Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-01-20

canno. be noroyed Il ~ consider the Obstacles inter
posed by public feeling. We can, however, without
Inconvenience 10 the people, aId i.uch 70 '"e'. e,.
cieocv. REQUIRE every complny 10 muster once ID
tho nopbs i. Apni, Jane, July, September ana -'o-
/ vember-,l,e bats ions 70 mcs;er IN May anc Octo'
Der and the regiments IN August. nus We s"a'' III
c,.,se the mrsiers often enough 10 eject some I'm
,,ovemeu, in practce and create, what = very ihucn
r.en,;no m in;e.es, IN their duties. The o!teneF
! n,, 49,. IN ,e.iorin GGty which = not asreea-
hi. the more the edge Il dislike IS dcl!ed, TIL b:
| habit an attachment is formed. never Hie" :"
soldier who had done duly IN the hrid IN ue r.
moments Of repose throughout each successive day.
With so puch labor and mau,eness and Under so many
,rva,ions w.o I'D not contract foncness ana pas
sion for the life Bat, If the PERIODS OF iieif eiPios
ments had been remote ana uncertain, en''o a
xoud hive followed. The observation Of man i'usi
ha ve,v limited who does not know the difference De-
tween The feelings xcited by the regular repeoh o
necessary duty, and those winch are gu :!
employment at distant intervals OF tihe Tue s"'.
feels of which ne not able 10 discern. The results 10
which ,h ,aonle look are these Of utility; and u Z,
everv ste, ;. the operations Of pubic scheme us iu
tllitv is demonstrated, i! can produce n"'hhgo 'a
Let them however, see that there IS ne" sso m @
into IL that the State is IN earnest, ana every u NJ"
co.operate hat before was an inert ano ~
will be transformed into life and activity Inc ln'I-
in n,or IN the las, wa were drilled six times year,
four times BY companies, once by bal'.ioh'' u,a o
| by regiments besides the training VI '!e o''1e
| With how much more a!ac!ily lae't uu',''
CHARGED than al present, be established Dy every
one vi ;s old enonqh 10 remember the iact ne IRE
quency of their calls 10 the parade srouhd gave el
relish for il as part OF tile fixed ana necessary uues
Of life; and at each drill ADDING 10 TIE u. " 'ie'
knowledge, irksomeness gave way 20 pleasure, a''
they Wed with each other IN Skin III 'he "aua'' :" 'e
facipos and wheelngs in all the arts OF he'd exercise
and manruyrcs Try this scheme again, give u lar
trial not such as volatile child gives 10 WHIMSICAL
position of her DOLL and am wiling 10 exchange my
4, E,~, for r. n md l,sl NJ
Jo m, sncceeG with tie additional alterations propose
/, the executive par. Of the cnde tn adopting SO much
of the plan can.emp!aes restoration 81 Inc ba,a
hon ntisiers an important deslderatnm wi be attain.
ed the Liea;enantC Colonies and MAJORS WI each eX-
erese his independent commando and val, according
H. prepare himsel. for il: and III case he should be
called 10 a separate command IN service, or 10 the head
Of the regiment, w.ll be familiar wth his cnties.-
Every officer who has certain command should be
required to discharge lis duties matter Of course.
Before proceed 10 the last subject 10 which pur-
mise ia call your attention. let advert 10 another al
,eraon necessary 10 be made in the laws IN order TO
produce more harmony in the srsein, by preserving
that due gradaton Of authority anu responsibility 50
necessary every thing that Is military AND II may
not be amiss 10 express my surprise and Sorrow 10 see
with what facility the most important regulations for
the government Of the militia are repeated or changed
BY the Legislature. They treated, as II adopted
onv II amuse experimental qnacks and inventive tan
kers in efforts 10 e-ashlon them as badly possible
LEGISLATURE repealed in 1880, much Of the act Of "a
as required the Colonels to report the strength, &c Of.
