The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-12-08


more than one regiment in county, the
training OF the officers ofeach should be at the
same time and place, under the direction or
command OF the senior Colonel. One Of the
great causes of the defects in the discipline of
the militia is the want of good iuusick. To re-
medy this, the Inspector of each brigade
might be authorised, and indeed, required, to
employ competent drum and iife-Inajor to
accompany him throughout the Brigade and
attend the training of the officers. The niu-
sicians OF each reginrett might be compelled
to attend the trainings OF their respective re-
giments, to be taught by tie drum and fife
majors the different beats aud marches. To
meet the expense of these drum and fife-ma-
jors. the militia fines could be increa seti; paw
t,cularly, fines for the non-attendancc CT the
officers at the, trainings.
10. A new mode of recommending officers
to be commissioned, would, it is believed, bc
proper. Instead of the present, make it the
duty OF the field officers, whenever a vacancy
occurs IN a Regiment to rotify the same TO the
Court OF the County, recommending at the
same time some person, as qualified liz their
opinion, to fill it. Should the Court not agree
to recommend the'person so nominated, they
might be required to state to the Executive
In their reconimendaton the name and rank
or the person who was the choice of the field
oHicers. Should this mode be thought less adj
visabic than for the nomination TO be made BY
a Court Martial, either would afford the Ex-
ecutiye a choice.
Perhaps the state of things would Justify
the authority heing given to Majer-G enerals
to order Courts CT Inquiry on the report Of the
Brigariier General aud Brigade Inspector, OF
the incompeterr@ of any officer to perform his
duty IN a propel manner, or to learn it in a
reasonable length of time, to enquire into the
fact and report accordipgly.-If their opinion
be unfavorable, the proceedings might be for
warted to the Executive, who, upon reading
them. and approving the opinion, should De re-
CURED Co strike such officer from the ron OF
officers. -
II. The Light Companies as they are raised.
at present, produce much arrangement in the
general mass efthe militia. AS the law Of Con
gress is express i'll relation to the proportion
of this species of force, there is but one way
which has suggested itselfto my mind, Of get
ting over the difficulties attending this part Of
the militia system. would denomi,iSte the
company enrolled in a certain district of one
battalion. g Light Infantry'"-w the ether
battalion, would require the major to keepat
all times full company of Rihemen--they
should be selected from TIE most athletick &
able-bodied men. The officers to command
| them ought to be qualified for that particular
service. This / ann persuaded would give
efficiency to the light troops who are TO per-
IL. Some provision is necessary in thslaw
to pre-, ent persons from absenting themsel- -
| from their regiments, when they understand
d requlsiuon has been made. This practice
is not untreouent, and III CON- lucnce of it,
many persons have ,been compelled to leave
their homes. unexpectedly, and without any
kind of prepSration--whils ethers, by their
adroitness, have evadedthe calls of their coun-
try unto the present time.
IL. 4, = Z
the collection of fines imposed by Courts Mar
tial for failing to appear at the place appon--
ted to take up.the line of march, or for falling
to march when ordered.--The 7til sect. Of the
Act OF Congress, passed the 28th Feb. 1895,
points out a mode which might be adopted
with some Slight alterations in the phraseolo-
gy.
ID. There is no mode pointed out,in the law
by which an officer is TO resign. Is a verbal
resignation sufficient, should the commission
be given up or not Pit would be well to settle
these questions, as they have sometimes oc-
curred.-Wopld it not be also proper to allow
an officer to resign whenever he pleases. pro-
1ded he be not under an arrest, or in actual
service In the latter case, the consent of his
commanding officer might be required.
IS. The Court-Martial authorised by the 4th
sect. OF the militia law of the last session, is
directed to be composed of one Lieut.. Colonel
DIT LEAST. lie law could not nave intended
that the Office ordering the court should
make himself President. II not, he must or.
der Colonel from an adjacent Regiment,
which is frequently very inconvenient. 1t has
happened that an infe "ior officer has ordered
his superior, under the authority of this sec
ton. Would it not be we'll to saw that the
Court shall consist of one major at least, and
as many captains and subalterns as shall com
pose court of not less than FIVE nor more
than thirteen members9
The Court-Martials which have convened
under the authority of that and the other sec
tons Of the same act, have generally decided
that they had no f,ezyeT' to try prisoners for a.
ny other offence but disobedience Of orders
Could not their jurisdiction be extended to
all military offences, made such by that and
former acts>
Is. That part of the act cflast session ex-
empting Briga6: Inspectors from attending
regimental niusters, as had heretofore been
directed, is in direct contravention to ar act
ofCongress, The object which the Lceisa-
ture seems to have had in view, NAV be ac-
complished by requiring each captain, major
and colonel to exercise his own command,
when it is paraded separately, in herson This
will give them, particularly the field officers,
the habit Of commanding, and will necessarily
cnnpel tf'er, to pay more attention TO tactics
than heretofore.
. These, SIR, are hasty notes Of sorne of the
ulost prominent defects in our militia laws.
thr wn together under the pressure Of Official