Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-12-03


Ger of the United States, commandant of the
post, and to be obedient to his orders. The
Importance of this order arises from GER
tam measures which have heen pursued in
another quarter of the Union, where a SINH
lar request on the part of the president
was refused
shall not indulge, Fellow Citizens, in a.
nv glowing professions of zeal and ardor in
the cause of sratc rights, but will only re.
mark. could possibly have no motive TO
abandon them. 1t became my duty rnateri
aiiy TO weigh the propriety of complying
with the request, and fearlessly to pursue
the course which my best judgment recon-
mended. In deliberating upon the subject,
did not lose sight of the constitutional OBJ
iections which had been urged against the
measure but, after the most mature inves-
tisation which was able to make, they ap-
peared to me to be without foundation, and
IN no degree warranted by just interpre-
tation OF the laws or constitution of the u
nited States. That instrument has most
wisely, IN my opinion, placed the whole phv
slcal force of the nation under the controul
OF the national authority, bv providing a.
mong other regulations, concerning the mi
itia. that the president shall be commander
in chief of the militia of the several states,
when called into the actual service of the U
Hited States.
lhe occasion which will justify their being
caiied out, n the manner in which they
snail be employed, must of necessity, be de-
termlned by the General Government. That
un'tv OF design, and indivisibility of COM
mand, are essential to success in military o.
perations. is an apothegm as lust as it is
trite, and if instead of an influence, which
snail pervade, embody and direct TIE force
OF the nation by comprehensive system, it
Is TO be broken up, into as many fragments
as there are states, and to be di ected by as
many different authorities it requires not
the aid ut prophecy To foretel thar these
fragments may successfully become the vic
| TINS ot foreign force, which, if resisted bv
combined effort, would be dssiDated
| AS chaf before the wind. The security of
the states IS found in the salutarv provision
Ut the constitution, which gives to Then, The
| appointment of the officers OF the militia,
| and IN the integrity. which the theory OF the
| government supnoses, will alwaysbe found i'm
| the chiet magistrate; whose sovereign CON
troulof the ehtire force osthenation (if direct
| ed by prudent and honest views.) cannot but
De productive of good consequences: bur from
whom there is nothing co apprehend, should
| he attempt to turn the arms intended for
| the defence of the state against itsrH - a.
Sainst any particular member thereof; in
asmuch, as the patriotism and state attach
ments of the militia officers (who, from
their very organization, will be always a.
bove corruption) would prompt them to
trown into contempt so aagtious design.
1t 1T be admitted that the president of the
United States, is commander in chief of the
militia, when called into actual service, it
would seem to follow, as he has not the pow
err OF ubiquity, and as they must occasion
ally be called upon different and widely dis
tant service, and, further as they must fire.
7 quently be associated with regulars, that il
is perfectly correct that federal officer of
superior grade, should take the command
as representing the president, lest this di
lemma should ensue that a militia officer
of inferior grade, in the absence of the pre-
sldent, should either have the command or
carry on operations, distinct from, and in
dependent of the regular force. Reason and
usage unite against the latter state of things ;
and it is believed, that, throughout the re-
volutionary contest, whenever the militia oi
the states, and the continentaIs acted to-
gether, grade always decided the command
and where there was equality (for the sake
ct unity of command) the continental claim
ed and enjoyed presidency.
The document No 9. is letter from the
Secretary of War, received the Cd Septem-
Der. communicating the request of tie Pre-.
sident of the United States, that / should
cause 1900 of the detached militia mmedi
ately to take the field torendezvous at some
Convenient point in this state with view
ultimately to join the North Western Army
No. 10 contains my general orders issued il
pursuance OF this request, which as well a.
my former orders, detachng the 500 militia
for the defence of Norfolk, were obeyed with
a promptitude honorable to the citizen!
composing the detaChments. The requsi
ton OF 1900 militia was made necessary ir
consequence of the disastrous occurrence al
Detroit; which, whilst it exhibited the NOR
tifying spectacle of an American army, sur
rendering without blow, to the forces OF
Great Britain, laid bare our defenceless from
tier, to the incursions our enemy, and their
ferocious allies, whose deeds Of cruelty were
every where manifested by the indscrimi
nate slaughter of men, women and children
To arrest this horrible warfare, it was ne
cessary that the utmost dispatch should 10
used. As. however, this emergency wa,
entirely unexpected, and considerable pc
cuniary means were necessary for the equip
ment If the detachment, we were not with
out embarrassments.
The contingent fund being fixed upon On,
peace establishment was scarcely adequate
to meet the ordinary eXpences Of govern
nent. The extraordinary expenditures in
separately incident to state of war, hat
exhausted it. One Of two alternatives wa
to be embraced; either the convention o
the Legislature, or an exercise Of authorit,
on the part Of the Executive, upon thei
own responsibility. The latter was prefer
red. To have convened the Legislature
! would have been inconvenient to the NJ IN
bers; attended with an expense amounting
TO sum beyond what was requisite for TN
equipment of the detachment; and produc