Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-12-23

~ neglect; DINERS are lost, miSlaid or re-
moved from the county, but few are ever
to the State, and those few re-
lulre a heavy expense 10 render them Fl;
for service. Under circumstances like
these, and considering that ihru iranspor-
tation is attended with a heavy cost, nd
ditlonal restrictions upon new lssu's of
arms might, | conceive, be Judiciously
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 10 some
d signated officer a full return Of all mpm
bers Of his Company who may be IN pos
session of any public arms and %ccoui
menis. IL the brigade insp etors be re-
appointed they might be required 10 en-
force this regulation. aud 10 collect and
transmit annually oil such arms and ac-
coutrcmenis to the public arseDa!s. THIS
or some other change IN the pres"n, law
is deemed highly necessary to guard the
pubic inter ST.
Ii wouli perhaps b. impossible 10 dev Sc
any plan watch would rcud the whole boz
@y of militia in time of peace, %eliectual
for the purposes Of war, without subject
ing the people TO greater personal inc"n
venience, or heavier taxation than they
ought TO endure. can Sc no dlthruity
however in executing with Some mntlih-
cations the plan sugg' s,ed ~ the r'port oi
the Adiutant General. IL in lieu oil the
company musters, which arr now attend
I'd with little benefit, either to Officers or
Privates, one company OF the line from
each Regiment, completely armed ani
equipped, were annually detailed Tor SER
wee, an elite corps of at least ten thou
sand men, exclusive of volunt eIs, might
BE- formed, who a, short notice would 5e
ready for any emergency. Tneir -
quail distribution throughout the Common
wealth, would facilitate the speedy con-
centrstton ut a considerable iorce at any
point Of rendezvous. These coinpap' S
should be required tn muster al stated pr
RODS, and one of the musteIs should be
with the officers on the last day Of their
annual trainings. This requirement would
afford a sufficient number Oh these coca
ions 10 execute Battalion r%voluliUns, n
correct idea of which can scarcely be OBJ
tanned from the small number who usual
~ attend. The additional interest thus
impaired. would no doubt be productive
OF "A salulary effect. the reg'meni"l
muster would be the only one which our
policy need require Of the body of the
militia. Tint muster would b. ntcessa-
ry for the purpose of making the annual
detail as sug Sled, of ascerttinIng the
strength of each regiment, and presrrv.
ing the military organization of tie State.
The elite corps of the preceding year
might then be required, under suitable
penalties, to deliver 10 their successors,
in good order, the arms in their possess
sion, after which, each company compos-
ing this corps, might be exempt in time OF
peace from all duties except the regimen
tai muster, until every other company "f
the line in the regiment had performed a
corresponding service. This plan, il is
believ, d, would be lt IS burdensome to
the body of the militia, less onerous upon
the Treasury. and every way more eff
fectIve. There would, al least, be on"
company in each regiment to cn-operat.
with the volunteers IN rendering minui'
service to The State.
In connection with the subject Of the
Militia, j, seems proper that the s,tcnti"n
of the General Assembly should be call
d to the condition and prospects of the
Military Institute al l. Xington. The an-
nual report Of the visitors Of that lnstltu-
ton, which | communicate herewith, pre-
sants a hattering view Of It's beneficial re-
suits. The opportunity II at" rds for the
requirement and diffusion of military
science, and the protection It gives to the
public property at the Lexington Arsenal,
render it peculiarly valuable. It's gradn.
a,es, if selected as officers of:he militia,
and as instructors 10 tactics and dlscip-
line, may be OF essential service tn the
State. Through their agency. n proper
spiri, may be infused among the officers,
and new vigor impaired to our military
system. For these and other considera-
tons, the Military institute is eminen,ly
entitled TO the patronage and liberal en-
dowment Of the Legislature.
By the act of the 9Th Of March last,
the President and Directors Of the Ltera-
ry Fund were instructed TO report to the
Legislature a School System to secure
the benefits of education to the people of
this Commonwealth. The Report has
not yet been prepared, but will be sub
mittcd to your consideration at an early
day. No subject which may occupy the
attention Of the General Assembly ear
be OF more vital importance 10 the b, st in
terests of the State. Ii II be desirable to
lessen crime and purify the public morals,
to advance the cause Of religion and per
petuate the blessings of our free inslitu
tons, the sur ST means is TO ,nllglt,n the
great body of the people. To rescue
from ignorance and vice thousands, who,
for want of timely instruction ma be losI
To society, and 10 render them useful To
themselves aud their country, is the die,
tate alike Of humanity and souni policy.
Ii is gratifying To- perceive, throughout
various sections of the Commonwealth,
recent manlf stations of public interest ur
this important subject. Happily, great
unanlmlty prevails as to the expectancy
of affordlng every facility fur the general
diffusion of education. The only ques-
tion about which there can be diversity
of opinion, is as to the mode of accom-.
rlishing this desirable end. Virginia has
ALREADY effected much by her lib raj pol.
icy, and her failure TO really all the hem