Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-12-06

10y P'"ciPis OF ihtHtary calculation of timo and
Instance an appalling interval would intervene
before the trooEs could he assembled on tho East
ern frontier, rom the Western marches. %
were these hail Roads completed, with n view
10 admit locomotive engines, order from this
city could be conveyed to the most Distant points
at the rate of fifteen miles the hour if necessary
ana an adequate force return certainly at the dmn
ished speed of ten miles pn hour In this event
you have fresh and vigorous troops ready for ac.
tion, instead of men worn down and exhausted
ny Iohg anu tolsome MACH. In war, il cannot
DC doubted spccu is power, and uspa, CHI victory.
before dismiss this subject, L canned other wise
'"uh present to your view the situation of our
country, immediately ut tho head of tide water:
lhcr situation such that in afiordinp facilities for
commercial purposes, little can be done as ly ma.
tnre they already possess them in high n dogreo.
ct The road from Frederick sbury throu this city
10 North Carolina, is of great Importance, and is
ooject deserving attention.; it passes through flat
country liable to foundations; bridges of the most
permanent kind ought to be constructed, as an cx
igency might happen when it would be indispen-
Sao,y necessary to pass; in this point of view few
such bridges, on this and other considerable lines
Oh communication, become objects Of Importance
ana the expense of construction to the Common
gard.
Shenandoah River, the Road through the Great
'aley, and other valuable Works, which will pre-
sent themselves in the of your
"'i uouDlieSs receive due portion Of your kind
ing SUBJECT, will be made known TO you, when |
nave the honor TO present you the report of our
talented Engineer and do not doubt YOU will have
ample cause to be pleased with his ability and midas,
try.
1t will be necessary to call your attention to tho
present condition of our Militia, and to recon-
mend thorough revision Of tho law on that sub
lect; Much OF the Strength and efficiency of tina,
Ailiu Oh iorce' depends upon the promptness with
winch they gan be rcady for action, and some
knowledge OF The first duties of a soldier.
Our Light Troops might be increased in evory
naltailoii ana regiment, with great advantage to
The Service and ought to be encouraged by priv.
reyes and cxemptions rs they will ALWAYS be the
flrst called into Service and unlike the Infantry of
the Line, they will be called out by whole compa
MES, instead of being detailed for duty, MS is now
tfe case, with the body of the Militia. From tho
dexterity and skill of citizens in the use tho
Rifle, and fondness for that kind of arms MS well
as the great care and time it requires to drill Re-
glment Ill the Rifle Exercise, the proprety of or
gaming them into Regiments is suggested
From the position in which this State is placed
and the attitude occupied by her, it becomes mat
ter OF very serious reflection, whether force more
ayailable than the Militia, may not he advisable &
attainable at a small expense BY well organized
intermediate force, even u foreign war MINT bo
sustained without disturbing the quiet operations
OF tho government, or of the farmer We have
ut this time, an hundred and thirty-nino re-
gnnents, full and strong. Were ono COM
Pany to be authorised by law to he raised
IT.,
or such number of Regiments as would give
the number of men required, and put upon the
footing of the Public Guard, you would have a |
cheap and efficient army ready to perform any and
every duty These soldiers might be permitted TO
live at home and work their crops as heretofore
but at all times subject to the call of their officers
Some allowances should be made them and the
equipments OF soldier furnished as an inducement
TO enlist, TO be drilled once month for as many
days as the General Assembly should think proper
ana VIII on drill, to receive ample pay for their
time; but no other pay allowed unless euboded for
service, when ther pay and allowances should bs the
same as that received by tho Public Guard now in
aeryiss.
1t will be found, on inspection that many of the
public arms now in the Arsenal, need repair parti
cularly those of the smaller calibre part of which
oy law were intended to arm the twenty first Bri
gade;-apPlication has been made for the residue
required for that purpose but has been delayed IN
TIL this representation could be made to you. Nor
can refrain from calling your attention to tie ne
cesSty OF providing sword-slings, cartouch boxes
and holsters, of which at this time the militia are
much in want, besides some equipments for the
Artillery.
In conformity with the wishes of the General
Assembly, letters addressed to many of the
most respectable citizens of the Commonwealth
requesting their views in relation to the formation
OF an efficient militia system, which would secure
to Virginia all the benefits which could be derived
from her strength and advantageous position. The
answers received to these commun cat,ons are he-e-
with laid before you.
1t is proper here to remark, that by the appoint
ment of Robert b. Taylor, Esq to be Judge OF
the Superior Court, Z vacancy has been created in
the command of the Fourth Diyi5cn Of Virginia
Militia, which it will be your duty to hll i regret
70 say to you that by the Resignation of that vaua
BILE officer, Brigadier General Richard Eppos, also
known In tho Legislative Hall as Il useful and dis
tnguished citizen, there is vacancy in the COM
mand of the Eighth Brigade, which will likewise
require to BIO filed
The report of tho Adjutant General, herewith
submitted, will inform you of tho strength and
condition of the military force of the Common
wealth. which will be found sufficient for any pur-
pose. The Report of the Superintendent of the
Armory, also communicated, will inform you of
the condition of our arms.
The resolutions of the 10Th of March last re-
questi a correspondence to he opened with the
Governors of kentucky and Ohio, for the purpos
of oscerIaining the number of land warrants and
amouAt Of acres located in each of the aforesaid
States, has been complied with.-From the Cover
nor OF Kentucky no answer has been received
The Governor Of Ohio very promptly informed me,
that the desired information to be had in the
Land Office in that State, and kindly offered to
have 1t obtained, though the office was not under
his control. So it is received it shall be
disposed of as directed. letter was also addressed
tothc Governor of Tennessee, in compliance with
the Resolution of the 10Th Of Al r last As vet n O
answer has been received
In pursuance of an Act of the last General As
scrnbly, directing tho appointment Of an Agent or
Commissioner whose duty it should be to prepare
the testimony and documents touching the claim
of Virginia upon the United States on account of
money raid, or for which Virginia may BE- liable
TO the Officers and Soldiers of her State Line Gu
ring the War of the Revolution, &C.. and TO pro.
cure settlement with the Federal Government!