Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-01-21
AN ACT
Anthorising Regular Force for thc De.
fence Of the Commonwealth

II fcHCe ~ INc commonwealth
Passed January 18th. 1851
WHEREAS the system, that has here
;csore prevailed, of providing for the de-:
fence OF this commonwealth by drafts of the.
militia for short terms ef service, has been
found by experience to he wasteful, expen-
sive and improvident as it affects the public.
destitute OF vigor and Efficiency as a means
OF defence, and harrassing and vexatious to
the militia. ruinoas in many Instances to the
agricultural prosperity of the safe. an6
productive of an unnecessary and deplora.
bic waste of lives, without any equivalent Of
public advantage: And whereas there !.
reason to believe, that the people of this
commonwealth require only, the sanction re
iaw, ana ITS aid in organizing them SO as to
ahord the@ the opportunity of furnishing on
an uniform and equitable plan for the public
defence, trooa, destined to longer service
and Capable o. making more efficient an;
tconomicai deience- To effect this tes,ra-
bic object,
sec. 1. Be n enact"d5y the General Ne.
%e"o!y, mat 1t shall be lawful for the gov.
erh1r Oh ehis commonwealth to cal. into ac..
luai service ten Thousand able bodied and
ene.'',e men, or smaller number, if de-
s,rea ny the government Of the United
states, to be raised in the m amer nresc-h. :,
by this act. Propidcd, that the yoverr
ment OF the United States shall have dec,,r.
ed that the said troops shall be eouinned.
paia' othei and subsisted at the exrens,s
'' 'he United States and that they will nc.
ceP' 'hem un'ier the conditions and limita-,
tons enacted in this law.
oeC. Z. De n |urther enacted That IL
snail be the duty Of the governor of tb;c
commonwealth without DELAY 60 transn;t :.
copy at this act to the government of ,ha
Omi'ed States, and to ascertain whether thew
VIII so accept the troops aforesaid and r.
Wna' NUMBER. 1t they accept them. the
governor snail then prescribe the nunler of
''i'''a 10 We contained in the classes herein
directed to be formed, to be asca-t,;as5 &c
. se.n" - ne whole number of the militia
! "i tiS commonwealth liable To clsss;Scat,o,,
under TINS act. shall be divided nv the mn,
Der OF troops to be raised. and the ouoticnt
| mail De me number of individuals for each
olass. ne shall then by general orders.
oausS courtmart:al TO be held i'm each
| ,S"ent ih tne state, on such coavenient
| lay as he shall appoint. Such general ar.
| GERS shall be published in all the nawsna-
perS printed IN the city of Richmond ana
an DC moreover sent by express to the
| commandments OF regiments
Va inc receipt OF the orders. the ro,,.
| mandins officer of the regiment shall forth.
~,,i 6Ne Hot'ce TO all the field officers. aud
a,s ule commanding officers of companies.
"io may DC FOUND within the regiment, re.
| curing them to attend at such rIac. 30 a.
commandment shall appoint. ON ths H. .no
! cSrtamed in the general order. .,5 rs,.,;I"
s al the commanding officers of comma
uias' whether of cavalry, artillery. prena
| oie's' rhemen, light infantry, or infantry re
| nc hnei TO prepare complete muster rails of
| their respective companies
Inc commanding officers of comDanies
Snati without delay prepare their rolls ac-
DoruhiSV' and return them to the conr,.
"''r''ai' "hen II shall Convene They ehalI
moreover cause Imm iiate notice to be Wv,
en- as tar as IS practicable to the individnaIs
,., ,,.n COMPANIES, OF the time and ciace of
| inc assembling OF the court martial
IL shall be the duty of the officers .foro
sai" 70 attend accordingly, and they sha,,
| compose he court But maior;,y IS tb saai
one AT least being 6eh officer. shall Cor
Sntu'e quorum for the transaction oeh,s;
cess and any smaller number NAV a1;o,,r,
| from day to day. IN the abreara ~ 49,.
commanding officer Of a troop or conran,,
Ms place may be supplied BY either nf ~,
sunaterhs detailed therefor bv the coJ,
mandant OF the regiment or the president &c
the court. P'e-'aeht Oh
Ihe clerk and provost martial of the re.
I S".e.' Shali attend the court, and shall be
| paid Tor their services in TIE sane I.anror
IN winch they are paid, for attending reo;-
mthtai courts Of enquiry: Provided, the ea;d
Cterk snail not receive for his services n,o,.o
than I'VE dollars per dly '''o' =
| before the court proceed TO tus;noe, a.,
CLERK shall administer to all he ,nor,b ,'.o
the following oath You do solemni,, 49,
| ("r aihrm) that you viii impa,tsliy snd -
the pest OF your skill and Judgment. eye
cute the duties required of You ss mscoboro
oithlS court martial, So helm Won Cd
ihe governor shall cause muster ro,Is =,
copies OF the muster rolls Of all troons of p,
VARY ana other volunteer Companies If mi.
ltia IN actual service at the time of holdi,,a,
such Court, to be procured and laid hss,,.ee
Ine c2nFi. in such manper as he NAV find
DEC. D. BE IL. fnrMrr enacted. That The
court mus organized shall proceed. without
| delay IN the execution of it's duties eovern.
"a NY such instructions as they shall. receive
from the governor of this commemorative
| and that they shall Continue their sess;or
| from day to day and from tine to time. until
All the duties required Of them by this act
| shall be performed
Ihey snail examine the muster rolIs 20.
turned to them by the Commanding officers
OF troops and companies. and correc, ali err
ors and omissions appearing therein tax