Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1817-04-04

rather say, why UGH. hasoii uia "'.
onpose those measures altogether and
with all your might? Just so with
this memorable militia bill ; ii Gen.
Varnum's was worse than general
Mason's, why not resist him. and
scout the whole system? Fellow CT
tizens if misapprehend General Nj.
I do all that he can demand, | furnish
the means of my own correction.
While l investigate his public con-
duct with freedom, ] trust | shall not
be accused of disingenuity. or sus-
pected Of a disposition to invade the
sanctuary Of his private conduct or
reputation to which l am willing to
pay a Just and appropriate respect.
A disciple Of Washington.
Mr., .yercsr's remarks In the house Of
Delegates on the militia bill
The bill for amending the militia
laws, being under consideration IN
the committee of the whole, Mr..
Mercer, of Loudoun, addressed the
committee, in substance as follows
He said he had in his hand sundrT
amendments to the bill /; but before
he submitted them, he begged leave
TO premise a few observations on the
general principles which they IN
volvc.
He had very early. he said direct
led his attention TO the militia laws OF
1.-THE commonwealth. and had adopted
the opinion that it was utterly vain to
attempt to give military hahits to a
whole people, scattered over a tract
of country so extensive as Virginia,
and engaged in agricultural pursuits
This opinion, he said was that Of the
able authors of the fcderalist, an2 OF
general Washington. who had pro-
iposed to select all Efficient corps out
lof the whole mass Of the people, and
Ito leave the residue IN the undisturb-
ed enjoyment Of their peaceful occu-
patioms. Under the influence OF
these impressions. Mr. Mercer said,
lie had early aud zealously sought to
produce a reformation of our pre-
sent militia system and had once
the honor OF submitting to the house
of Delegates the memorial of four re-
giments of militia, in Fauquier and
LoudouI,. in behalf of such reform.
This memorial proposes to dispense
with the present musters which &C.
curing at long intervals of time from
each other, impart knowledge, if a
my, which is speedily forgotten, on a
return of the militia to the business
|of common life :: in the lieu of these,
to encamp the youth of the country
ION the field for six days, in each year.
within the limits of their battalion
districts. The memorial, he said,
had not met with the support of a
single member of the house of Dele
gates the bill, which he was per-
mitted to prepare, in order to reduce
its object to the necessary practical
form. was printed, through tie in
duIgence of the house. but the clerk
informed him that there was not a
copy of it at present in existence.
MIR. Mercer said that subse-
Juent experience had satisfied him &
that candour obliged him to acknow-
ledge that the object which he had so
zealously pursued was unattainabie
by the means which he had then de-
vised. The period Of six days would
not suffice, he had Since often seen, to
give order to militia camp in time
of actual war, and the instructions to-
be acquired in so short a period was
not worth the Inconvenience of as
sembling the men who were to re-
ceiye it. The duties. especially Of
the staff, of the adjutants, quarter
masters and inspectors of a body OF
troops, so raw and inexperienced,
could not be acquired in thrice the
period which he had proposed and
the public sentiment was not prepar-
ed for a longer abstraction OF the
people from their daily occupations
and their homes. He was glad that
his once favoritc measure had been
All, Mr.. Mercer said, that he now
hoped to see accomplished, in rela-
ton to the militia, was their proper
organization in conformity with the
laws OF the United States the in
straction of the youth OF the country
at their urinary schools, academies