Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-12-06

ner"cS VINO Iolt IN battle. - enShrined in
the affections of their countrymen-Thelr
glory N1l be immortal. Oar regret for
Their loss, finds some alienation in the re-
collection of their services and their i,npe-
rlshable fame. Our Fellow-C Citizens, who
encountered and survived the same dam
gers, are entitled to our warrnest gratitude
and attection.--But in doing Justice to
men. let us not forget our obligations TO
the Supreme Ruler Of the Universe, to
whose benehcence we are indebted. for all
we possess, and for nothing more than that
he permits US to be members of 4 society
enjoying greater advantages than any o.
Their upon earth. Religious and civil IL
berty, the right of scE-government, and. in
short, all the Rights of Man, are prefectly
known and enjoyed in America alone.
The events of the last seven years, al
though attended by evils inseparable from
such conflicts, have likewise been produc-
tive OF great and important advantages, in
developing our national character. Our
love ut peace was manifested by long for
bearance, and by the temper and motiera-
ton OF our demands throughout the con-
test !; our talents for war, by the enterprise,
ldeilty and valour of our Felow-C Citizens,
which have given us confidence in our
selves, and commanded the respect of
Others. We cannot fail to derive advan-
tages from experience. If there be any
detects in our National or State Institu-
tons, we have discovered them without
paying too dearly for the instruchon.-If
we have relied too much on expedents,
whose efficacy has not equalled our expec-
tatons, they should not be trusted in tu-
ture. Ii we have neglected to avail our
selves to the utmost of the unequaled skill
and bravery of our seamen, the errors may
IN future be avoided. The want of com
merce for season, has taught us its value
we will never abandon that element, on
which we have earned so much wealth and
glory. If we have heretofore believed,
that disposition to do Justice to other ma.
nons, was sufficient to insure a correspond
ing temper IN them, we have seen the fai-
lure OF that calculation, and have learned
that the best security for peace, is prepa-
ration FOR war.
With view to this important object,
the attention ofthe Legislature is earnestly
solicited to the state of the Militia, and to
the mode in which the Public Arms should
be disposed of. The value of the Property
is otltself an object of magnitude but, it
is still more important that the Commons
wealth should possess this indispensable
mean OF security. Iced not dwell on
the necessity of arming the Militia. On
tins SUBJECT, there can be but one opinion.
How to accomplish this efficiently, Is the
only subject for consideration. There are
but two modes of etfecting it to require
every Mliltla-man to provide himself with
arms and accoutrements, or to put into his
hands the arms of the Commonwealth
Each OF these modes is attended with diff
Guilty. Oar laws required at one time,
that the Militia should keep arms of their
own the laws were not obeyed, nor their
penalties enforced. In the year 1904, an
attempt was made to arm the Militia by
distributing the arms. To your knowledge
oil the state OF the arms thus distributed in
your respective counties, appeal for the
result ofthis experiment. The waste and
destruction cannot have escaped your no.
tee: and eleven years. experience has
proved that the Militia cannot be effectii-
ally armed in this way, without some addi-
tional security for the preservation of the
arms. Ii every Militia-man in the state
were armed at this day, with public arms,
the utmost exertiOn of the Armory would
not be competent o keep up the number,
nor even to keep them in order. am in
formed, that the Militia which assembled
at or passed through this city during the
late war generally brought with them arms
unfit for service, and that in every in
stance they were exchanged for arms re-
Gently taken from the Armory. The
State, as we'll as can ascertain II, OUGHT
now to possess 1000 stand of arms
900 taken from the Arsenal at the Poin.
of Fork
1000 purchased in Philadelphia in 1900.
1881 purchased Of Swan
LOO purchased Of other PEOPLE.
1892 manufactured at the Armory.
57,o03.
by tie Quarter Master Generals return. II an.
pears there were ON the 10Th Of October last IN
the Armory, 1859 mnskeis in order for service
and there IS too much reason to fear, that these
are the only arms in the state in proper condition
-notone fourth ofthe number we ought 10 have
There are III the arinory, Likewise. 1850 rnuske;s
IN bad orders the greater part Of them, in the
opinion OF the superintendant not worth repa;y.
ing The Adjutant generals lest return states.
that j4,OG1 mUskets remain in the hands Of lie
militia, scattered over the Whole State. II il
feared that great proportion Of them VII h..
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