The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-01-07

he lriven from her rsnorings. and subject
20 the as"ations OF every tempest. The
laws wou.th. n dead letter aud the form
IofgoSernniCn. Itself wun!d soon fall into
l''ontvuspt. Hence the law Is the great
,heet-anChor oi the republic and those
who wish we'll 70 II must be most sOiicitou,
TO see THAI every other citizen should carc-
f,iiy obey IT..
| 1T this observation be true Of mere ma
nicipal rules, with how much greater fierce
does 1t apply to- our military organization
The c.tizep, who bcruu,es a soldier must
bring with him Into the camp complete
disposition to obey TIE Gers Of his officers.
In times OF peace, a little occasional re-
Taxation may not prove ruinous. In cases
or neLm and tWUa,. A may cheat T. or B.
cheat A. may without cndangcring the
prosperity ut the whole.
But III 4 camp every thing is linked, every
thing dependent. On {, SINGLE order may
sometimes hang the. lives OF the whole ar
my.,Ihe strength of ali army is in proporti-
on to the skill and pronpti'ude of its mOve-
ments, in other words It's discipline in tactics
* how is disciplined be acquired without
observing the orders Of the officers Con
centraIed III one great mass, with arms III
their hands, which may be employed 20 glut
their vengeance, with difficulties and dan
gers before them which require for,itude
to support, how quickly would an army be
thrown into mutiny, If the rens of authori-
ty were relaxed, and the soldier were left
10 his own discretion
In every army, therefore, it is the first
duty of the soldier TO obey his officer IL is
the hrSt duty Of the officer TO eztort obedi-
ence. This is just as true Of the army Of 4
republic, as of King, of those Of the United
States, as well as Oh the conscripts OF Bona
parte. In all countries 1T is machine
which requires energy to direct 1t 2; but CO
Mercy rs requisite in one country as in ano-
Their. INSTRUMENTATION in all its forms must be
prevented. He who mu,inies must be pu-
nished. He who deserts his colours must
incur the vengeance of the law.
This remark applies to our militia az we'll
as to regulars; to The volunteer as we'll as
to the draft.--The man who voluntarily
offers his services TO the state, offers very
singular favor indeed ii he only goes into
the camp to throw it into confusion.---The
miltiaman, who is called out by his .coun-
try to execute the Laws, or to repel invasi-
on, is equally subject to martial law with
the regular; and the officer is wanting in
duty to his country, who permits it to sleep.
Whether he is sent to Norfolk OF to Detroit,
to Buffaloc or to Plausbars. the eye Of the
lay ought to be upon him. :,
1t may be somewhat difficult at FIRST to eN-
change the habits OF the citizen for those of
the soldier to accommodate his free and
exclusive spirit to the air and discipline of
a camp; but it becomes his duty to make
this exchange as soon as possible. The re-
gular, who voluntarily eniists in the service,
cannot complain. The militia man, who is
called forth by his country, is bound to obey
her voice. and submit, himself to her laws.
! These remarks are drawn from us by the
| late conduct Of the troops at Butfaloe. Our
militia will be worthless even for home de-
fence, if they are permitted to desert IN
shoals, at -fnc only of - ID cents per
man.-ls it not the duty of the proper au-
thority to reclaim those men, and teach
them better