their regiments TO the Brgaders and substituted the
adjutans for that duty. This IS contrary 10 all pro-
priety as deyolvinr inferior staff officer, duty
beloarlng 10 the head of the regiment, by which, 10 the
extent Of that duty and lis incidents, he exercises an
authority independent of his commitment, and other
wise over those who his snperoTS IL IS, too, re-
moving from the precise point where i should rest, the
responsibility for the performance Of an important re-
n.r 41t,ct
suborclaaon comfy Of rank which cannot be TOO
cautiously regarded In the correspondence which Il
is often necessary for the Rrgaders 10 OPEN respecting
the reylueu,n reports no." unmiliiarv Is II tor him to
be obliged pass t!e Coioaei and hold correspondence
with his Adaant, in regard 20 an important duty con-
nec,ed yyn hiss rcri,neGt and which 10 be exercised
b. him beyond the control OF his Colonel. law
which breaks IN upon rank and lis Indispensable
SEQUENCE IL all tie relations Of military lie, disregard
,nr It's mos. wholesome Influences cannot be otherwise
than prciicial II may be said that tins act was not
intended Tor state q! war; and therefore does not
trench upon the respect due according 10 Tia. gfadaons
Of rank but the object cf the laws 10 prepare the
militia Tor the comp, and nothing winch IS incomPai-
be with rank authority howsoever desired, whether
by law necessity, CUSTOM should he adopted.
trust that the Legislator. viii repeal TIE law, and
cure the conmandan,s 10 make their reports Is here
,oiore have tried III VAN To conceive reason for
this extraordinary act, unass it Intended 10 re-
eve law Colonc!s 7on few hours labor, or to bring
The militia into still greater disreputc.
The last subjects for your reflections coreuPt for
IN. laws its ceGscs aud tie remedy. The observer mnst
see with VISION very imperfect, 1t ne - not satshea
that The reliance Of officers and men for all omissions
of duty, upon the shameless and dis:epnab!e facility
with which Gcnquanis cxoheraled from fines and
other liabilities on Tire slightest pretcXts. Instances Of
nplcct Of du;y for iaree four and FIVE years,
known have occurred with officers high IN rank who
have gone not only G" fire free from question
iiouuby more common and better known shall not
waste your ,me IN order 10 demonstrate the culpab!e
ina,en,ion Of tie Btalion and Regimental Courts to
their duties, and is widespread and decisive influence
upon the Militia Tha; the laws are condemned, IS not
a question: that tcy con,cnncd because they are
never felt, is cggay true. defect the radical change
50 much 10 bc desired a the habits OF the Militia, and
Of COURSE ,r,r efficiency, You have only TO pursue
the reofna;ion already referred 10, and give II such
effect rs the dignity ~ The a%s and the necessities OF
the Commonwealth f.quIrc. 10 give it effect you
must avoid the fJLni1n Of the present evils. pro-
pose first TO increase The minimum fine TO two dollars
and d half and increase the maximum 10 five dollars
in the d musicians, non commissioned oiicers
and prtra:e:. ana in Aard 10 officers 10 increase them
ia n-oo.r,t4n 10 Grade This increase however, no.
,hun upon the sia.u book ard III bat enlarge the
criminal indulgence id Indifference Of the military
courts who are now urged wti the execution Of the
,ws 70 make the eesary provision give effect 10
these cnactmcns andS Trough them tn the whole code,
Won must erect new 4bunals, for adudica;ing them
A nonalous rs il wow he, should Gepute this autho.
ri,y to the Judges Of Superior Courts, 10 be DIS
charged on The las, As Of their terms in the different
counties the clerk" of the regiments recording, rs
now the decisions Confident that the true source Of
the general dscrcd: to which the Militia have been
brought is in The unathu manner III which the Military
Code has been executed, and confident that the Judges
would execute il in this respect with fidelity, shonlc
confer The authority upon them, satisfied OF the hap
pest results. The time devoted by the Military
Courts 10 this purpose does not exceed three fourh
Of day, and cannot perceive that it would interfere
with the other duties of those tribunals. But, at al
events, The Militia mus; be rendered efficient, Whatever
Inconvenience may ensue; although it will not follow
the event suggested, that their duties will be inter
fered with Objections may be made that the dutlc:
of having excuses Tor military delinquency are incom
pa,ble with the civil functions OF the Judges, and IN
constitutional. The Judges are liable 10 perform an.
duty Of judicial character, and because the offenders