The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-02-11
REPORT.

The committee to whom was referred 20 much
of the meiIdge of the PRECEDENT of the United
otates OF the third of December, as relate r.,
the organization and Qualification of the mi
tia' and To the augmentation of the land
forces,
REPORT IN'PART;
In relation to Qualification and new orra-
nZaton OF the militia. The molt eSteniiye yirw
or this part OF the fuhiett, which has occurred
10 the committee, is a divilioh of the militia in
to four clafles, in the following manner. viz
thoie between eighteen and twenty-oDe wears
or age, to compete one clafs; tirofc between
twenty-one aud twenty fix to compoi; \ fscond
ciais thoie between fwcnty-ix and thrtv.fve
10 compoie third clafs; and thofs between
thirty-hve and forty-fve, to compete a fourtb
clais, each clafs to be under feparate organi-
zatIon, and to be commanded by feparate cores
OF officers. To this kind of organization, as il
relates to the hrft clais, we are met by a conni-
tutional objection. BY the contribution of the.
United States, Gongreis are empowered "to
provide for organizing, arming and difciplining
the militia, referving to the fates respectively.
the appointment of the ofic ers."
by lone of the fate contributions il is nroyi
ded that the captains and the fnbaiterns of the.
militia fhall be chofen by fuch of the perions
who comPoie the REFLECTIVE companies, as are
upwards OF twenty-one years of age, 70 that
there is no constitutional proviion by which
iuch itates can appoint officers to command
clais of militia competed of minors
knowledge of tactics, and an ACQUAINTANCE
with differentiation and difcip!ine, are acquire
ments OF iuch Importance to our national de-
fence that the promotion of them auoug the
militia, onght TO be primary obieG. with the
government, and no doubt is exceedingly def.
rable in the minds of the individual citizens.
But fuch means ought to be adopted BY the GO
vcrnment, as are beft calculated to efec the OBJ
Ject with as little fatigue and expence TO in,iiyi-
duas as the nature of the cafe will admit. II
is conceived that the fatigue and exoence OF mi.
litary diicipline is, in very great degree pro.
portionate to the population of the different
parts OF the country where the duty is perform
ed, or, IN other words, it is proporionate to the
diitance each individual, competing the different
corps, is compelled to travel to reach the place
of parade; under the prefent organization of
the militia, this idea is fully verified the differ,
! ence in the cxpence of militia meeting, in thoie
parts OF the country where the inhabitants are
mott diiperted, when compared with fmilat
meetings in the mott populous parts, ia very
apparent; and, beides the nature of the cafe
compelS us 10 believe, that the fame caufe will
produce fimilar difparity in military acquire
ments.
! Theft, however, are evils which grow ont Of
the nature Of the cafe, and cannot be remedied
but by the increae Of population, becaule the
principles Of the organization are calculated TO
J render the formation Of the different corps as
compact as is confident with proper military ar
rangements.
By tine organization and i',s Qualification Of
the militia in the manner which has been nam.
| ed, the limit of each corps muit be extended o.
! yer four times the quantity of territory it now
occupies, and consequently wonld burthen the
citizens with proportonate additional expeEce
in the acquifition of competent portion Of mi.
ltary information, or operate as a proportion
ate preventative to fuch acquifiticn. The fug-
ieet has been viewed in another point of light,
that is to call on the two fenior ciaiIes to exer-
cile but once in a year 70 as to proportion the
quantum Of sxercife 10 the extenGon of the
corps. In this cafe all the evils attendant on
the extenion Of the different corps over additi,
onal territory, will attach to the junior clafrS,
which could attach 10 them in the other CAFE ,
and the confepuent hazard Of failure in dici-
pline will remain.
l Military knowledge, like that of every othe,
fcience, without pratiicc is foou, forgotten; r.
although it is not probable that the whole OF
the militia will be needed in the field, az one
time, yet, IN cafe OF inyaGon, it Is very pollibls
that all who are in the vicinity Of the allsauts,
U,sY be necefary, and as IL ia uncertain at wha
point the enemy may make attack, all ihoujd be
prepared TO meet fuch an event. but from {.
= deficiency in Gifcipline, or the yspt Of cqpps-