The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-03-13

on |iSSS AOr ,tnc same ODlSCtSr SSrtalnlJ
very few can be countcdupo in that form
what then is the remedy Tor this inconveni
ence pointed o'it in the bill. If entire com
panies should be formed out OF different re.
Slments or companies, then they are to be-
omcered according toethe laws Of the res
pectRe statea.s, lie was informed that the
states of Massachusetts, Vermont, MARYLAND
Virginia and TENNESSEE at least, have n,
laws by which such officers can be commits
stoned. In Virginia he believed, that law
had been passed shortly after the passage
OF the $4,000 volunteer bill, to prohibit the
Chlef executive magistrate Of that state from
commissioning officers OF volunteer corps
ms law, he believed to be now in force
ne mad used his best endeavors to get the
law, to ascertain its precise bearing and ex-
tent, but had not beeh able to obtain it
lie had no doubt, however, about the exis-
tence OF such a law and fit be the case,
the provisions of the bill cannot be executed
IN Virginia. He Understood, the ground
upon which the law passed in that state, was
that the volunteer principle deranged and
inverted the existing order of the militia
commissions. If that state, with all its
patriotic zeal invariably manifested for sup
porting the government of the U. s. in all
its measures for vindicatinS its rights, could
see the volupeer bill in such light as to
Justify its interference to prohibit it's execu-
ton; he thought it an unfortunate hardin
ger OF its future destinies Besides, is it at
all likely, that in states where the laws
might justify commissioning officers con-
iermabiy to the provisions of this bill, that
1t wilI be done, when they are informed
there are so many other states in which it
cannot be done consistently with their laws
After all, II contrary TO every calculation,
these volunteers should be raised, the advo-
Gates of the bill generally tell you, that they
cannot be authoritativeiy marched beyond
the limits of the y. S. and of course Cannot
be applied to any of the offensive purposes
OF the government.
Again, sir, the committee of the senate in
reviewing the former volunteer bills, and
that for raising $4,000 volun-
teers, passed the Gath Feb 1907, very pro-
perly called upon the secretary for the de-
partment of war, to inform it what had been
the practical effects of these lawsuits off,
cial report is before us, in which he informs
US, that there is no record whatever in his
Office, OF the tender of any services under a.
ny OF the former volunteer laws. If, after
the attack upon the Chesapeake, no ten
ders OF the services of volunteers were made
sufficient to justify recording them in the
war Office, ought we to calculate upon them
on any future occasion He always con-
sidered these laws merely nominal they
answered to call forth lew patriotic adj
dresses to the President, and few elegant
patriotic replies; but produced no benef-
cial practical effects. He did not mean to
intimate the most remote censure neither to-
wards the late President nor the Secretary
for the Department of War, in not preserv-
ing the traces Of these patriotic tenders
he believed the errors were in the law in
the essential deficiencies of the system. He
presumed that none of these tenders were
made i'll form, which would enable the
president TO command the services rendered;
and OF course, record of them, would have
been unnecessary. The responsibility by
regiments and companies, is not sufficient.
There ought to be muster rolls of individuals
by names, a. B.. & G. &c. &c. who compose
these regiments and companies. Call upon
a regiment under such a collective tender
OF services, and you will probably find worry
few individuals, who would admit, that they
were responsible for such tender and would
refuse to be bound by it.
Such being the report upon the practical
nothingness of this system heretofore, ought
it not to be well examined, and its errors
corrected before we rely upon it in times to
come (? Heretofore, fortunately for u.s., we
have had no occasion to put this system fur
Their to the test of experiment, than the
mere initiation OF rendering services. We
have had no war. The threatenings have
passed of till they have now nearly reach
ed crisis; but if war heretofore had come
upon us, would it not probably have been a
subject OF misfortune and regret, that a re-
lance should have been had for military SER
vices, upon SYSTEM which could not, and
did rot produce even practical offer of mi
ltary services Now after this experience,
when, if we befeve the Presidents message,
actual warts approaching, ought we to place
much reliance upon this system for raising
a military force Oughtsitsto be con slider
ed as the principal instead of an auxiliary
force Especially if the doctrine be true,
that IL raised, it cannot constitutionally be
marched beyond TIE limits of the ". S.
In that case, he could not see it's use as an
auxiliary force. Yet he feared, for the rea-
sons before stated, it was regarded by the
executive, IS the principal rather than the
auxiliary force, Mr.. Giles said, he knew it
was the opinion entertained by many well
peaning gentlemen; and he>had lately seen
IN the newspapers, the expression of the o.
pipion ascribed 70 an honorable member ON
this floor, that this species of force was more
congenial 30 the spirit of the constitution,
than regular force. He said, he never
could discern this 8kirft in the constitution,
and he should regret very much to find such
spirit there. He said, it was not uncom-
mon to sec gentlemen, the best disposed sub
shutting their own visions, scruples and ap-
prehensioils for the provisions of the consti-
tuition /; but Il was fortunate for the people
OF the II. 3. that the wise trainers of that in
Struiueut did NOT act 1.-dpr fhe ;nn,,3nre ~