The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-11-04


more than sufficient to fill the present CORPS.
The extra nnnber in that case, may form a
part OF the local force in contemplation. =
power 70 that effect being given to the Pre-
sitlent.
No radical change in the present rriitarv
establishment IS proposed. Shoult. any moot
fication be found necessary, on further consi-
Iteration, IL VII form the subject Of a seD:.-
rate communication. It's thourht advisable
IN general to preserve the corps in their IRE
sent form. and to FIJI them with new recru;ts
! IN the manner stated. Ali these corps have al
ready seen service & many of them acquired in
active scenes much experience and useful
knowledge. Ky preserving them in their pre-
sent form and under their present officers, and
tlhng them with new recruits, the improve
ment ot the latter viii be rapid. In two or
three months il VIII be difficult 10 Distinguish
between tue new and old ievies
The additional force to bc r-.vided a.
mounts to 10000 men. OF this it is pro-
poSeu that local Corps be raised, to consist
patty OF infantry, partly Of mounted men and
! partly OF artillery. There IS reason TO believe
that such corps may be raised in the primo
pal Cites and even on the frontier, to serve
Tor inc war, under an engagement as 60 the
limit beyond winch they shCmid not be ca,,'i-
CD Every able bodied citizen is willing and
| ready to fight for bis home, His family and
his country, when invaded. OF this we have
seen, Ill the present year, the most honora-
| bic and gratifying proofs. 1t docs not suit
ali, however, TO 80 great distances from
nome. his generous and patriotic spirit may
be taken advantage of, under proper arrange
! inents. with the happiest effects to the coun-
try, and without essential inconvenience to the
parties.
The officers who may be appointed to COM
mand these corps, should be charged with
recruiting them. Local defence being their
sole object, 1t may DC presumed that the
corps will soon be raised. Patriotism alone viii
furnish very powerful motive. IL seems
reasonable however, that sou.e recompencc
should be made tc those VINO relieve others
from the burthen 100 acres of land and so
dollars to each recruit, will, it is presumed,
be deemed sufficient
Ii is proposed this additional force shat.
form part Of any plan ihAt may be adopt
ed.
SECOND PLAN.
This plan consists Of a classification of the
militia, and the extension OF their terms of
service,
Let the whole militia Of the United States
be dividedinto the following classes, viz:
All free male persons capable Of service
between the ages of 10 ami IS, into one class
al those between the ages OF IS and 81 into
another class, and those bttween 81 and rs
into q third class
1t is proposed also that the President shall
have power to call into the service any DOT.
ton OF either Of these classes which in his
Judgment the exigencies oil the country may
| require, to remain IN service two years, from
the time each corps sh&u be assembled at
the appointed pl.Cc of rendezvous. e, ,,
1t is believed that shorter term than TWO
years would not give to these corps the efIic-
ency in military operations that is desired,
ana deemed indispensable, nor avoid tin. e.
wills that are so seuSby felt, and generally
complained OF, under the present arrange
! mcnt. 1t requires two campaigns 20 mar. z
complete soldier, especially where the CORPS,
officers and men are alike raw and inexpcli-
cnced. In the interim, the numbers must be
! multiplied to supply the defect of discipline
And it requires the extension of the term OF
service, to avoid the additional proportional
augmentation OF having so many IN the field
al the same time, in marching to the frontier
and return from it. The Inconvenience &c
| the parties, and loss 10 the community in o.
| ther respects, need not be repeated. l. IS
| proper to add only, that if substitutes are al
| lowed in TIE service it must put an end to tie.
| recruiting OF men for the regular army, es-
| pecaly the Old corps. OF the justice of this
remark what has occurred in the present
| year has furnished fail proof. 1t follows
that if this plan is adopted, the militia must
be relied on principally, if not altogether, in
tue further prosecution of the war
The additional force for local service, q
mouning 70 flroy thousand men, viii likewise
| form part, as already Observed, of this
! plan.
THIRD PLAN.
It's proposed to exempt every Eve men
fr3nl militia service, who shal! find one 70
serve tor the war Il is probable that some
| recruits might be raised IL, this mode, in most
| ~ all the stat 2. But it IS apbrenended tIat
It would prevent recruiting III every other
| mooe, by the mgh bounty which, some of the
wealthy might give. The consequence would
probably be verg injurious as 1t IS not beli4v-
ed that any great number could be raised in
| tGis mode.
FOURTH PLAN.
Should AL the preceding plans be found OBJ
| Jectionabe, II remains that tile present sys-
! TEN Of recruiting be adhered to, with an aug
mentation Of the bounty in land. Should this
| be preferred, it is advised that in addition to
| the 100 acres of lqnd now gwen, 100 be
| rllowed annually for every year while the war
| lasts.
| These plans arc thought more deserving
! the attention of the committee than any that
/ have occurred. The first, for the reasons
| STAGED, is preterred,--.lt is believed that it
! will be found more efficient against the enc
my, leas expensive to the. pubic and less bur
| thehsome on our fellow-cifizcDs.
| 1t has likewise the venerable eancsior