Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-06-01
COMMUNICATIONS
For WurG.
Il SMALL ANILIZAIION or A RICKETY
ACT.
TO THE VOLUNTEERS OF VIRGINIA

| session OF the Legislature, entitled ian Act prov
ding Tor the ENCOURAGEMENT of Volunteer Compu
MES in this Common wealth"
| The second section of it says, at shall and ma
| be lawful Tor any eristing Volunteer Company,
| they so elect, having procured for themselves SOM
appropriate military uniform, and having consent
| cd by majority of two thirds to abide by the pro
visions OF this Act to be placed in all respects o,
footing with the Companies herein before author
ICED to be raised, upon the certificate of these fact
I" The Governor Of the Commonwealth, by th,
Commanding Officer of the Reg mcnt TO which
such Company is attached"
To ascertain '.the provisions of this Act" and
the footing il proposes to place us on, led me first
to consider the subject and it is with those crude
considerations, thtt L claim your attcntion
ms Act has been ushcrcd lrto life by the law
givers of the land, with proposition to you Tor it's
adoption From the title, and the nature of the
party recommending it, you woud Of course, look
Tor something superior to what has heretofore 30
vcrncd you-it is what all would aud oUehi to ex
poet; certain II is, that so simple n subject MS
TINS ''thc encouragement oi Volunteer Com, Dacies
we could not SUPPOSE the Legislature of our State
so exceedingly short-Sightcd, as to frame an Act if
not subvcrsive OF what their aim really was, Ger
tuinly not offering II solitary feature, OF an npro
wing character, to the pre-cXi>timg laws; nevcrthr
less such rs the fact, and believe The whole Eis,o
ry OF legislation could defy the production of u
greater fungus on law giving, than is cxhi5i ed ON
t'iS pam and SIMPLE subject ponctr.be | am sure
ny the most common understanding: there is how
ever, some palliaton TO be urged i'm ,IoGcnc. of
those who exercised their abilities in promoting
the object which appears to have been in view and
III Justification to them, it is proper it should be
stated have heard that Il prominent member of
the House of Delegates from Dinwddie. wa.
Chairman of the Committee that reported the 0ri
g'Hdt Bill, which had i'll it valuable and recon-
mandatory features; they were stricken out by the
House, when the friends of the ORIGINAL Bill en-.
dcavorcd tn make the amended as odious rs
possible, that it might be found so totally made
quatc to It's object, to future cgis atiou To
be more liberal the subject. That these ends
Will be attained. have doubt, for you certainly
VIII not adopt this Act, after properly dclibera-
Ting on it.
Let us now examine this Act in a general way.
Under the existing Militia Laws, there are two
nusters required in each year; failure to attend
which. incurs the penalty of seventy five cents for
each muster. This law of course operates in a like
manner on the Volunteer Companies and the only
method by which their ranks filled at present
Is from spirit of patriotism and military glory
there Is nothing to operate in com yuLSUrU way AT
all, for the fines OF the militia are so exceedingly
low, that they are in almost all paid, rather
than incur the trouble of u turn out In the Act
before me- not the slightest alteration is made in the
general Militia System; nor can find one feature,
which, when properly anulized, can promote the
prosperity of Volunteers.
The third section saws at shall be The dutv Of
'thc Governor OF the Commonwealth TO furnish
''as soon as practicable to the Volunteer Comma.
''nics organized under the provisions of this act
Such suitable arms ana accoutTcmcntS, he
lat his disposal, under such regulations and uDon
's"ch conditions he maydccn proper" This
might be supposed from the manner IN which il is
o'erci' TO be something III the shaI Of an addi-
ti"hai he!P to us; but 1t happens TO be precisely
what has always been extended The words bile
arms and dccoutremcnks" cannot, by impication
mean the uniform for that is provided for out of
our pockets, and those arms, &c. we could not
obtain, unless in the language of the second sec.
lion, "having procured for themselves some appro
''Priate military uniform"
The Volunteers have it in their power not
to turn out out oftener than twice in u year. the
times required by law they having the power TO re o.
ulate any other musters that may be desirable as we'll
az the assessment and collection OF their own fines:
they may appoint their own method or tribunal to
Judge of excuses for non-a,tendance, enabling
Them TO consult their own convenience, to the
more proper time for their appearing give i'll their
excuses.
TO the fifth section of this act, / particularly
call your attention, which reads: 1T Shall be the
duty of the aforesaid Volunteer Companies, to
"attend the Rcgimena and Battalion Nlusters and
I'm addf!0n thereto, TO attend regular drill, at
''lcas once in ench mORW of the year. AT such times
land places, as may be prescribed by the Rcpi-
mental Court of Enquiry, and for any delinGucn
icy herein either by Officer, Non Commissioned
Officer or private, the fines shall be assessed
'as i'll other cases of military fines: PROVIDED, HOW
EVER, that the hncs imposed delinOucnts of
Volunteer Companies, for failing to attend any
'MustcTs required by law, in addition to those re-
quircd of the residue of the militia of this Com.
'monwealth shall be certified NV the Clerk of tho
Court of Enquiry to the Commanding Officers of
''tho Companies to- which such dclinnTcnts are ,t
'iachcd, whose duty it shall be to cause tho same
''to be collected as other militia fines are now col
elected by law, and appropriated in sucb manner
'sas may be authorized or required hy the bve Iovs
"of such Company, and the Sheriff or other Col
lcctor shall pay the same on the orders the Com,
''manding Officers Of the respective Companics
"and if any Sheriff or other Collector shall r,ltoI
''pay any such orders, having in his hands money
'suiiicient pay the same, at any time after the