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

was addueed 10 prove nc !eitcred
| at the last session Of the bot be, an
amendment in the very terms Of that
which he now held in lis hand. I,
Ihsd been received by the house, with
scarcely a disseutient voice; hut
being offered at a late period OF The
session, the bill which contained !,
was allowed from some cause or q,
|ther, to sleep upon the clert.'s tsbIe
until the final announcement crthr
Legislature.
Mr.. Mercer said. that he regarded
the change Of the former law as au
insult to the patriotism Of the GOOD
people Of this commonwealth, more
than 10000 Of whom had been from
'ltime to time, called into the field
Ito the most horrible OF all possibI,
'| services +; to encounter, not the swor1
Iof the enemy which they could 10.
morally meet, but the pestiience which
walketh in broad day, unseen, and
Shoots its arrows with fatal certain.
lily in the darkness Of midnight, aut
;Iyet not a single instance Of mulipy
had di.graced the character OF Viz.
Iginia during the war. II was net
lust 20 increase the penalties ofalaw
aIresdy found to be efiisieut severe
I lpunishments, by enlistiIg the sympa-
'Iihy of the people in behalf Of tho
'loffender, defeat their own ends.
Without the people, you can execute
luo law they constitute your eourls
martial, as we'll as yonr civil tribu.
|uaIs (; they are your Judges as vel!
las your jurors, and laws. from which
their feelings revolt, will ever DO
found on the statute Look 10 lie q
dead letter.
i Let US, said Mr.. NJ. repeal this G.
Idious provision in our present state
Ior profound tranquility and peset.
least on the recurrence of another
war, the subject should acquire
|faetious consequence. from ;he ina
Igined danger Of the country, and the
Feelings of party be enlisted against
1.-THE claims both Of expediency, which
lis ever temporal in pursuiDs."s well
las moderate indevising The means O.
attaining its object, and Of justice.
which has not now TO learn tha:
|" Inter arma silent ieges."
j Mr.. NJ. then submitted to the
committee his amendment in the fol.
lowing words.
| Be il further enacted. That tie
several company musterS now &c.
quired by tho militia laws OF this
Commonwealth, shall be and DO
same are hereby di continued, and IL
lieu thereof, there shall lie hereaii'
hut one company muster in each yea
10 he held on the aud all per.
sons bound hy law TO attend any
company muster shall to subject %
Hike fines, TO he assess d, COLLECTED
land accounted for in like meDncr Win
1.-The fines which have been hitherto
lie, led for a failure 10 attend the coai.
pany muster hitherto required by
lisw. Provided that any uniform or
! light company disposed TO muster
more frequently. may. by a majority
of the members thereof prescribe any
additional musters moi exceeding II
in any 1 year as the u Of their 60
vsrnment, and such regulation 60,
tered Of record 10 the regimen'aI
book OF the regiment to which such
company belongs or is attached ny
the clerk thereof /; sb,ll subject tnc
me mbers of such company TO all 10;
pc naIties Tor failure TO attend an!
such muster as may be inflicted iof
failing to attend the single company
muster required by this act.
Be il further enacted, That where
ever any city in this comL.snSs'''.
contains one or mo battallons u
militia. instead Of tn eonp'1! Us
ter herein required there shall "
an additional battalion muster "
each year 70 be held on such Do! %
the commandant Of The balss''o'
SHALL appoint.
Be il further enacted, That
much TO the Esd section Of the ac'
entitled an act to ~ end the mi'i'I'
laws of this com onwealth ~n""
pas sed the 18th ! Of January, 1917
as inhicts the pen lty OF dese!,'..
upon any person who may 1911 i"
appear at any place ofresdevon' P,',