Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1814-11-17

cnrps have already seen service and many of them
acquired IN active scenes much experience and
useful knowledge. BY preserving them IN their
present form and under their present officers, and
filling them with new recruits, the improvement
of the latter viii be rapid In two or three months
it will be difficult to distinguish between the new
and old levies.
The additional force to be provided amounts to
10000 men. Ofthis it is proposed thatl corps
be raised, to consist partly OF infantry partly OF
mounted men and partly Of artillery. There is
reason to believe that such corps may be raised in
the principal cities and even ON the frontier, to
kerye for the war, under an engagement as 70 the
limit beyond which they should not be carried
Every able bodied citizen is willing and ready TO
hght for Ms home, his family and his country,
wien invaded OF this we have seen, IN the pre-
sent year. the most honorable and gratifying proofs
1t does not suit all, however, TO go great uistah
ces from horne. This generous and patriotic spir-
it may be taken advantage Of underpro arrange
,nents, with the happiest effects to the country,
and without ntialinconyenience to the parues
The officers who may be appointed to command
these corps, should be charged With recruiting
them Local defence being their sole object, 1t
NAV be presumed that the corps will soon be rals-
ed Patriotism alone viii furnish very powerful
motive ii seems reasonable however, that some
recompense should be made TO those who relieve
others from the burthen; one hundred acres OF
land and fifty dollars each recruit will, It IS pre-
suned, be deemed sufficient.
1t is proposed that this additional force shall
form part Of any plan that may be adopted.
SECOND PLAN
This plan consists of a classification of the mill
tia and the extension Of their term OF service
Let the whole militia of the United States be Oh.
vided into the following classes, VIZ
Ali free male persons capable of service, be
tween the ages of Is and IS, in one class all
those between the ages of IS and 80 into another
II. a. sl.nf,xr md iptA
class. $40
1t is proposed also that the President shall have
power call into the service anyportion OF either
ofthese classes, which in his judgment the eXgeh-
cies ofthe country may require, to remain IN ser
vice two years, fromthe time each corps shall be
assembled at the appointed place OF rendezvous.
THIRD PLAN.
1t is proposed to exempt every five men from
militia service, who shall find one to serve for the
war 1t is probable that some recruits might be
raised by this mode, in most or all the states But
it is apprehended that it would prevent recruiting
in every other mode, by the high bounty which
some of the wealthy might give. The consequence
would probably be very injurious, as it is not be-
Eeyed that any great number could be raised IN
this mcde.
FOURTH PLAN.
Should all the preceding plans be found OBJ
ietionable it remains that the present system of
recruiting be adhered to, with an augmentation
of the bounty in land Should this be preferred,
it is advised that in addition to the l6U acres OF
land now given, 400 be allowed annually tor every
year while the war lasts.
These plans are thought more deserving the
attenton OF the committee than any that have &C
cured. The first for the stated, Is pre-
ferred. 1t ~ believed that it viii be found more
efficient against the enemy, less expensive to the
public and less burthenseme on our fellow citizens
II mas likewise the venerable sanction OF our
revolution In that great struggle, resort was
had to this cxpedient for filling the ranEs OF our
regular army, and with decisive effect.
1t is not intended by these remarks, should the
FIRST plan be adopted, to dispense altogether with
the service OF the militia. Although the principal
burthen ofthe war may thereby be taken from the
militia reliance must still be placed on them for
important aids especially in case OF sudden inva-
sion. For this purpose it will still be advisable
that the men be classed according to age, and that
their term of service be prolonged. Even should
this plan be attended with all the advantages ex-
pected of it, such an Arrangement could not fail
to produce the happiest effect The proof which
it would afford of the impregnable strength Of
the country, of the patient virtue and invincible
spirit of the people, would admonish the enemy
how vain and fruitess his inVasions must be, and
might dispose him to speedy, just and honorable
peace. OF the very important services already
rendered by the militia, under the present
organization, too much cannot be said.
II the u. States make the exertion which is pro-
posed, it is probable that the contest will soon be
at an end Il cannot be doubted that it is in their
power to eXpei the British forces from this con-
tineut, should the British government, by per-
seyering in its unjust demands, make that an OBJ
ject with the American people. Against our unit
ed and vigorous efforts, the resistance Of the enc
my will soon become light end feeble Success in
every fair and honorable claim, is within our easy
CLASP, And surely the u. States have every pos
sble inducenneht to make the effort necessary to
secure it. should insult the understanding and
wound the feelings OF the committee, if touched
on the calamities incident to defeat Dangers
which remote and can never be realized, excite
alarm with gallant and generous people,
But the advantages of success have fair claim to
their deliberate consideration. The effort we have
already made has attracted the attention and ex-
torted the praise of other nations Already have
most of the absurd theories and idle speculation
our system OF government been refuted, and
put down. We are now felt and respected as a
power, and it is the dread which the enemy en-
terrain ofour resources and growing Importance,
that has induced him to push the war against u.s.
eff its r1rofasced s,bects had CeacA1 Succecp