" The encreaiing eXpenfe, with the encrealing
number of Court-Martials, arifing from the Ia.
htude or contradiction given to certain parts of
the Militia law, is, | conceive, worthy the at
|
ms the more neceHary, bccanfe the contribution
given to the law, varies with different officers in
idHereut parts OF the fate, and even with differ
ent officers in the fame neighborhood. BY the
Esd fiction OF the Militia law. paiTcd in the ief-
hon of sos, it is directed, that any officer who
may be guilty of dirobedencc, or other miibe-
haviour, when on duty, or fl,all, at any time,
be guilty of any conduct unbecomng the cha
racter of an officer, fhall be put under an arreft
i ,p,iin O. -.
ldirected." Some officers have given very
bread contribution to the general words Of this
lection, and have not confdered them refrain
ed by any thing to he found in other parts of
the fame law. Their contribution authorizes
and requires the arreG of officers, for acts
which are mere violations of morality, or Of
law, in no manner relating to their official cha
racer or conduit and it is believed, that in
iome cafes, iimpie violations of the rules of de-
corum have been exhibited as the foundation of
arreits. Other officers have given to this fec
ton more limited contribution, believing it to
be re'traiced, in lis application, by the 9th
lection, which in prefcribing the organization
of Courts Martial, fpeaSs of them as being &c in
itituted for the trial of offences as they are to
he viewed in military light :" and therefore
in the eitimation of the advocates of the limit
ed contraction, precudes Courts Martial from
enqu'ring into acts, which, although they may
be violations of the laws of honor or morality,
and even or the pofitive laws OF the land, have
no relation to the official conduct OF the aocui-
ed. beg leave TO reprefent that, il is believed
the facility of procuring arreits, has in many
'nitances, been wantonly abufed, 70 the yexa-
ten of individuals, and the ininry of the pub
lie, and rneis retrained, bids fair to abforb
very conhderabe proportion Of the fund uflaly
appropriated TO the CONTINGENT rxnenfrs Of
Government. On Tome locations, Courts-Mar-
tal have been erected into Courts of Chivalry,
for the trial of nice points Of homer, which, a.
though important to the parties, Gid not inte-
ret the Community /; while on others, tits be-
heved, they have been made the nitruments of
private p'que, recruitment, or malice, to wound
the feelings, and obfcure, for time, the repu-
tat'on OF mertorious officers, by the exhibition
OF charges, which frequently were groundIefs,
or II true, ought never to have been made the
. iubjctss of invehigation before military Tri-
bunal. therefore invite the attention of the
Legislature TO this fubjee, and beg leave to
iub0.it whether It has not become necenfary TO
define, with more prcc.1on, the offences fol-
; which an officer may be tried, and 10 require
that the charges Ghall be Imported by AFFIDAVIT
} before an arref fhall bc ordered.
by the 18th feGtion OF the Militia law, it is
. declared that every officer who flal be ao.
pointed TO command any Volunteer Company,
) and :hasl fail to complete his quota within ix
months after receiving his conmiilioD, nla be
d'icontlnucd, at the di!cretion OF the Executive
. un!eis good cauic be iaewD TO the contrary
But, 1t very often happens that officers, after
having completed their qGotas, fuffcr their com
. panes or troops to be reduced far below the
: legal itandard, without making fuccefsfu exer-
tons to complete them again. i is not believ.
: ed that the Executive have any powert TO d;f
continue officers thus Etuated, although n,
+ public intereit might require it. Ought not IN.
} fame policy which directs the dfcontinuanct
OF an officer for failing to complete his Quota ir
the firit initance, ALTO TO direct fuch dCcontinu
ance when ne permits his company to be reduc
; ed and then fails TO complete it again
! Our a6t of aGembiy of the 2sth of Januar;
9 1904, fiction 2sth, declares, that in the trial o.
Militia Officers, the courts Martial fhall pro-
: coed according 10 the rules and articles of wal
{ as eftabliih;d 81 refolu;on OF Congrefs; an,
: the 45th fiction Of the fame aSt alto provide
, that the Militia, when called into actual feryicc
/ iiiali be governed by the articles of war which
d. govern the troops of the u. s. But the act o
i CoDgrels of the lat felton,, :. for eflabihinp
rules and articles of war for the government o
} the armies ofthe u. States" makes feveral i'm
Y portant changes in the articles Of wal 1t i
= therefore fubmitted whether our Militia lay
: ought not to be 70 amended as to have reference
I 10 the artises of war as at prefent efabliihed
= NPrefuming it will be satisfactory to he AfIem
\ bly,, TRANSMIT lit Of flaves condemned TO b.
Y executed, but by the humane proyilions OF GU