Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-12-16


yet the duties it imposes are burdensome 70
the people without an equivalent advantage,
ana the expense with which it is attended
greatly exceeds any benefit it confers. Some
innovation IS necessary to impart to it new
lie ana vigor. In an endeavor to remedy
some oil ITS defects, beg leave to offer a few
suggestions Tor your consideration. 1t may
well be questioned whether the present mode
OF elcchng officers, provided by the act of
1854, mas not been productive Of more injury
than utIliiy-whe:her it is not the fruitful
source OF intrigue, INSTRUMENTATION and q relax
alton oil discipline, Inconsistent with the true
sf;irlt ard efficiency of military operations
iii 'ine oil war especially, it would seem to be
at variance by every principle by which the
movements OF an army are regulated. But
even in time of peace, besides these objcc-
tons, the assemblage of the people from in
convenient distances i'll the country, at in
convenient times, merely to elect officers,
must be source of great annoyance. They
ieel no respect for the system, are generally
indifferent as to the selection of officers and
their object In many instances seems to be to
bring it into ridicule and contempt. The law
In this particular has been attended with no
perceivable benefit, but its disadvantages are
obvious and numerous.
The Adjutant- General, as we'll as his prede-
cessor, both officers of experience and hvh in
teligence, have earnestly recommended the res
toration Of the Office of Brigade Inspector, which
was abolished by the act of 1884. The failure
TO perform essential duties, the inability in many
cases to give proper instruction at the annual
trainings, the want of uniformity in the tactics,
the excitement OF disgust instead of honorable
emulation among the officers, are some Of the
consequences of aboishing this office. The in
accuracies and discrepancies in the regimen,al
returns, and the failure obtain the true strength
OF the militia and the number and condition of
the public arms result from the same source in
ducing great loss to the Commonwealth. There
is reason 10 believe that the aggregate returns fall
greatly below the actual numerical strength of
the militia. If this be true, the State must an
nnally be deprived Of the full complement of
arms TO which she is entitled from the General
Government. The quotas to each State are dis
trbuted according to its relative proportion of the
militia of the United States, as ascertained by
official reports from the several States. The a.
mount of arms which are now annually lost by
detective returns, might contribute materially to
defray the additional expense to be incurred by
The employment of these officers. By devoving
also upon the Brigade Inspectors duties not here
'oiore required OF them, the proposed change
would be attended with advantages amply com
pensating the State for the additional cost to be
incurred. lfthis change be deemed nexpedient,
would respectfully recommend such amend
ments 10 the law would secure more full and
accurate ict;iTns of the strength of the militia
and the number and CONDITION of tho arms i'm
their possession.
The waste Of the public arms is a subject
which demands the interpositron of the Lepisla-
TIRE. Under the existing laws, it is the duty of
the Executive to allow arms and accoutre-
ments to such volunteer companies as appear
from the certificate of the commandant of the re-
gimentto which they are attached, to have the
requisite number of men uniformed, as required
by law. Every inducement should he afforded
these companies to stimulate them 70 become eff
Client and permanent, particularly in the present
condition Of the militia. But suitable provision
should be made for the preservation and return OF
the arms, when from any cause company is dis
banded. AT present such result is followed by
an almost total loss of the arms: their good or
der ceases 10 he an object of attenton-some are
mutiIated or become worthless by neglect; 9th
ers are lost, mlsiaid or removed from the county,
but few are ever returned to the State, and those
few require heavy expense to render them fit
Tor service. Under circumstances like these, and
considering that their transportation is attended
with heavy cost, additional restrictions upon
new issues of arms might, / conceive, be Judi
oiously imposed. 1t would be to the interest of
the State also, to require under suitable penalties,
the officer last in command of any disbanded
Company to make to some designated officer
full return Of all members Of his Company who
may be in possession of any public arms and ac-
courements. If the brigade inspectors be reap
pointed they might be required to enforce this
regulation, and to collect and transmit annually
all such arms and accoutrements to the public ar
senals. This or some other change in the pre-
sent law is deemed highly necessary to guard
the public interest.
1t would perhaps he impossible to devise any
plan which would render the whole body of mi
litia in time of peace, eifectual for purposes Of
war, without snbjecting the people to greater per-
sonal inconvenience, heavier taxation than
they ought to endure. ] can see no difficulty,
however, in executing with some notifications,
the plan suggested in the report Of the Adjutant
General If in lieu of the company mus;ers.
which are now attended with little benefit, either
TO Oihcers or Prlvates, one company of the line
from each regiment. completely armed and e.
quipped were annually detailed for service an
elite corps Of at least ten thousand men, exclu.
slve OF volunteers, might be formed, who at
short notice would be ready for any emergency
Their equal distribution throughout the Common
wealth would facilitate the speedy concentration
| oil a considerable force at any point OF rendcZ
| vous. These companies should be required t.
! muster at stated periods, and one Of the muster
| should lie with the officers on the last day o
| their annual trainings. This requirement woul
! aiioTd sufficient number on those occasions {
| execute battalion evoutions, ~ correct idea q
| which can now scarcely be obtained from III
! small number who usually attend. The add
Nonai interest thus impaired, would no doubt b
| productive of d salutary effect. The regiment
| muster would be tlIe only one which our polio
| need require of tine body of the militia. Tia
! muster would be necessary for the purpose c
making the annual detail as suggested, OF asccI
tanning the strength of each regiment. and Pre-
serving the military organization Of the State
| lie elite corps of the preceding year might the
J be 40 Inli