The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-05-23

What does the preGent training of our .ilitia 4,
mount to! A company is collected The roll iscal-
iea. ~ ne abientess crolIed. The rank is in a
continual buz of frivolous chat. The officers oiu in
'he general contempt of military duty A few Of
oie a'o' hmPe nanoeuvres performed, in the
niot oungiing manner. The focia, band of officers
anu ioier loon become weary of this uleleCs fre..
ihey devote the remainder of the day TO ,h. Gsn;
why Of the convival board, and return home with
DIS "ueh knowledge @f military duty, and as aurdv
relolu'ion to defend their liberty as they brouyh,
{" the parade But the training of the mighty pha
ahx tnat malt ftand as brazen buwark for the de-
renee OF our liberties, does not end here We b,v.
resin email and battalion field days How far do
ney go towards preparing militia for the defence
OIL our country! Do they progress i'm military Ain /,
are they more punciual active IN the performance
Oh the ounes OF training hoe da than they were
,c &c, years ago Every man knows they are not.
; ne gay Is appointed for ~ein,enta or bar.al;on
heid-day Many the 10 diers have TO ride 6f,epn
OF twenty miles aud perhaps may arrive at the ground
oy ~ clock. The officers knowing that they have
tak 90 perform, that mutt proclaim, their wan, of nil
ki' TO the whole regiment battalion, procraf
ona', the Sunnes as long as poilble ike lazy
ichoo-boy creeping like inai unw;ln,lv ~
iehoo, they are willing fhor.en the period ofcop
'en'Pt ana r'd'cne After tedious combinations. a
@"uPie OF hours OF the mott egregous blunder;nc in
'he performance OF the mott Gmpls military n,anoeu
sreS' hniin the ium of military exercife. And thefe
'I.'hpa VII WHOM we depend for
OF our country, and hefe the officers who are
20 lead them forth againR any of RI. ,ysI, .r;.s
y'o'u houhas oil Europe, who may find leiiure from
the occupation OF blood and plumber ar home ,;f.a
cur hores, or drive from our homes
His IDLE to pronounce fuch pompous encon,un,.
o" our patriotic militia, while they remain in ,ba-
Preent undileiplined condition In cafe Of an ;nv,
on on oil any magnitude, we may, like the negroes of
"ye'' ku'k to the mountains and train our me-, in
the receiies of the Allegheny while the omen c.rr
ias prey to the foe. But perfon dare hope tba,
n''H without arms, or the fsill uf. then, aras
TOO 70 the life and habits of folders can furce
,u"Y oPpole veterans, trained to war and ;sTrred
oy the nope OF plumber. Yet fuch are m. only eo
Ir"' Wnom we have any reafon to exred an ipv,fc,
i"o'e VINO are unwilling to exert themfelvts in ,b.
eauie or liberty and independence are nnwor,bv rs
Enjoying them. While other nations find it their
i"c 20 let as alone we may roll in luxury and
peis ourieves IN our profperity but defervss -
oe recoiiected, that luxury and cafe are the b,n &c
oer'y' Let the universal experience Of na,:ons hear
''"eis 10 'ne abortion. Pay tribute to paudv eop
page ana peaiure, and our ponerity nun fink into
,o"te'hPe ana haverv They will expiate our folIv
.ne ,o's Oh every privilege worthy ,i.r purui, oe
! aliohai creature. SOMETHING MUST RE ponr
Our Preient inert fate is the prelude of he eatb f
our hoerty, unles 1t be removed. Congress has ,v;c
~ and Juitly declined the bnfnefs of regulat;na I'D
framing the militia. I" Trib itun Ell ua,ur, ,,e.;
o!,.l eninantium, ut ie vitam corpufque tuatur"is
III natute. he trainers OF or
conftuton did not calculate on TIE want of nri1
'prit and patriotiim in the e. arate Ra,cs. To-
expected that on the univerfal principle of CeIcrr
isaeion, uey would he armed points for tbe f..
eur'ty oil their liberties, and preclude the necefv &c
tle general government legils,ing on the fub;ea
u'eiS II were IN Gales Of general danger IL remains
eeh with the itates to arm and train their own ct;
zehs TOT Their own defence. How this car be- hen
accomplished is matter of doubt The ,audabie n,n
oil an arnlory IN this Gate, if generously Gpnor,rd
VIII eventually remove any difficulty in armi,g orr
ihihta. framing them the ure of arms \, ora.
ieit demands our particular attention Tba, ,ba
whoie OIL the militia can be armed trained ard Off
.ereu, IN iuch manner that part of then, NAV
se called out IN any fudden emergency for our de-
renee rs taking poition that cannon warrant o,,-
confidence Men confarty occupied in their f,,i,,.-
ana inoPs, or IN the puriuit Of common amuCement
cannot and viii no. confder themfelves as folders
nor VIII they act as folders when called into action
raw militia confders it fnaIl diforace RI de.
iert his Poi AS he has afImed the eharaero f
ioidier' he cannot lote it. But let this man be IN
iPired by military fpirit, let him know. thar IN.
world views HIM as military character and tba,
character and his life will be equally dear to him.
Let 1T not be thought am an advocate for napdno
troops. No; let citizens be folders. but Ies
them be folders indeed
MARCELLUS.