Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-12-26
AIMING MILITIA WITH RIFLES.

AIMING MILITIA WITH RIFLES.
Mr.. Wright submitted he following:
Resolred, That the committee on the NTr
tia be instructed to inquire into the expeiencv
of arming the militia with rifles, except rho.e
residing III cities towns and villages. and report
thereon by bill or otherwise
In offering this resolution, Mr. WTi,ht
said, b. had submitted it in confidence Of
the attention Of the House to IT, subject il
being one of the hrst importance. the pro.
lection OF the liberties of the people. and
from his own experience in Tie use OF tire
arms, having taken hand in two wars. he
hoped for the attention Ofthc House 70 his
remarks. The militia in the county, said
Mr.. " in their dispersed situation, can
never be taught the use OF the muske &
maneuvres necessary to fl them 10 CO..
'end with a regular foreign army The
abor they undergo ID their periodical
meetings, their marChlngS and counter
marches theiT Juggling their rusty nus
kets FIVE or six miles, or. DeradYeOture,
the using sticks for fire locks, is truly pam.
full 10 spectator skilled in arms, and
know vastly distressing to the country nj
lila. They Sir, have such dl,gu:l to tbs
business, and such antupatby to The duus'
OF militiamen, have 50 Itte confidence q
their fitness to contend with regular ar
my, that they consider themselves as 81,
CrifiCes to the Liberties OF their county
when thus compelled to fight. But or!
arm the country militia with rifles, aLa
possess each Of them with rife, comPt'
them to meet as often as may he though,
necessary, and distribute he tines anu
iorteItuTes into premiums Tor sharp snOOy.
ing-taking care TO have the fourth DAY o.
July, perpetual, one Of those days Snl
sir, you will relieve the militia from an"
tolerabIe burtheD, give them perIecI Co.
ideuce in their sire 9Th and power a"l
make them, as have always thought Iat.
were, the real buwark OF the I5eTliSsV
their country. They Sight for bem'eHl.:,
and not like meTcenaries for pay IDg IL
a little time, a hundred or two hl"o'SIi
yards, would be sure of their object 1DI
rihemen need not be told Of the VasI
tainty to which the use of the r1e may ~, y.
brought. The havoc made al n, OTIe' oa
near the close OF the last war, i9''', ,,I
do2bt on this subject have bee" . g
of case, of two rIdemen there, VINO him
at the same officer, and each cIairlen vt, "e o.
-one said that he shot to bit MN u 1pb,
the LETT eye; the other that he S1o' sbo,
head he was found TO have been sJ ns
ina, nnder the left eve. and also 10 W.
head 50 that he would have beer Ne" New
by either. The immense carnage a. s -G
Orleans seals the truth Of al nav w. he
| have been told, further, thai aps a 10.
battle. a bet of a supper was nIau' IN,
tween tbe officers of two rife corps ~"
Georgia and Tennessee, OF 3 Sho'' "a. 4
an hundred yards; that they SHOT ~ ,S., the
per on the mouth OF muske';;, ' ;n,o rbs
Tennesseeans shot their SIX oai's ~" Up
mu,ket. on which the GeorgIan' so:.On 4
the bet When the British took PGL's',Ibr hire
If Kent Island there were said to DC Go %. Is.
r;aa t in the hands of the militia OF 10" ,bsIr
Iand a. and III ugh concealed to AVOID p
getting them, kept them 10 taken Of,
State OF caution, for fear Of beng ,"I bgy -
and which they were ANXIOUS ~ 10 Of RI
Besides, the economy in The sOPp ,5e riei
aes IS of great consequence Iong tine
barrels can be kept good tor I lo"5 u.e
oil oi in Nc their patches, are not lia6,s car
are liable TO rust, and may We NC no doUJI
thereby destroyed. oIf' ! ha anG thus pre-
p rec and their feats Of: sharp.