Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-05-26

of the Legislature to make such fur
Their provisions as the exigencies OF
the State. in their opinion may re-
| qnlrc.
By virtue of the powers with which
the officers Of the militia are invest
ed, many of the counties have been
called into actual service and by law
| are entitled to the same pay and "a
lions as are allowed totroops in the
service of the United States. No
appropriations have been made to
defiay the expenses thus incurred.
We would recommend to the consi-
deration Of the Legislature. the pro-
priety Of authorizing. by law, the
organization Of volunteer companies
Of infantry. "a portion of which to be
mounted with the privilege ofchoos-
ing their own officers: Saci force
il is believed might be employed
with more effect than any other 10
repel!ipg or preventing any invasion
of our shores or attacks upon the
property Of our citizens. 1t would
also relieve the ordinary militia. in
great measure from tho hardsllips
and sacrifices to which they are now
compelled TO submit.
All the swords and pistols which
have neen purchased by the state
have been distributed, and many
companies of cavalry yet remain TO
he supplied. We submit to the Lee
gislature the ppopriety Of ordering
the purchase of an additional num-
Der. and also a further supply of
cannon and muskets. By letters
from the secretary Of war, dated
March the goth and 2ith, the Go
vernon was required TO call out 500
militia, to he stationed at Annapolis
--one ofthe exigencies mentioned in
the constitution on which the mill
tia may be called forth having occur
red, it was consi.lered the duty of
the executive to comply with the re-
quisi;ioD, and the necessary orders
for that purpose were issued. By an
ether letter from the Secretary Of
war, dated April 10th. a furtherre-
quisition 10000 men, TO be stationed
at Baltimore, was made; orders have
been issued in consequence of this
reauisition ;.copies of the requisi-
tons are included in the documents
communicated.
1t being by the constitution the
duty of The general government to
provide for the common defence, we
have represented to the secretary of
war, some time since, the exposed
and defenceless situation of many
parts of Maryland. So much ofthe
correspondence with that officer as
has relation to this subject accompa-
MES this communication. A copy of
a lettc. written by this department
| 10 tie president of the United States
being in part connected with this sub
iect. is also trans1Ritted to this let
ter no answer has been received.
A vacancy in the senate of the u
| nited States having happened during
the recess Of the Legislature, the ex-
| ecu,ive proceeded, in conformity to
the provisions Of the constitution OF
the United States. to " make a tenn
porary appointment until the next
meeting oc:he legisIature.' and the
Hon. Robert Henry Goldsborough,
ofTalbot county, was appointed, ANA
has been commissioned.
Upon the approach of the enemy
to the seat of government, it was
deemed expedient to order the re-
moval of the public records. HE
Legislature will take any order that
may be thought necessary In rela-
ton TO them.
We have thought it proper to IN
troduce these subjects to your no.
tice at the commencement OF ses-
sion which has been directed in con-
sequence of the present alarming
state of things. We had hoped that
answersirom the officers of the gen'L.
govt. to the communications which
we have had the honor to make to
them, would have enabled us to have
given some assurances of future pro-
lection and security. TO provide
Cor the common defence was one OF
the important objects for which the
federal constitution was formed. 10
| protect each state against invasion
is made the imperative duty of the
DstionaI government; and for that
purpose every necessary power IS
delegated to the national authorities.
The means Of defence reserved TO