Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-02-15

The bill for amending the militia laws,
being under consideration, in the com
mittec OF the whole, Mr. Mercer, OF Lou
doun, addressed the committee, in sub
stance as follows:
He said he i:eld in his hand sundry a.
meudments TO the bill but before he
submitted them, he begged leave to pre-
mise few observations OH the general
principles which they involved
He had, very carly, lie said, directed
ms attention TO the militia laws of the
commonwealth, and had adopted the o.
pinion that it was utterly vain to attempt
10 give military habits to whole people
scattered over tract of country scexten-
sive as Virginia, aud engaged in agricul.
turai pursuits. This opinion, he said,
was that of the able authors OF the FEDR-
RALIsT. and of General Washington, who
had proposed 10 select an efficient CORPS
ont of the whole mass of the people, and
to leave the residue in the undisturbeJ
enjoyment of their peaceful occupations.
Under The influence of,hese impressions.
Mr.. Mercer said, he had early and yea
lousy sought 10 produce reformation of
our present militia system; and had once
the honor of submitting to tile House of
Delegates, the memorial ofiour regiments
OF militia, Ill Fauguier and Loudoun, III
behalf of such reform. This memorial
proposed TO dispense with the present
musters, which occurring al long inter
walls OF time from each other, impart "a
knowledge, it any, which is speedily for
gotten, Oh Il return OF the militia to the
business of common life: and iii lieu of
these, TO encamp the youth ofthc country
on the field for six DAYS, in each wear.
within The limits of their battalion dis
tricts. Tie memorial, he SAID, had not
met with the support ola single member
of the House OF Delegates: the bill, which
lie was permitted 10 prepare, in order To
reduce It's object TO the necessary practi-
cal form. was printed, through the indul-
gence of the House, but theclerk infornI-
ed him that there was not copy Of it at
present in existence.
Mr.. Mercer said that subsequent expe-
rIeuce had satisfied him, and that candor
obliged him TO acknowledge, that the
object which he had so zeai0usly pursued
was unattainable BY the means which he
had then devised. The period OF six DAYS
would not suffice. he had since often
seen, to give order to a militia camp in
time ot actual war, and the instruction 10
be "cqui.oJ IN so short 4 PERIOD vas nOf
worth the Inconvenience of assembling
! the men who were TO receive it. The
duties, especially of the staff, of tie al
lutants, quarter masters and inspectors of
body OF troops SO raw and inexper!en-
ced, could not be acquired in thrice the
period winch he had proposed and the
phDilc sentiment was not prepared for Il
Experimentation of the people from Their
daily occupations and their homes. H..
was glad that his once fayorite measure
had been rejected.
All, Mr.. Mercer said, that lie now hoped
TO see accomplished, in relation TO the
militia, was their proper Organization in
| conformity with the laws of the United
| States the instruction OF the youth OF
the country at their primary schools, a.
cadamies and colleges, in military exerci
| ses. and the formation of officers capable
OF commanding them, when Subsequent
| ~ called into actual service, under the
authority ofthe state, or general govern
ment. For the first object, the amend
ment which he held i'll his hand would
amply provide; the second, he hoped,
would be attained by prosecution ottlIe
| plan o!public education submitted 10 The
house, by tie president and directors OF
the literary fund.
The whole duty ola soldier on the
field, consists in facing, wheeling and
marching 10 the flank and front.VThus
accomplished, they are fit instruments in
the hands of competent officers for The
performance of any evolrtiOns whatever
The manuel exercise is more matter oi
military parade, thar use: the fields and
The forests teach our people lie use oil
fire arms and tle rccoiiccti0ns which
VIC all have ofile sports of or boyhoOd
must satisfy us that if taught the ordina
~ drill, at school, as holiday exercises
We shall not forget if i'm our manhood. -
We do net forget 10 dance, TO skate, or tc
fence.
fog the third object, Mr.. Mercer said
ho looked with earnest soliciinde. to tl,,
Congress of the u. $. whopossessed snili
cient resources for its attainment. i'm tb,
command 0ftbc revenues Of tie country
whether capable of being extracted 70
| pubic use by direct or indirect taxation
let the officers le collected for a shor
| period OF each yc;r, IN sufficient plumbers
~ convenient camps, and taught all tn
military knowledge that the science q
The nation can inpari to them. YouwilI
Illus, also, form It valuable siaF for acft,
al service and, Mr.. Mercer aided. Tia
he presumed il was unnecessary TO i'm
form the committee that nothing wa
! more wanting al present in The militia. O
more necessary to the efficacy Of any ar
! my.--ile had seen mcu running abou
sOr several DAYS, without knowing whcr
to procure food for themselves or horses
and known many days, indeed severe
weeks TO elapse, before the commander
1