Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1841-12-09

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ii ,le Sael5tlye Ga a ful consideration u NV So
ti,s communicated. aud all tie art> ii tlf ee
the know lesge q thus department, the i'-- -
did not APPEAR sufficient 10 justify the ihtftaacH"
for The rghi 81 the Executive 10 exercise i's ''is"
~ f.gser having been questioned aud as SIN
liar casts NAY arse In future respectfully recoih'"
that such declaratofy enacirn,nts = laoe As VIII Fe
an doubt up,n tie sllert. have thought II Ifios' az
yi.ble 10 leave Ia the wisdom Of the General Assembly
the dsn II the question, whether the places Of deps
tie should he changed Your early attention TO te SUI
+ rot - earnestly ulsiied-
submit herewith the report OF the Adjutant General
Showing tie strength Of the Militia and Pfeseh'ih9 "9
ycW, IN .sYeal subjects connected with Its ofgahHAto
The fntsfspre Il rescuing this Of our defence IRON
its almost useless condition. urges the serious considers
non of every proposition for It's improvement hle
every other saect that engages public attention ataks
If H., spirit Of improvement Winch marks the age lhs
sn. = p fInitf. 10 ANGUISH and become the object Of
ridruIe and ropnach The low repuie INTO which the
Whole system las fallen. to have deprived II OF
whatever interest II formerly excited. Nothing more
plainly illustrates this condition than the indifference
with which commissions accepted, the short period
they retained and the readiness with which they are
surrendered Few persons, unacquained with the paTtc
uars would credit the number OF resgnatoas rendered
and number Il commissions issued every year Officers
first uniformed who do not retain their commissions
long enough become acquainted with their duty cannot
Of lmIan instruction to others Under sue h cir
cusance the subject becomes dstastefl to themselves
and 10 those under their command. For though the law
three from every commissioner ol
ccr before he acquire the right To resign yet, the
public can receive httle benefit from those who have
inclination for the service. will rarely happen that
slyuaiions will be rejected. While this apathy contn
ues discipline destroyed and dsorganizaiion is the
c,S>ary consequence. such system must be progress
ely Inefficient aud the duties imposes are burden
some To the people without equivalent advantage and
the expense with which it is attended greatly exceeds
any benefit II concrs Some innovation necessary to
lmpaI il new life and vigor. In endeavor
I 4 I.4t,g
for your consideration 1t may well be questioned
whether the present mode Of olectng officers prov dcd
by the act Of 1891 has not been productive Of in
Jury than utlity-whethcr 1t Is not the fruitful
Of intrigue characterization and relaxation Of Disciple in
consistent with the true spirit and efficiency of military
operations In time Of war specially, ii would to
be at variance with every principle by which the
mcnts Of an army regulated But in time of
peace besides these objections the assemblage of the
people from neonvenent distances i'll the country,
lnconvenisnt times, merely 10 elect officers, must be
Of great annoyance They feel respect for the
system generally ind lereut the selection of
officers and their object in many instances be
10 bring II into rldlcue and contempt. The law in this
particular has been attended with percevable benefit
but It's disadvantages are obvious and numerous
The AdIntant General. well his predecessor
Doth officers o experience and high intelligence have
earnestly recommended the restoration of the office of
Brigade Inspector, which abolished by the act Of
1854. HE failure To perform essential duties, the ina
hllty in many give proper instruction the
nua trainings the want of uniformity IN the tactics. the
excitement of disgust instead of honorable emulation
mong the officers Of the consequences Of abo
lshng tins Office The naccuraces and discrepancies
the rogmenta returns, and the failure TO obtain the
strength Of the militia and the number and condition of
he public arms, result from the same source, inducing
great loss to the Commonwealth. There is reason to
believe that the aggregate returns fall greatly below the
actuc numerical strength OF the militia lths be true the
State mus Annually be deprived Of the full compliment
of arms to which she Is titled from tho General Gov
eminent. The quotas to each State ai2 0iS"ou'ed &c
cordng 10 lis relative proportion Of the militia Oh the nj
ted States ascertancd by official reports from the
ctal States. The amount Of arms which annu-
ally lost by effective returns might contribute materially
10 dcay the additional expenses to be incurred by the
employment OF these officers. BY deyolyng also upon
the Brigade Inspectors duties not heretofore required of
thcm the proposed change would he attended with ad-
yantagcs amply compcnsatng the State for the addition
al cost to be incurred. Ii this change be deemed mex
pedicnt | world respectfully recommend such amend
meuts To the law AS would more fall and accu-
of the strensth OF the militia and the number
and condition Of the in tier possession
The waste of the public subject which de
mauts the intorposition Of the Legislature nder the
existing laws, is the duty OF the Executive 10 allow
and accoutremcnts To such volunteer compalcs as
appear from the certificate OF the commandment of the re
mcnt 10 which they attached, To have the requisite
number OF meu uniformed. required by law. Every
nduccment should be afforded these companies to smi
late them become efficient and permanent particularly
in the present condition of the militia. But suitable pro
vision should be made for the preservation and return OF
the arms when from any company Is dlsbandcd
At present, such result followed by almost total loss
of the their good order be object of at
cntion-solne mululacd become worthless by
neglect; others are lost, mslad removed from the
county, but few returned 10 the State and those
few require heavy expense to render them fit tor ser
vice. Under circumstances like these and considering
that their transportation is attended with heavy cost
additional restrictions upon ISSUES of arms might,
ha .Iftlt IN