Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1841-12-23
no

country; but few Are ever returned to the
| State, and those few require heavy ex-.
pense 10 render them Git for service. I'm
| der circumstances like these, and con-.
sidering that their transportation i AZ
tended with heavy cost, additional res
trictions upon new issues Of arms might
| conceive. he iudiciousIv imposed. II
would be to the interest 0fthe State also.
TO require. Understandable penalties. The
oIleer last IN command Of any disbanded
company to make to some designated az.
hcer iulI return Of all ,Fmembers Of I,is
company who may be in possession "a
Eahy pubic arms and Announcements. If
the Brigade Inspectors be re-appointed.
they might be required to enforce This
regulation. and to collect and transmit
annually aHsuch arms and accoutrenentS
othe public arsenals. 'Ih;s or same
other change in the PRESENT law is deem
ed highly necessary to guard the public
Interests.
It would perhaps be impossible to de.
wise any plan which would render the
whole body of militia, in time of peace.
eifectuai Tor purposes of war, without
sueeciIng the people to greater personal
Inconvenience. or to heavier taxatton.
than they ought to endure. ] can SEQ no
ldltilculty. however, IN executino. wild,
some notifications, the plan suggested
IN the report of the Adiutant Ge,eraI
lin lieu Of the company musters which
are now attended with listle benefit eth
er 70 officers or privates, one company Of
the line from each regiment, completelv
armed and equipped. were annually de-
tailed Tor service, an Elite Corps of AZ
least ten thousand men. (exclusive az
volunteers might be formed: WIN -
short notice, would be ready for ary e,sss
erseney j Their equal distribution THROUGH
cut tfie commonwealth would facilitate
the speedy Concentration of q cons;dera-
bic force at any point Of rendezvous
These companies. shouisI be required IL
muster at stated periods, and one of the
musters should be with the officers -,
the last day Of their annual tgaininps
This requirement would afford sufs;
Gent number on these occasions. Ia eve
cute battalion evolutiuns, a correct idea
OF which CAD now scarcely be obtained
from the small number who usually at
tend The additional iaferest tins im-s
parted would no doubt be productive Of
a salutaRy effect. The regiinenfal INNS.
Ter would be the oriy one, which our poli.
CT need require of the body of the mill
tia. That muster would be necessary
tor The purpose of making the annual de-
tali as suggested, Of ascertainine the
strength OF each regiment, and preser-
wing the military organization or the
State. The Elite Corps Of the preceding
year might then be required, under suita-
bic penalties, to deliver to their success
sors, in good order, the arms in Their nos
session, after which. each company COM
posing this corps might be exempt in
time of peace from all duty except the
reglmental muster, until every other COM
pany of the line in the regiment had per-
formed corresponding service. This
plan it is believed, would be less burden
some fos the body of militia. less oner-
Gus upon the Treasury, and every way
more effective. There would at least be
one company in each regiment TO Coop
crate With the volunteersin rendering
HuHutt s6FVttR To the 79tdle.
In connection with the subject OF the
militia, it seems proper that the aften-
ton of the Genal Assembly should be
called to the condition and prospects of
the Military Institute at Lexington.
Ihe annual report Of the visitors OF that
Institution, which I communicate here
with. presents iatteri0g view of. its
beneficial results. The opportunity it
affords for the requirement aud diffusion
Iof military science. and the 3rotec-
ton it gives to the public property.
at the Lexington arsenal. render it pecu-
liarly valuable lis graduates. if selec@
ted as officers Of the militia, and as in
sfrnctors in tactics and discipline. nav
ba: Of essential service to the Stlte.--
Through their agency. proper spirit
may be infused among the officers, and
new vigor impaired to our military. sys-
TEN. For these aud other considerations,
he Military Institute is emineptIY snti-
tied to the patronage and liberal endow-
ment Of the Legislature.
By the act Of the 9Th March las4ls Tie
President and Directors de the Literary
Fund we're instructed to report I'd the
Legislature school system. to secure
the benefits Of education to the peonle
of this & clnns,liwealtE. The report hss
not yet BEEN prepared, hut will be- sub.
,nitted to your consideration al an ear!y
day No subject which NAV oecnpy fis
attention Of the Genefa. Assembly. can
be Of more vital importaFcs ii tFe hest
& ~