Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-02-21
Thursday Fec. rs.

Thursday Fec. 10.
MILITARY CAMPS INSTRUCTION.
he bill TO establish camp Of instruction i'm each Bril-
gade in this Commonwealth with sundry amendments from
the Committee on the Militia, taken up.
MIR. Rutherford moved TO fill the blank, fixing the
month for holding the camps, with the word "Nlay'-
MIR Spurock moved to fill il with the word October
Mr. Witcher TO the indefinite pos;ponemcnt
OF the Bill He opposed TO its Objects he believed
it would have the effect TO drive Of the best officers
in the State ont Of the service.
On motion OF Mr. linn, the Ayes and Noes were order
Mr. Gholson rose to express the hope that the bin nm
der consideration would not be indefinitely postponed 1t
mode OF avoiding the investigation and direct deci-
sion Of questions, whch-he would approve. And yet
he could not deny that the present motion entirely
keeping with the whole history of legislation ON This
subject An experience and observation of several years
had convinced him that of all subjects whatever mi
tary system was the one about which the Legislature
was most profoundly ignoranhe pretended no excep-
ton for hmself-and hence Legislation it had always
been marked with doubt and indecision-we were never
relation TO it, all were ready denouncc the present sys-
tenn as worse than useless and in the process patch
work. were ever ready TO go all lengths-bu whenever
any general or important modification OF the system itself
has been proposed and especially when money formed
ingredient OF the propositions the subject has always been
too difficult too little understood, and rather too expensive
to secure our formidable consideration Mr.. c. remarked
that he would assure gentlemen. from all the reflection
he had been enabled to bestow the subject that
in vain to hope for good efficient ystem, without
curing additional expcnce; and that such vas his
soicitude make some improvement ON the pre-
sent miserable system, that he had determined TO vote
the passage of the present bill, provided the blanks in
it, should be filled TO his views He was persuaded
that its prominent provisions would meet the appro-
baton of all. They contemplated thorough and syse-
matte instruction OF all the military officers of the State
Camps OF instruction were proposed at which the Of
hcers oil each Brigade should be convened, year,
for the purpose OF rigid camp discipline and DUTY for
term of six days, and with allowance OF reasonable COM
pensaon He deemed it unnecessary attempt 10 prove
that in making good officers, should surely make good
sofdiers;-ths had become maxim in military science
praced on by all martial communities, and
m ma Nnxr NJ.
but little in saying, that officers would acquire more
useful practical and scientific knowledge in sixdays un-
der the proposed SYSTEM than they would under existing
regulations in hafa century. .Nop, profess to have
training in each county, year, of three DAYS con-
tnuance-and although consider this decidedly the most
valuable portion oil our present SYSTEM yet all know
how very far short it falls of accomplishing the objects of
its creation. These trainings generally held in some
county village the centre of the countv-about an
average OF hen miles from the homes of the officers At
least half come from and return home every day-|
the other hall, too few in number to keep alive a
military spirit, do nothing until their arrival and the
consequence frequently is that the entire day is pass
ed with one insipid and uninstuctire driH-Adopt
me system now proposed, and you will collect at
one point all the military science and spirit of brigade
GU VIII excite ambition and inspire the desire of dstnc
uon You will arouse the dropping military spirit of the
country Your military Offices will be sought with avdi
ty the talents and intelligence the country will assume
military cast: the qualifications and preensions of every
military will be well known and duv annreca,ei
our highest military Offices will be surely filled by orr
most talented military men-because the country will
know and graduate the claims of contcndng Candidates
Mt
least (Which far from being the case now
and uniform; and will thus produce concert and harmony
IN tunes oil pressing emergency Each officer will be en-
abled to judge OF the nature of service in time o
war;a kind OF SERVICE neither known nor understood Nv,
any militia officer in the State, who was not enpaocd in
the last war All the forms and regulations of military
camp will be rgidy observed enforced; and The Tfo
and duties of "czen soldier understood and practiced
No one can doubt that the spirit inspired i'm these en-
campments will diillse iself through the whole military
operations oil the country The soldier ,UiH sympathse
with the feelings of his officers If The one he braye in
will hn -.
fearless But if the be ignorant uniformed and I'M
decve the other will become disorderly negligent and
lrresoute II is the general expectation of the country
that we shall increase the number of company musers
and other military parades 1t is wise and proper that we
should do sos and he who thinks otherwise must
less oil the history OF the day in which he ves but if
these parades are 10 be multiplied, il is peculiarly proper
that we should have wenformed officers render them
as useful and instructive possible You NAV call ont
the militia of the county week after week and thew nav
be trained hour after hour, and if the officers commandin
them be Ignorant and uniformed their duties it will
all result In coniusion conoundcd" IL he our
object to make our military system energetic and e
cent than at present, cannot close ewes TO the
necessity OF nstructng officers: sense can
not associate the ideas of ignorant instructors and rise
pup's--oi uniformed and uldiscplined officers and
'ceH-organ'red, prompt and efficient soldiery.
But the gentleman from Pittsylvana (Nlr WitcberN
has expressed the opinion that this plan will cause the re-
sgnaton of all our best and most merorous officers This
Sir, is very peculiar opinion, and the House would no
doubt have been graied had the talented an Ingenious
gentleman given at large his for such an opinon
III the opinion be correct the operations of the human mind
oil The
past If there be any thing in the bill mortilyng to mill
tary PRIDE detractive OF military glory, repugnant to the
impulses OF chivalry ambition have been unable TO
detect them The gentleman may, however think that
imposes pecunary sacrilces which many cannot s,ls
tam III he does hope little reflection will induce him
to change the opinion The BILL i'm this aspect is pecu-
'iary unexceptionable, and in this respect differs from
tue most oil our laws in pdri DldteTia"-By the exist
ing laws, the officers, both rich poor are reoured fo
attend annual training for three DAYS at considerable
distance from home, at their expense The bill I'M
der consideration proposes to call them from home but six
days IN the year, and pay their expenses du
ring the time. The season of the year at which the en-
campments would meet would of course be the most "a
Voabe Tor the purpose, and the mode of subsistence the
most simple and economical and should hold i'm low es-
tmation the military spirit and character of anv officer
VINO would not willingly make individual sacrifice
Tor The public welfare l persuaded, that the rem
tleman's aPprehensions not well founded. NV own
opinion is that there is but class of officers whom this
bill would cause to resign-thosc, namely Sir who by
the test OF comparison would discover their total unness
and inability for military office, and who would retire sim
ply because they could not adUdnce-and the gentleman
from j.. Will agree with in thinking that the with
dawa OF such as these, would nict serious injury ON
the public service
am really unable TO discover anv we'll founded chico
ton TO the bill, except the expense which is necessary TO
carry it into execution This is objection and serious
one; but 1T will not deter from making an experiment
oil the measure for few months; and should the msevnps
which now feel on this branch the subject be realised
will hereafter, should be in public life most frankly
retrace my steps Sir is the veries faulty for us 10 rest
contented under our present system II not be- IL
IS totally destitute Of all energy and utility; and yet there
is no ono here who may dare sayei;her looking abroad
or at home-how may not be necessary for us to
cal INTO requistion all the military aud energies
OF the state. al Same itne no