The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-09-01

Is The persoos propoka IL oiScers. il order
10 euab!c them to carry il into efca-alt is a
far that about the middle Of the month Of July,
fhe. Aasof Conerefs authorizing volunteer az
fociatiens, was pubi;ihed BY order of the Exc
cusive, in all the pagers of this city. for the
Information of our fellow citizens as was ALTO
the letter of the Secretary at war authorizing
The executive to accept of Volunteers under
that hs, in part of the quota of the militia res
Quired from this Rate. It is alto fact that on
TIE 18th of AuguR, although numerous patrio-.
tic tenders of fervice, of general nature, had
been with pleafare received by the Executive,
yet they had not received one that wa.fprcial-
ly made under that law nor had there been
any applications to grant commffions for the
purpofe of rafting Volunteer companies under
it., The Executive therefore in approving the
plan of the " Virginia Legion of Volunteers''
approved the 6rf that was Offered for their
confederation; and commifiions have been
granted TO certain perfons, as Captains, Feu-
tenants and Enigns, for the purpofe of enabling
them to Sraife their companies. No higher Of
ficers have been commiiiioned a.tho' they are
de6gnated. But 1 do not entertain any doubt
of the power of the Executive to grant COM
millions to any Office below the rank of gener-
al-It NUT be admitted by all that the Object of
this afiociation is patriotic one. Does it in.
terfere with the rights of any individual in the
commonwealth. / have already fhewnthat the
\ commiliions do not interfere with the exiting
militia arrangements, and no perfon whatever
viii cnlif under them except by his own volun-
tary ACT. It has Been announced to the public
that if companies already organized mall fender
themfelves, they and their officers will be re-
ceived, and tAat they sDiy bold tb<ir fyesnf rank
and grade. Ii the prefent militia oEficers ihall
not be able to procure tender of the feryce
OF the corps they now command, but will raife
sfociations requiring the fame command, they
will bs placed at their head, ssitb t6eir prejsnt
rank and grade /; or fthey propofe to raife al
tociatious which require command higher than
that they now hold, commiiious will be given
for that purpofe; and am exprefsly authori.
ed TO Gate, that the executive will, in all cafes,
accept the tenders made by officers Of the mill.
tia, in preference to the tenders made by others,
provided the tenders fhail be of the fame extent.
How then can the officers com plain OF this ar
raIgemers A preference will b. given TO
them If they will come forward blu, If thew
neither tender their prelent corps, nor raife
new afociations. would it be right, that vol
unteer alterations, planned and RATED by
others, thoIld be placed snder their Command.
am certsin they would be the Iaif TO defire it.
Ihe Virginia Legion even fit fhall iucceei win
NOT raiie more than about one fifth part Of the
Volunteers wiihed to be RATED BY the Pre(;dent.
here then is an ample field for the exercife of
the patriotifn of Four fellow citizens. They will
not defeat an important objeef of an important
act of Congreis, by contentious about mere
form and technical propriety..
have thought II proper TO be thus explicit
az TO the power, views, aud poll y of the Ex
ecutIye, n'erantirg commffions TO the VIZ.
gtf'ia Legion of Volunteers % and fincerely
hops that there viii no longer appear any
ground for diifatisfaeion. fhali indeed be
much concerned f we have miftaken our own
powers, orthe policy!which the n,eref of our
country repaired us to have purfued We.
hewevcr, feel a pleaiing confcioufnels, that on
this occsfiou, we have done nothing more sof
Ieis than what appeared TO lis to be our duty.
Asto that part of your lctterin which YOU re.
qnett ny opinion, as to the nature of the fer
vice in which the volunteers will probsbly he
employed, it is out Of my power to give any
dehnitive aniwer--T They viii be uhder tSi d.
reetiou OF the General Government It 10 Ger.
tain, however. that they will be EMPLOYED on
no otje6 except fnch az may be Unified hy
regard to- the honor and ihterefts of the nation I.
rspelli1g invaeons that may be made upon us,
or carrying, in our turn, inyaiion into the terri
tories OF any enemies that May be accelfibie 70
5 rs.
lam with great refpeH,
Sir Your obeaient fervaHt,
VIM. H. cABELL.
Capt. FovsHEE G.. TEES, Eaex.
H b.