Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-12-09

he woue now proceed to examine more critically Il
particular provisions of the bill under consideration
and he feared they would be found Inefficient if m
mpracucable. 1t appears. in the first place. not to
directed any officer for execution but TO rest upon IL
patriotic impulse OF whole regiments or companies.
we reflect tor one moment upon the different materia
CT which militia regiments or companies are composed
surely but little reliance can be had upon their tenderin
their services in that FORM The rich and the poo
the strong and the weak, tile brave aud the tmid, til
single and the married, &c &c. constitute promiscl
ousy militia regiments and companies Is it TO be pre-
snmed, that men of such different habits in such differ
e conditions in life &c. &C. viii all unite in tendern
their services for the same obectsf Certainly yer
few can be counted upon in that form what then til
remedy for this Inconvenience pointed ont in the
entire companies should be form ed OF different reg
'nenis or companies, then they be oficered
cordiny to the laws OF The respective states He
informed that the states of Massachusetts, Vermcn
Maryland, Virginia and Tennessee at least, have n
laws by which such officers can be commissioned /
virginia he believed, that law had been passed shor,
after the passage of the $4,000 VOLUNTEER BILL to pro
hon The Chief executive magistrate Of that state iron
commissioning officers of the volunteer corps. Thi
law, he oesiNed now to be in force He had used hi
oes1 endeavors to get the law, to ascertain its precs
bearing and extent, but had BEEN able to obtain
lie had no doubt, however, about the existence of suc
law and 1t be the case, the provisions OF the bill
cannot De executed IN Virginia. He understood, tn
ground upon which the law passed in that state wa
that the volunteer principle deranged and inverted III
existing order of the militia commissions IL that state
with ali It's patriotic zeal invariably manifested for snip
sures for indicating its rights could see the volunee
Dill in such light justify its interference to pro
hbit its execution he thought it an unfortunate har
oDger OF its future destines. Besides is il at ell like
y, that IN states where the laws might justify commits
sionn ocers conformaby the provisions of this bill
mat 1t will be DONE when they are informed there arr
SO many Other STAKES III which cannot be consistently
with their laws! After all If contrary to every cacu
ation these volunteers should De raised the advocate
OF the bill generally el GU that they cannot be autho
ritavely marcned beyond tte limits of the us and G
course cannot be applied any of the offensive pur
poses OF the government.
Again, sir the committee of the Senate in rev;e wins
the former volunteer bAs and particularly that for rails
hg 3oOoO voiuhieers passed the oath Feb. 1907 YER
properly called upon the secretary for the epartmen
OF war, to inform it what had been the practical effect
OF these aws-his ON cal report is before u.s. in which
ne informs us that there is no record whatever in bi
once OF the tender OF any services under any of the
mer volunteer laws. If after the attack upon the Che
Sapeake no tenders of the services OF volunteers
made sufficient to justify recording them in the war of
nGs ouS We 10 caicRletG pl t,.ei c my ftare &C
casion! He always considered these laws merely no
uina they answered TO call forth lew patriotic adj
dresses 10 tie President and few elegant re
fes; but produced no beneficial practical effects HI
cia not mean to intimate the censure nei
thTi towards the late President the Secretary TO
the Departnienr OF War; in not preserving the trace
81 these patriotic tenders. He believed the errors wer
IN te law in the essential deficiencies of the vstem
lie presumed that nonc OF these tenders we're made in
form, which would enable the President TO comrnant
the services rendered land of course record OF them
would have been unnecessary. The responsibility b.
regiments and companies, is not sufficient There ou gil
20 Ue muster rolls or individuals by names A B. &
&c &c who compose these regiments aud companies
Call upon regiment under such collective tender
services, and you will probably find very few iudiyiIu
ais who would admit, that they were responsible ft
such TENDER and would individually refuse to be bount
by il.
ouch being the report upon the practical nothingnes
OF this system heretofore ought it not to be well exa
mined, and it's errors corrected before VIC reIv ,nn
Here ot.ixy ro,,,
had no occasion to put this system further to this test
experiment, than the imitation of rendering ser
vices We had no war. The threatenings have pass
ed on till they have yearly reached q crisis but
war heretofore had upon us, would it not proba
ply nave been subject. of misfortune and regret tina
reliance should have been had for military services
upon system, which could not and did not produce
ven practical offer of military services, Now afte
this experience, when, if we believe the President
message actual warts approaching, ought We to pac
much reliance upon this system for raising star
force Ought it to be discovered as the PRINCIPAL
instead of auxiliary force9 Especially if the doc
trne be true, that it raised it consttutonay
marched beyond tue limits OF the United States--i
that case he could not its auxiliary force
Yet he feared for the reasons before stated was re
garded by the executive the principal rather tina
the auxiliary force. Mr. Giles said lie knew it was tin
opinion entertained By many we'll meaning gentlemen
and he had lately i'm tie newspapers the
on, of the opinion ascribed honorable member
tits hoor that this SPECIES of force was more congenia
to the spirit of the constitution than regular force. II
said he never could discern this sri in the CONSTITUTE
and he should regret very much 20 fud such spir
there. He said, it not uncommon to see gentle
men, the best disposed substituting their own vision:
scruples and appreh ensions FOR the provisions of tn
constitution but fortunate for the people Of tn
u States that the wise trainers Of that instrument
not under the influence of such failacous monitor
in its formation lie begged gentlemento turn thei
attention to the provisions of the constitutions and the
would find them dictated by very different spirit an
ifregardless Of them this government is be admins
terea under the influence Of these imaginary spectre
he feared all its actual constitutional energies woui
shortly be dwiuded down to something less than Ia
shadow of shade, to which Of eebeness ne fear
ed it approaching In tue 9Th section OF the frs
article OF the constitution, these powers amongst OH
ers, given Congress " 10 declare war grant le,
or pubic oog;degsdoos and q Of private peso