Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1839-08-08

am. gentlemen, your most obedient and very
humble servant. q. GILBERT
To Messrs. Smith. welsh, Myers, Murphy and
Eaiy, Committee OF Arrangements.
ADDRESS or q. GILBERT, Esa
GeHiicAsn Toiuafssrs
At the fcquest of the Committee OF Invi,aIon.
who are also members % the "Smiih6eld Blues,
YOU have come hlIher from different ,rclion. OF
Jefferson county IopanleiPate N the festivities OF
this Military feSuval-to aliay your Ihlr,,s By
siPPspg some 81 the choicesl and u.Ost .eI,eiou.
beverages OF the laed-to satisfy The cravings of
empty stomaehs vlIh some OF the richest DANTE
ami most substantial vlandS which our .,rt
pto'itc county can aaort,--nay, Gentlemen.
mistake these arc not the great objects OF Ihi,
mighty Military asS~mbiage. You m,ng', To-
day as r band OF brothers. as eDnpan..-.. M
arms not rEcreiy 10 Ega!.II yoRT animal pf,,rn-
s'i1es' but ior the more llueab,s purpose of nur.
turing and Keeping alive IA Jour bosoms Mo
tary sPsrii, and q acquiring nv a rrpeuLcasof
eFo!uiions still moge experience IN wars sastEt
teniemen, The objects then for which yan
meet are Of a Ugh, worthy, and patriotic chat
aeteri you should therefore lie sustained en-
eour1gsd, and cheered on. b ever patriot OF
TIE land. for thus using the means md yp.n.ably
necessary Ia render you adopts IL the pnilcssiVn
OF arniS.-Ani Why so : Why should = ou for lh,s
receive their approving stndcs Because. Gen
Irmcn, 1T Is 10 IIe chly alric materials OF which
Volunteer CompanieS" composed tina, cur
beloved nallon - chiefly 10 luOa tor deicuce n
the event OF war, invasion, or inSuTTecuon. "
II true, Gcniemen. that, IN some few instance
and indeed, they are, lac angels visits few a.l
Tar beiW cen, common militia men have hitherto
acquitted themselves like men upoa the field ct
combat But, m Io5 many cases, l regret 10 sav.
the pages OF our history cvince that This speclrs
Of Infantry could not be relied upon IN The IRVING
hour OF battle. Ia the piping times of peace.
when there u no hehiIag to - done, when Bei-
thef the thuhderS Of The cannon, the rafting ut
the drum the screams of the life, nor Ihc trrr.lc
wells al the savage, are heard "a our land, -
not unircqnenty see Ihem pSradng about our
streets with heads erect and mouths ie,l 10 ove!
howing with martial and patriotic phrases. la
word, IN these peaceful timcs, they are very
good soldiers but let the clarion of war oncr
summon them 10 the field Of combat, ''Ihe proper
sphere for men. then Il IS that q conSclousne.
OF thcir ant 81 skill and experience m handliuu
martial implements, and IN dischsrging the other
dutieS apPeriainng 'n soldier, naturally excite
IN Their bosom reluctance TO quit the Tranquil
scenes OF private life, ahd 10 rush o. the field OF
Mars IN which they cannot. from such ineIpe-
Renee, SCOUT themselves as they could wish
Gcniemrn DO not wish here % be under
stood as calling IN question the ehIvalEy Of the
members Of the Militia Companies. No no.
FAR, very lar, IS this froEl my intention NV de-
An individual Vho has been all his lifetime en-
gagged IN agricultural pursuits and who poses
scs no skill whatever any civIl hAndirrlft
would unqucstionahlY make hut S0rfy attempt
al iabr'cains gold OF silver watch. So u -
with raw and uudiscIphned Militia Companies
No matter II they possess the proves OF a TO
nar1rie or HANNIBAL yet IL they are destitute Of
the military experience and intelligence necsssa-
~ Ia enable them To- direct Iud.Ciously. UPON
the held OF baule that iniTepid,Iy they will nti-
iheT be- able there 90 bedeck their brows with
laprelS. 90 render their country any essential
military ser, -c. To become adopts therefore
IN thc profession Of arms, iherc must be serycd
an apprenticeship; SO, IN like manner, 10 oFder
60 bscon" skillful "a architecture, or ~ any other
arts Of civI hfe, lhere needs also = previou.
