The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-03-31
DEoAfE IN SENATE.
EREPoRTED FOR THE ANERicAR.1
IN SENATE-January ~.
Debate on the Bill for raisias Gty thensosa Ts-

IN SENATE--Janusry av.
Debate on the biii 70, 'aisias Eir sAeasosa Tss
i,ssterys. a.
;M. BLBB ~ reply TO M. Ciies.
Air. BIBB said, he WAS sorry it should ever have
fallen TO his lot TO answer some Of the observations
made by the honorable gentleman from Virgins
{Mr- Giles.) The sentiments which be has uttered,
lssid Mr.. b. Ieonfsss, were unexpected from that
ought not 10 pass unnoticcd. trust shall b in
dulged BY the Senate in my answer.
could have wished that the bin hal been suffer-
ell to progress until il had received its last dress But
the honorable gentleman has thought Il convenient,
upon the question of agreeing or,s,Sreeing to the
proposed reduction of the nun.bero o,unteerx to 5
000to attack, not only the prae2es Of the bill lis
details The course which he has taken, is reQui-
siti0n upon Che rienis 20 the p,rcipics oi the bin
defend them. Otherwise, opinhans against its
its might he forestlle, to the exclusion If due at
tention to tue details, or OF just decision upon
mepshnents, proposed or to BE- pro2oset.. Some OF
the objections made, beg leave tn say, woald be
removed, asl thiok, by adopting some cnlments
just now sent me. by honorable ne;,lber (Mr.
varnnn) who is absent from ,s place, account OF
The bill proposes that the officers shall be appoint
ed according to the laws VI the several states where
In the volunteers May tender their services. The
honorable gentleman has told us, cannot expect
whole regiments to volunteer their services and II
entire companies shall be formed ont of different
companies or regiments, the laws Of several Of the
states do not provide for issuing commissions for such
regiments, consisting Of all psrsons composing them
according to the now existing organization, win ten
der their servicss. But In many all OF the States
there free corps. organised according the ia
Of the states web armed, equipped aud trained,
comPosed OF Young men and others, whose circum-
stances win permit, and whose patriotism viii induce,
tender of their services in conponies as now exs
ting. When men from different companies or regi
mcnts associate TO make tender OF their services.
do not expect AMI special commissions viii Be
issued. Can 1t be supposed, that in any regiment.
priyates will be prevented from tesdering their
vices for want OF commissioned ohcers, equally ren-
dy to volunteer their services No, SIR, will
suppose unworthy Of any regim ent in the
o. States. Experience tells u.s. it is easy, YER easy
to get officers for whole army. We may safely
calculate that there will be no dearth OF
pany officers to take charge of the prvatcs In the
higher grades, the inducements to enter the seryi-
ces are greater the excitement rises with the rank
OF the officer, inasnuch the prospect OF acquiring
individual distinction am! military fame is brighter.
Sr, we shall h9ve no scarcity. Of commissioned Off
GERS Of any grade. easerto enter the service Vol
unteers The difficulty most likely to oeeur is that
OF deciding between conen''ug s'ipcrnnmeraty OIL
GERS. There are tyo noles OF deciding in such ca
ses the one conventional amcngt the officers, such
as by ballot election Of the prvates Sc. the other
by tt,e appoiatnient of hc proper superior officer,
Such as the Brigas,er Genera Major General Adj
Jutant Senera, or finally the Comnauder IN Chief,
as the case may require Where tlc volunteer Qiii-
GERS cannot agree undgrstanl that rnle OF appone-
ment is to be appiiea~hie world pre- vail ia the
m Gaze Of a cs fora detachment OF militia. Tie
mode may vary in diiersnt states, buti de suppose
practical mode does exist in every state either
by positive law OF by usage, which would be sde-
qlate to such 81 emergency. ~ cetschng the quo
II of militia from stat,, some privsfss volunteer
from this, from that company, and some arc
drafted PERHAPS, until the nrmbcr rc1uiredis made
up. How the officers lesig;atcn il, such eases!
believe in ether OF the modes I have men.
toned. Shall be told that The officers too are to be-
co'slpsAed into service by draught What, an Of
Ger dragged into service by draught No, sir, af
liz l.s
oher into SERVICE the officers submitting the mseves
TO such indigny, would not dare to appear npou p2
rade. The privates themselves would treat such
white hycred officers with scorn.
s:csi.i, regret vSiy inuvil 10 p1ss this bi in
shape which would prevent the people Of Masss-
ehusetts, Vermont, Maryland, Virgina,Or feOnssee,
from an opportunity oftsndcring their ssrTices 10
the general government. cannot persuade myself
She present provisions of the bill would have such
effect. Much attention has been bestowed to accom-
modate II TO the variant modes of appointment in the
several states, and despair of being able to adopt
any other phraseology more pa.atabe to majority
and more piant to the regulations OF each state; at
the same time retaining the favortc principle OF ad
dressing the invitation to the respective militia off,
cers according To their grades
We arc told by the honorable member, that the
state Of Virginia passed law 10 prohibit the eAecu
ton OF former volunteer b, because the volunteer
system deranged and inverted the existing order of
the militia commissions. This he told us was an I'M
fortunate harbipger of the future destnies OF the pre-
sent BILL wish the gentleman had given us mors
detailed account of the law Of Virginia, ans: of the
particular incouveniences which induced such in
tcrferance L have very great respect for the poo
pie and for the laws of Nirgina-she IS my native
state, my alma mater-I respect her Ue.ng Of the
true faith, although some of her sons are apostatc
and should be sorry to fi that she had ciec-
ked correct principles 1t May have been, that the
Gov rnor OF Virginia had exercised authority nO'
delegated to him, OF iss,ing special commissions to
Volunteers not taking the militia officers excnsyely
nor paying just and due respect to their rank ~ the
"a. Il l1ys