Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-01-20
COMMUNICATIONS.
FOR TIE E.vQCIhER.


------ FOE TIE A-yQCIhEN.
THE MiIITIA-No. H.
TO Colonel CARTER of the Seaa:e, AMI General BAiLf
of the House IF Delegates.
Il was nv intention to close my review OF the spe-
cc errors of the Governors Message in my last mum
her but there is such jeunencss OF reason tor re-
storing the duties Of the Brigade Inspectors, on account
Of the alleged inaccnraceS and discrepancies m ne
aegmentat returns anil Me failure to ooatn ne true
strength of the Militia, and the umber and condition 81
ihe pubEc arms, resulting trom the sumo source -
namely the abolition Of Tie ofce ot Brtgqdc Inspector,
Ina, could not excuse myself, II permitted tito pass
unnoticed. There IS such wan, Of reflection, such
rawness in the views Of ms Excelency when tracing
the causes OF the evils OF winch he complains, as 10
lead one 10 doubt whether his Exceency DID not de-
vote his time 10 the sobjec. 10 prove how inaccurate
and iliopica he could be. When the Brigade lns?ec-
Tors were relieved from training the officers, and re-
porting the number Of the Militia, and number and
condition Of the public arms, these duties were
thrown upon the coinnandanis Of regiments, 50 lar
a. the regiments concerned and the bT,5adiefs
were required TO make the reports formerly made by
,b.r Br aade inspectors Whatever objection, them can
be- made 10 the Brigade Reports for the causes set forth
b. his Excellence, apply to the officers charged with
iiis duty. The penalties, slight: lied, winch were
prescribed By the laws PRIOR /" -3l Tor dt niuehces
oF every rrade were continued !hc act OF ~, but 80
lar as the laws concerncd has Excclency makes no
objection 10 them The Deficiencies are 70 be iounu
elsewhere. To carry ont tae system, nothing - requ,
ste but laws and agents, wisely adopted TO the end
'fhe laws being complained oi Ivy htS f&Gc!eilcy
his charges be considered preferred against the
suents-the commandans Of regiments and brigades
His Excellency for The reasons he has gwen, proposes
10 transfer these dntrs from the Brgaders I" lhei'
Satf Officers the Brigade inspectors. Wal las Excel
encv his military couns"iiors, ,niorn Us "hethei
,her. ,s any thing ID. Offices OF Colonel and Briga
der, when disqualties them ior Tue performance %
the duties Of reporting the strength o. thc! comahos
and the number and condition ot the pnbc arGs:-dn
ties which neither Of them performs IN person, u
actual service and which every corporal competen
10 Discharge There il skill, iheo'ehc or PRACTICAL
requisite 10 make such reports. Enough 81 Da"oiu
10 know how 10 write and o Cocker 10 be able 10 MAKE
additions Of integers, will take mar through reg
mental or Bnp9de Report with little difficulty q
# he wrote win the elegance Of the INITIATIVE pen 0
Colonel Monroe Edwards, aud mad graduated N Hug
.ons The Commandments Of Regiments, and the Bri
aders ae surely competent to tins mere clerical duy
az much so we must conclude, as any Staii Officers
inferior grade.
were not intended To charge want Of qualihcaon oil
The Coones and Brgadcfs for this simple duty ~
complaints il may be also SAID, were ,ot INTENDED
horne that the Brigade Inspectors were better quale
than their Generals Ii such were not the conclusion
Of his Exceency, why did his Excellency rrcon'nen
that the duties discharged by The Brigaciet
should for his numerous reasons, be transferred l
their family subordnates the Inspectors The fact
his Excellency has not reflected on the SUBJECT NJ
Txcellency has had information enough TO enable mn
10 compare the mode oil collecting iactS WIN M
IA the brigadicrs who CONSOLIDATE them, and IN tina
sta,c they are made by hun TO the Adjutan'- GENERA
Formerly the regmental reports were 'ade 10 the ~
spectors who consolidated them, and made report !
the Adjutant- General. Now, which OF 'hc two uu
crrs the Bripadier officer of high rank or his STA
Officer. Nominal Major, is most likely IN the na'ur
of things to obey the law and discharge his d"ty
sauainst all reasonit against every atiohai hyP'
thesis to assume, that the 'nierl"r VINO hoes .s pa.
by the will of The Superior, should be better nt'ed
discharge this duty, and 20 much BETTER too Tor IN
many reasons urged by his Excellency have N
doubt that his Excelency, from the force OF ancier
preposessions, has determined to restore h's lance
Gods OF War TO their llegtmac consequence, ana hno
mo officers of much higher grades, IN the way, a
sails them for their denqucnccs, as II the Inspector
would be certain 10 perform their duties ana IN u
most Sreditable manner las Exceiiency seems
consider that there something IN the mere ONCE
Ina,ecor which u fills all the demands Of The service
that there is 4 fxedncss in the qualifications OF III
place which nothing can Impair, that transforms ever
a,oon,cc into finished soldier. The material deec
IN the working of the present laws he proposes TO re
,nedy nv and through the office Of Brigade Inspector
Is Excellencys ldiosyncrasy tins subject IS pap'
bic viii take leave TO point out to his Lxceiienc
where the defect is 1t is in the nescct 81 duty fFo'
contempt far the atcs, winch are severely e!' becaus
they are not enforced they are executed - the laws
children engaged in holyday sports. Ii the id'lurc
mentioned by The Governor have occurred has he cause
the deinqents 10 be reporiec has he aIesen the col
1umaciouso Has not his Excellency been informed b
he who was pm, IN his place Tor the purpose OF seem
a, the laws be faithfully executed taken any steps
bring the offenders 10 punishment doubt ms Exec
ency has directed proceed in SIM gle case Here
the source Of all the demquences eontnptor n. sa''
and if his Exceency had directed the Adlnant' Gene
raj to report the deiinqucn,s, lie would have had tn
omissions of which he complains, supplied long oeior
the meeting OF the General Assembly. viii no. sa.
that his Excellency has neglected his duty ana is IN
chief delinquent, but will say, there IS violent pre-
Sumption .ainst hun. .Ntgieet Of duty "a az rams
from contempt of the iacs, the cause and only cause
tbnt the militia are not in condition as good as m
hns circumstanced, could be /, takes time and mnc
If L. under the best d,scpnarians to make good SO
der that time cannot be devoted by the militia nor
The militia But, with few changes IN the Avs ,he
may be greatly improved and put on the oes' a''a"ao
foonr for active service.
must pass over opposite reflections on 10
last argument of the Governor in order 10 hasten 10
conclusion of the whole subject. have just Sa''
that the disease Of the present state of the militia d's
cnline has its origin in negect Of Duty and eontst
for the iaps OF the nater,ei Of the militia there ca
be no complaint of their organization none wha' 'ne
remains 10 be considered: The rules prescribed 10
IT. oEf