iTaining These are TuiSms Of which the every
day experience Of hfe furnishes abundant lllus-
tation.
but, Gentlemen, notwithstanding the existence
Of these facts, how little Do our militia compa-
piss seem 10 regard ihcm Unaccusi1mcd ~
he handling Of waf-like implements ihvanab,y
mastering either without them, or With canes or
corn SOCKS. u - therefore not 10 be Sondcfed 81
tAai under such circumstance this species Of
Infantry have hitherto proven themselves good
Tor nothing ~ many instances. IN times Of service.
Bat, GsntetDen Volunteers, am happy, yea
INFINITELY happy, 10 congratulate you upon ,he
cheering fact, evineed BY the pgge 81 our history
thsf stsch iueiIicIensy su fueEperepce m BaTIiai
affairs. as thns mark the character of some of
our previous militia companies. have not been
ihe Distinguishing characteristics u Toiunfsr
C0nFsass. Ever esprit W fhc hsndiing Of ihr
musAct ADD rife having much eIperHDcs "a
marital eyouiinns aud ever painting for mi'Ila-
I ~ distinction. they have always, not oniy been
foremost ~ the hght m baitlIng the snsfnfs Of
their country. bat have ever held themselves
ready 81 moments varsiHg 10 grasp the deadly
steel and herewith protect their enuntrv's aag
from the PollutBg touch u The Tyrant
Yes, Gentlemen. such VIZ The heroic conduct
OF Foirrt,eT tSiaPaaiss "a dic war Of the Eevoia
I ton : ard such wss hat of those Which etssi
/ ga oar iaic var With Great Briiain--oar sccobI
struggle Tor national Independence
1 ADJ have We any evidence u pusinshnhv
I ~ military degcnerscy IN he fnershsrs % east.
ing Ieiaaissr CaB,ptaies Has that intrepid .l,,-
rit which impsllci tilcif predecessors % deed ol
\ noble 1aTiug departed ffom amonv us No
I Gentlemen. nO. there has becb no such dreene
fseY cot has a,ai dstiag spifa iaken its a,gbi
! % sid liFe1 and q enthusiastically chefished 10
T many manly boron nov bsfors n,e. Ard
shiit iiH1 it ihe CASE shilst your cFcs gli.ff
T'h the acini.iatcna CT Vaiouf--ahIsI vt..
hrafts bsfs uilbia Jou Tor an opgouuaity Of FL Il.
I mats ~ Youf Fsipuf Fon he tfnied fslc
whilst ouf glorious Deg IL encomsae,sd. NJ q y
ihi- Day, ~ he stout and intrepid h~ssis n ~
membffa n 'usk Volpnsrf ComPsh.ss q. lfe
4 Etf'N' Upon inl festive occasipn--i say. Goa.
nsme"' whilst lhs 81 ihe case, ne freGds % COG
hapfJ country sod her free insthBiions n.sr
Heu crY oct iu q Transport e enfhusia.m IA q
- eel /" Indeed. under such cil~ef,ne rirc1u-
Stances, iheY have noning 20 fear from .he . y-
rani Or BIS unpuocipied myrmidons
ornilenen VOLUNTEERS Yan hayr ofgar-ssl
yonr'eires iaio d.siisci an1 separate Csap at.es.
each hag.ug 81 appf0pfais aprclsfiou. ur.tf
Pc aasVcts % ne lass q onf sfse cod s..
honal Legislatures Zoo hass beea in5~fansl
| pif y Jpnf ffefnons. sna rrofuse on Yoaf -f.
pendfufss. ever since nat srvasisss..s s.-
qlre ihe kaovifdre and eHpenenss ia nla..fJ
Hhaifs indisfensabig necsssarY 90 youf ttfs.rs
az momfhta ssfniao De Voics ~ yssf eola-
~ and q seff'n9 her slhcisnily uhsnt,sf ,ts
detaands yaur ssfsicet
All Iudgiug. afrou shat have ibls Ssy 81