Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-08-19
FOR THE ARGUS.

To The Officers and otAe,. Citizens comic
sing the Militia # Yirginia. 1
FELLhw-CIrIzENs,
WHENEVER the American
people exhibit themselves in the dignified !
position OF an united and magaanimous ma
ton, the foes of IT'S government, the envions |
and the malign, Who repine at the happi- ,
ness which free government produces, take
the alarm. The hopes of monarchists and
the pelhdious schemes of aristoci ala are
blasted by the enrolling spirit of freedom,
and the resources or treachery and fraud
are opened TO disunite and battle the ener-
gies of virtue and generosity.
I'm the Virginia G zettc Of Saturday,
"the Militia Officers of Virginia" are adj ;
dressed by a writer, who to impose with
more facility on those whom the writer
addresses, assumes The signature of g Fir
ginta," and thereby aims co identity him.
self with the state and to enlist the well
known affection OF Virginians for their ma
tive state, in the Cause of sophlstry, delusi-
ons and discord.
He calls himself Brother officer, (say
ONCE hunter) who is by birth lwant.ns
snug b!rth) principle and interest (rc,,d
principal and intere.tl inSera yattach-
cd to you and our happy country.
HIS object Of animadv version is an impor-
rant measure ofgreat public concern,nert
and which in its design reflects high credit
on its authors, and in its consequences may
be productive OF the greatest advantages
and honor to Virginia and the Uniou-A
project has been formed to institute vo-
luntcer military corps for The service Of the
country on this emergency; against this
project the writer directs his assault and
in hostility TO this laudable design he aims
to make you party.
My purpose is to expose the fallacious
assumptions of the writer, first by shew ng
that he is Ignorant OH the merits of the SUBJ
Ject which ne attempts TO arraign; and in
the second place To Shew that the notions
which he attempts to incuicate are not on
ly absurd in themselves but would be fatal
IT they were attempted TO &c acted upon.
de says that an unprecedented effort
has been made in the attempt to embotly
militia legion the writer shews in this
allegation how lit oqu 4inted he is with
the principles o. our g,v. rrmcnt and the
living history o: ourcountry. Il j. not ri us
20 every informed man that the thing is nor
unprecedented. In Eew-Yoik there are
associated corps of uniformed military We
iunteers. In Philadelphia the celebrity of
the volunteer militia legion has been C,sn-
spicuous for near dozen years past That
corps IS organized without any sane ton Of
law, forms its own laws, elects its own Of
ficers, and legislates by its board of cfhcers
for all the details of its organization. Its
also remarkable as proof Of the superb
cial knowledge of the writer in uestion:
that the actual commandant now holds no
commission in the militia that its FIRST
major is colonel commandant of a miiitia
regiment, and its second major holds the
rank i'll the militia of brigad,er general.
Here then is precedent and proof of the RI
diculous inconsistency ofthe writer. Sure
ly it will not he said that the PennsyIva-
mans are less tenacious of their rights than
any other state, and If such an institution
may and does exist with great utility and
without any inconvenience there, at least il
cannot be deemed more dangerous OF ul,-
constitutional here.
But the most exceptionable part of the
writer's attack on the plan fi,r VIRGINIA
legion, is his want of due rel gard to the
principles upon which the militia general
ly is constituted, and the absurd faucies
which he sets up as dogmas, inducing or
attempting indirectly to induce belief that
the institution OF volunteer corps, is illegal
injurious to military oceedings-and
subversive of your rights.
On these points / beg leave to invite
J'uI eOhSiuCrdtioh anu NOT 10 40 pt or aD-
prove of my opinions, should they not be
foUnd TO accord with your Judgment.
In The first place there is special law
of the union, authnrising the formation of
corps of volunteers the Virginia legion
POUNDS its formation on the authority of
that law. Here then the writer attacks
the law, and not the legion and by his
mode OF attack plainly proves that he is but
= very sorry facheiun, since even in his first
approaches he has totally mistaken his
ground You will see as you PASS hi. for
ces in review, that he has not single idea
Of the couf d' orHj ami that he exposes
his Hanks and his rear TO the attack of the |
least informed non-commissioned officer.
How is the formation Of legion under
authority of Law, likely to injure military |
proceedings He has not cnndescendcd to /
tell you but he says IL is so, & therefore pre-.
sumes you will believe it, because he SAYS, |
he is an officer. Military proceedings is a !
very loose expression, and you can ONLY in !
fer meaning from analogy. presume Inc .
means 10y proceedings, the OF ganizatIon Of |
militia corps, the selection of the quota for |
public service, and finally discipline. A
little consideration will shcw that this Off /
Ger IS wholly unacqua.nted with the princi-
pies ri the militia system, and the operate
on OF that system when the quota - called
Into service.
1t Is well known that the state laws con-
nnruff.cr militia II.