Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-09-02
Richmond, august SON, 1907.

SIR,
HAVE received your favor Of the
lSth, enclosing the resolutions of the Light
infantry company under your command
lhey manifest spirit of patriotism homo
rabie to them, and honorable to our coun-
try The zeal and ardor cvi3ced by the
voluntary tender of their services, will re
ceipe high reward In the thankfulness of
their country, and are the surest pledges of
the most efficient exertions whenever they
may he called into the field I perform a
pleasing duty when announce 10 you and
TO them, that / accept, for my CT un.ry, the
tender of their services. But as there are
two acts of Congress under which the exc
cutive are authorized to accept the service
OF Volunteers, wiz the act of the 18th of
April, 1906, and the act OF the oath of Fe.
bruary last, the former requiring a service
OF six months, the latter service of twelve
months, you will be pleased. to state under
which actyour tender is made. And Ibeg
leave to state to you, most explicitly and
nnequvocally, that not only the officers of
yonr company, but of all other companies,
whose services may be rendered and accep-
ted under either act of Congress, will retain
the same rank, in every recpect that they
now hold. enclose both acts for your con-
sideratioh
am sorry to observe by your letter,
that much dissatisfaction has been given
I in the part of the state in which you reside,
by the commissions that have been granted
TO certain persons as officers of the "Vir-
giIia Legion of Volunteers" You express
fear that their operation will be TO throw
into the back ground, the present old and
experienced officers who have encountered
much trouble. and devoted much time, IN
training and disciplining the militia. You
saw however thas the subject is not fully un.
derstood, and expect that the executive
viii give some explanations. / assure you,
sir, it will always afford me much pleasure
to give to any of my fellow tizens, a frank
and honest explanation of any part of my
official conduct, whenever it shall be asked
in the spirit and manner which mark your
letter.
The act of Congress of the oath Of Fe-
bruary last, authorizes the President of the
| United States "to accept Of any company
cor companies of volunteers, either Of Ar
"tillery, Cavalry, or Infantry, who may
"assnciate and offer themselves for the SER
"vice, not exceeding $4,000 men," whose
term of service shall be twelve months af-
! ter they shall have arrive at the place Of
rendezvous. 1t alse au,horises the Presi-
4 hNliA Niifiti llAO DdAldliOilS3 tDQud-
! drons, Regiments, Brigades, &c. But the
President having called on the executive
to hold in readiness 1868 Of the militia OF
this state, being our quota of the detach-
ment Of 100 900, has given to the executive
| the power of accepting, for him, Volunteers
under this act, in lieu Of the 1868 militia
directed to be held in readiness, and has
likewise transferred to them the power oi
organizing them into Battaions, Squadrons
Regiments, Brigades, sc. He has moieo.
yer urged, as matter Of the first impor.
lance, the necessity Of encouraging by al
the means in their power, such vounCei
associations as are contemplated and autho.
rized by the above act of Congress--a mo-
ments reference to- the act, will evince, thai
il cnntcmplates and authorizes Volunteers
Of two descriptions first, such companies
battalions, &c already organized, andfor
ming part Of the militia, as shall volunta
rily tender themselves and secondly, suci
companies Of Volunteers, not already OF
ganized, az "Blag a8sociafe and gGer Them
seiVes for the Seg-pice," and may be form
ed of individuals not only from dlferen
Companies, bat from difient regiments An,