The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-08-14
A VOLUNTEER ASSOCIATION.

Every one fees and acknowledges the ftronc
probability of a rupture with Great Britain.
The requihtion by the Prciident of our ouota
OF one hundred thoufand men to be held in
readInetS, and his call of Congrefs by ProcIa-
marion, are iufhcient proofs that he, who fees
ana understands the whole ground, entertains
the fame impreAion.-The Secretary of War.
IN his letter to the governor of this fate, which
has been publifhed, fays that volunteers vii, he
received under this call the governor of the
tate has, in bis general orders, exprefTed bia
hope that the whole quota of the fate, will he
filed by volunteers The administration of the
United States have tince earnefIy pre1ed the
rate Executive to encourage the VoLu1tecr Er-
Diee. Hence 1t is evident that volunteers are
not only preferred to drafted militia but anx
louily delired both by the federal and 0ate Ex-
ecutives. The reaions are obvious to 90 in
to the fervice will not be equally convenient to
all. Their REFLECTIVE occupations and rurCIits
IN civil life; the fate Of their health the lats
OF their families; the rate of their affairs, and
thoufand other circumstances, will necefarily
make wide difference amongft the individuals
or fociety, IN relation 20 this futjea To rone it
might be ruin and death to go into the fervce !;
10 others 1t might produce very little inconve-
nlence: to others none at all: and to Others
again 1t might be a fource of pIeafure. This
difference of convenience will naturally nro-
duce different degrees of Willingness to join tine
iervice A draft will pay no refpea to thefc
considerations: it will light with the Impartial
hty OF death, on the willing and the unwilling (;
1t may take the honelt labourer from the buff.
neis by which he gains the daily bread of nu-
merous family; it may take the man of weak
contribution and precarious health it NAV tear
the huiband from the chamber of fick wife (:
the Ton from the bed of an aged and infirm pa
rent, who may lean upon his piety alone =
Whereas voluntary af1ociations By taking only
thofe whole circumstances and can of character
render military fervice pIealUre, actually
ightens The hardihps of war, in a national
point of view; while at the fame time, it col
leets together the mott willing and ardent fpi.
rt', only, and confequeniIy forms the moa ef-
tective army.-But militia companies being
formed ny diitrtts, 1t 10 rarely TO be expected
that whole company, with its proper officers,
hail enjoy tboie circumftances Of convenience 1;
which will induce it to move in A body, into
iervice OF any length. Hence the act of Con-
Srets OF the 24;h of February lar, contcmplates
volunteer aiociations djfiaF from tie militia
Of tie Slate: fuch are the Alterations which
the Executive of this tate has been requeRed
to encourage. Tbefe voluntary fluctuations do
not bY any means interfere with the militia ar
Engagements; the rank of no militia officer can
be affected by It; ince even the volunteer re-
cruits, themielgcs, are directed by the sd of
CongJeis before mentioned, 90 remain IN heir
ieveral militia companies and do duty, as here
totore, until called out into actual fefvcc aud
as 10 the officers who may be CONDITIONED IN
tue volunteer ALLEGATIONS, being defined only
ior iPecIhc purpois, they can have 10 eollion,