Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-09-14
HALIFAX CnuRr HOUSE

HALIFAX COURT House, VIRGINIA
Agreeaoly 10 previous notice, number Of the officers
OF the 69th and Slth Regiments met at Halifax Court
House, OH the Sd instant, and notion Col Charles A.
Ballcw was called TO the Chair, and Aduiant Jeffrey d.
Palmer was appointed Secretary Major Joseph w. Cha-
mers having explained the object OF the meeting motion
made and seconded that a committee of five he an
pointed to draft preamble and resolutions expressive of
that objCct-whereupon, the following gentlemen were
appointed TO wit: Major Chalmers, Major Taylor Capt
Dunscomb, Cap'au Petty and Lieutenant Coleman, who
having retired for few moments, reported the follow
ing preamble aud resolutions, which were unanimously
adopted:
The Committee report: That from many years OBSERVE
ton aud experience they firmly convinced that there
are many things obviously defective in the present militia
laws oil the State They discover nothing in them to
excite admiration command our interest aud in exam
lining the laws which they have frequently done thew
mud them nearly imperative and ia many instances ,,o
nuga,ive and absurd
Under the original militia laws or old system as IL il
Called seemed that the Legislature had some object in
views but under the laws they exist with the nu-
merous ana injurious alterations and additions which have
been made, they tina
save me simple enrolling the militia, and the numerical
return No inducements held forth for the sac
nhces oil time, money attention; there nothing to-
create an interest or excite military pde-No iug for
officers TO communication 10 execute How then can
we escape the Opprobrum of having officers No mi
liary pride! No interest! We tell them give us some-
thing TO do-and we will make ofIicers-make soldiers
ana lat we VIII arouse that military pride and interest
which have so long lain dormant, from Legislative inter
terence and Legislative apathy.-And not until then,
shall we see this Indifference, this caeessness on the sub
ject removed from amongst US.
The necessity OF an improvement all will adm-ths
none deny. We shall oulV be better
paring ourselves in all of foreign aston and do
nestle brois bat we firmly believe that the condition OF
society will absolutely be improved Make the officer and
you improve his usefulness; increase his military arour
and you increase his energy; and make him soldier
you increase his hrmness, his decision aud indspen-
dence
LIST RESOLVED, therefore, That we highly approve the
efforts that are making in the State effect this
object.
I'd. RESOLVED, also That we approve of the proposed
Convention, TO be held in Richmond the Sh October next
3D.. Res0Ued, That
be appointed delegates from the Goth and Sih Regiments
TO serve in said Convention.
4h ResoIred, That all other Regiments in the State
that have not yet acted the subject are solicited to send
delegates TO said Convention in order that fall citing be
obtained "a -
D. Resolved, That Representatives in the Legisla-
ture IRON this county and district be requested TO further
the views of this Conv ention,
o. ResoiUed That the Editors the papers of the State
be requested to publish the foregoing proceedings
On motion, il Resolved That two delegates from
each Regiment be appointed represent in the said
Convontion-whereupon the blank in the Sd Resolution
was hed with the names Of Col. Henry Darlington and
NJ Maj Paul Taylor of the sih and Capt. Dunscomb and
Capt VIM. Wilson of the 69th Regiments
III was further ReSOlved That our Delegates and Re-
representatives. be furnished with copy of the foregoing
proceedings by the Secretary, and then the meeting adj
journed Signed,
CHARLES A. BALLEW, Chairman
JEFFREY ID PALMER, Secretary.