Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-12-10
FOR THE ENC UTRER.
To lie General .assemLLY Of Virginia.

To Ike General Assembly Of Virginia.
Shortly after the rising of your last session, General
Order was issued by the Adutan General under date Of
March 10TH 1885, 10 all the commandments Of regiments
in the Common wealth. in the following words:
"GExER.L ORDER.-To enable the Governor to COM
py with the requirements of the Of the General AS
sciably passed on the 9th instant entitled, An act to
amend and explain the 9th and other sections of an act
passed 9Th March, 1884 entitled, An act for the organi
cation of the Militia the several commandants of regI-
rnenls are ordered 10 report to this department. without
delay list of all the ieuenants enssns ana cornets W
longing or attached to their respective regiments to the
end that the eutenans and enSgns now IN commission
as SUCH may be re-commissoned as hrst lleuenants,
and the in commission as suc may be COM
missioned as second lieutenants.
I" The several Commandments of Regiments are further
ordered TO cause elections TO be held IN their respective
Regiments forthwith, for the necessary number OF Sc
cond Lieutenants satisfy the requirements OF the Act
of March sth 1884, which directs the appointment OF
four Lieuenants each company troop, and report
10 this department. without delay the result OF such cleo
tons to the end that the several officers elected may
be commissioned speedily.
I. Bu order of tie GOeeTnor,
BERNARD PEYToN, .7djt. GenL"
"Adt Generals Office, Richmond,
" March 10Th, 1885"
In the 18th Regiment this order was Immediately COM
piled with, by furnishing list OF all the lIeutenantS
ensigns, and comets, then in commission, who were
sis7eedy' Reconnaissance as the Act directs E!cc-
tons were also held in all the companies OF the egl-
ment for the necessary number OF second
those elections forwarded to the Executive as soon
as The yera elections closed In short time
after this certificate furnished, the AdutantG
raj addressed the following communication 10 LIE Coin
mandant Of the Regiment
"S,R: The Governor refusing in all cases, to issue
commissions unless the precise racaneies to be hed DC
stated and ho,o ey occurred it will be neediu! tor you
to furnish this information, before any commission can
sue on your certificate, under date OF the aay OF
April of the elections Of officers for your regiment
When is received prompt attention VII! De given 10
the subject Most sir y0s5 Oh s seI w..
eAdiu,ant. Generals Office,
.Richn,ond l4th May, 1885.
To This COMMUNICATION the Colonel of the Reg mcn
Immediately replied-suggesing the lmp'ssloiiity Of
complying with this requirement OF tue uoveinoi, 40
there was and could have been no previous vacancy IN
these offices, they all being new, ana then lot Tie S'
time created Since this, nothing whatever upon the
subject has been DONE although several coLnnuhicalos
u,on other alters have taken place IN all Ut winch the
Adu.an,- General reminded Of the circumstance,
and earnestly requested to furnish such Praeca5e urcc-
lions to the Colonel las would enab! h to act is to
obtain from the Governor the commissions required
A, any time such gross neglect or Disregard OF duty
onH he hirhy csnsurabe but when it is recollectcd
that the late revision Of the Militia Laws vas MADE ior
the express purpose of giving greater energy anu
line to the Militia Of the Commonwealth, and Of put
:, in , better condition to repe those dangers when
h,tsn oar peace and we'll being, such conduct on the
.r, of the Executive deserves the seVeTest repre-
bsns;on One of the great evils Of the former laws
on this subject, and which the new oFganlzaGon was
chiefly intended to remedy was, Inc iniPossDity "a
ge.,;ng men who would receive and hold COM
missions in the service: The exemption from o:d.na
ry militia duty after serving as an Officer for certain 10
PERIOD granted under the present law induced many =.
accent Commissions who otherwise would neVe! nav
done So And the failure of the Governor to furnish
commissions in the present instance is attended WIN .s
greater regret and notification this regiment wou
have been better and completely oncered than
has been for the last fifteen years The reason as
signed for Withholding them is truly astonishing, thai