Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-03-28

commissioned officers, and PriUateS
Of the Regimentof Militia under the
commaad QfCoL WILLIAM PARKINSON.
EONCElVING it Unnecessary that you should
" understand and know the law to which
youarc particularly amenable, and under which
you are called to act; and as the militia law of
this state is so partially published, and not dis
tributed to every company by the Legislature
as it ought to be, as is the case in some of the
states, presume many of you have not
lad an opportunity of reading it and the
law being so unmethodically arranged, and
Jumbled together, so unntelligible, ambiguous,
contradictory, lame, and faulty it is very diff
cult for any one to ascertain the duty assigned
him by i'll have, agreeably to the request of
several officers of the regiment, endeavored
to select such parts Of the law as particularly
respects your duty, and arranged them in such
manner as conceive to be more Ineligible
and convenient -
AS there is no provision in the militia law
OF this state for clectng officers after the first
Saturday of June last, recurrence must be had
to the constitution of the state and the sd
section of the 5th article Of the constitution
directs that company officers shall be elected
by the persons composing their several COM
pames. =,
BY the law, no person is eligible to be elect.
cd an officer, unless he be citizenso of this
state, and has resided within the bounds of his
company six months.-Seet. 6.
Any officer declared duly elected. shall be
entitled toa certificate from the officer neat
highest in rank, who is to administer to the off,
Ger elected the necessary oaths, which are to
be indorsedonthe certificate, which certificate
shall entitle him to act as an officer till a COM
mission can be procured -,Sect @
And as no mode is pointed out by the con-
stitution how the election for officers shall be
conducted, conceive thatwhena captain is to
be elected major ought to preside, sapern-
tend the election, give the certificate as the
otficernext highestin rank, and administer the
oaths And when a lieutenant is to-be elected,
a captain to preside, give the certificate, &c.
When an officer SO elected receives his COM
mission, he is again to take the necessary oaths
within ten days after receiving his commission
and previous to his entering on the execution
Of his office, a certificate of which shall be en-
clorscd on the back of his commission bv the
person administering the same, and within
twenty days thereafter give notice to-the pro-
per officer, and send the date of his commits
sion to the adjutant of the regiment, and on
failure thereof he shall be considered as refus-
ing to accept of the ofice-Sect. E. ,'=.-
Captainyor commanding officers shall enrol
every free, white, male iAhabitant within the
BOUNDS OF their respective compsnies, of the
laGe of eighteen Years and under forty. five
years except those who are excepted by law
and those who, from time to time, arrive at the
age of eighteen years, and those who come to
reside in The bounds of their respective COM
panies, and shall without delay notify such per-
son of such enrolment by u commissioned or
non-commissioned Officer. Every pe,son so
enrolled shall, within six months thereafter,
provide himself with good musket and bayo-
net, tuzee, or rifle, knapsack, blanket, canteen,
two hnts a cartridge box to contain not less
than twenty-fonr cartridges suited to the bore
OF his musket or tuzec, each cartridge to con-
tam a proper quantity of powder and ball, or
pouch and powder bern with a balls suited
to the bore of his rife, and quarter of q
pound Of powder, and being so provided, shall
so appear when called on Except when called
on to exercise by company, battalion, or regi.
nient, at which they may appear without KNAPP
sack and blanket) and such arms and accou.
trements Shall not be subject to any impress
nent. suits, distress, execution, or sales, for
DEBT, damages, or the payment Of taxes.-1Sect
/. Commandments Of companies shall appoint
the place of holding their company lnusters,
which shall be as central as circumstances will
laomit.-,Secf. II. =, = >>'s'
Each and every company shall muster on
the first Saturdays Of .lbfil, lime, .7Hgnst, ana
| October, in each and every year, and on any
other time the commandant OF companies may
think the exgency of the case may require it;
and whc1, met shall continue to perform mill.
Elry evoiutions and exercises agreeable to the
military discipline of the armies of the United
States, and such other evolutions as the COM
| IL MT Il "a .t.IA
till 3 O'Clock, p. NJ OF the same day, and every
company oficer.who shall neglect to appear
at such company muster shall pay iine OF
| four doHars.-Sec Is g 25.
| Every officer and soldier shall appear al
their respective muster grounds armed and
equipped IS the law directs, on the day appoint
! ed at 10 O'Clock in tine forenoon, and half an
| hour thereafter the commandment of the COM
| pany Shall direct a sergeant to call the roll and
examine every person belonging to the com
| pany, and note all de1nquencics, (of non.com-
missioned officers ard privatcs,) and make a
return thereof to- the next court ofinu,liry and
| assessment Of fines Gin their own company
and at battalion niustcrs make returns to the
| commandments of the hattalions and at regi-
mental muster to the commandment OF the rcni-
ment, of the full strength OF his company, and
| the number OF arms and accoutrements on pa
| rade,, agreeable to the forms prescribed and
| annexed to the Iaw.-.Sect. - e ~.
| Noh-comnissioned officers neglecting to
perform ally of the duties OF their ofice, OF the
orders of lis superior officer are liable to fine
not less than t.vo dollars nor more than t.eenty
doiIars, private neglectihg to attend compa-
| ny muster the whole time the same'is on pa
rade shall pay fine of one do1laf, and for q
battalion or regimental mus or one aoliar and
Iftty cents, and noil-coinmissioned officer or
private for attending any muster without a
| sufficient rife, musket, or fuzee, fhy cents,