Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-12-09
-[12 IL Gents Single.


ses and to inact an INCREASED punishment, is defecs
tive and has never been carried into effect because
prescribes mode of legally ascertanng the ior-
mer conviction OF the person. submit for tho
consideration of the Assembly whether be not ayi.
able In such cases, direct an investigation in the
District Court o. Richmond where may be easily pro-
cured the record, Of the former convictions and tho
evidence OF the identity of the person.
There one circumstance, relation to this institu.
ton, which conceive, is highly worthy the attention.
\ OF the Legislature. 1t is the frequency with which
the most desperate and daring attempts are made by
the conviCts effect their escape. These plans al
though well conceived, and deeply laid have not sue
ceeded, IN any instance, since your last sessions But
they have sometimes approached the very roon,ent rs
execution before they have been discovered. Dis
appointment seemed discourage them; and it
was at length found necessary encrease the detach
ment OF the Public Guard stationed the Pententi y.
r ano TO require the constant presence both aav and
night, OF OF the commits stoned officers Il has NOT
since been found advisable lessen the force stationed
there, dispense with the presence of the officer
80 that although escapes thus prevented the obecs
Is accomplished At vast expense the community
and greatly to the public inary, by weakening the
Fuolic Guard as to render it less competent q pro-
tect the public property this city, for the prcselva-
tom OF which 1t was originally established. Iii there
tore respectfully submitted whether sound policy does
notrequire an encreased severity of for
cspes, or attempts to escape. - -
On the training and discipninp the great body IF
thc militia, SO frequently the subject of conaunca-
ton to the Assembly, forbear make any obs Il.
ons not because deem the subject unnterestine bue
because It's importance at all times and particularly in
the present aspect o. foreign relations is so obv
ouS that IL is impossible any thing could saw conId
encrsase the oppression already existing on the mind
OF every member OF the Assembly I beg leave how.
ever TO remark that the rules of discipline az
ed by Congress in their resolution of the goth of March
i779, AND which, by the directions OF the Assemble
been distributed AMONG the officers of the militia
hava 10 relation TO cavalry exercise discipline nor
has any system OF discipline ever been furnished tbe
officers OF cavalry for tkeir information Perm;t M
20 recommend TO the consideration of the Assembly
sinai! " realise the sword exercise Tor Caval
ry, wh:$h is said 10 have been digested partly fro,,
the Prussian and partly from the HUNGARIAN cyerc;-
Tor hassars, and be universally introduced into tb
armies of Europe and Is believed contain the be..
system OF cavalry exercise now eytast. am indebted
tor this treatise Laor John Clarke che superter.
dart OF the Mandatory OF rms who in =
IN very sensible and well written letter. with the pas
trotic wish that 1t mi ght be published and circulated ~
mohg the officers OF cavalry, with the addition of en-
eSVngs executed IN TIE style of thoss in Steuben',
discipline, exhibiting the horseman in all the var;onn
attitudes OF performing the motions and evolutiorm
described in the treatise. The Executive approved the
Pan but determined, before its execution 20 suh;t
1t Tor the consideration OF the Assembly
ne INCREASING expense, with tina encreasng num-
o courts martial, arising from the latitude of con-
Struction given to certain parts of the militia law is
conceive, worthy the attention of the Leqisatnre
helr interposton is the more necessarv bec,r.e
the construction given the law varies with derep,
ocers IN different parts of the state and even with
different officers IN the same neehborhood Rv the
I'D section of the militia law passed in the session &c
soc
l0oS &c is directed that any officer who NAV be gull
OF disobedience, or other msbehavior when on du.
OF :haii at any tme De guilty of any conduct I'm.
becoming the character of officer shall be put under
arrest his commanding officer and tried as hereafter
directed. Some officers have given very broad con-
sructlon to the general words Of this section. and
nave not considered them restrained by any thing to be
louhu IN other parts OF the law Their censtruc-
ton authorses and requires the arrest of oaoers for
ac's winch are Iaere violations of morality or law in
no manner relating to their official character or CON
Ia bp axrsI .i,ot.
olatlons OF the rules OF dccorum have been exhbed 40
lne 'ounaaton OF arrests. Other officers have given to
TINS section more limited construction, believing it
20 oe restrained IN IT'S application, by the 27n secto1
which IN prescribing the organization Of courts mar
uai speaks OF them as being instituted far tie trial Of
e6e"ces as they are to be veIved in 1giffay,, E9b
ana therefore IN the estimation of the asvocates of
the limited construction, prccludes courts martial
Io" enqurnS lne acts, which, although they may be
VIOLATIONS OF the laws OF honor morality and even Of
he positive laws OF the land have relation to- the of.
hca conduct Of the accused. beg leave to represent
th"'t is believed, the facility of procuring arrests has
III many instances been wantonly abused to the vx,.