Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-01-28

Walter G. Lane, Capt John B. Young, Maj. A.
E. Swift, Capt John A. Henley, Lieut.. Samuel
s. Weisaser, Capt William w. Forbes, Lieut.
Thomas S. Morris, Lieut.. Col. George w. Boil
Ming, Mai. John D. Munford, Capt. Samuel Watts,
Capt Robert Atkinson, Lieut. William b. Ia
liaierro and Lieut.. Col. John Pollard
! The said Committee, after having retired Tor
hort time, returned, and, through their Chair
han, submitted the following nominations:
! For Presidenl-Col. John 0. Mosby.
For lst Vice Presdent-Col. Jos. G. Swan.
For ID Vice Presiden,-Co Thos. 3. Bigger.
For Sd Vice Presdent-Col. L. NJ. Burfoot.
For Secetares-Capt Thomas Ii. Ellis, and
Capt VIM. w. Forbes.
The vote being taken, the above nominations
were unanimously agreed 10.
Capt. Ellis was excused iIom acting as one OF
the Secretaries for reasons given; and, on his mo-
ton, Capt. Henry w. Quarles was appointed in
his stead.
On motion Of Capt. Ellis
Rcsolrcd, That the Adjutant General be inv
ted TO attend ard participate in the proceedings oil
this Convention, and that he be requested 10 lay
before the Convention (if moi incompatible with
the rules of his office) certain communications
referred 10 in his report 10 the Executive OF Isl
December, 1913 as being on file in his office, and
as containing valuable suggestions from the Bri-
gadier Generals of the Stale, on The subject Of
The Militia.
Lieut. William B. Taliaferro submitted the
following
Rcsolrcd, Thata committee of nine be appoint
ed 10 prepare business for the action OF The Con-
venlion
Whereupon the Chair appointed the following
officers to compose said committee, viz: Captain
Gwynn, Col Swan, Lieut. Col Meredith Ma
jor Hyde, Major Munord, Lieut. Col NICE
hee, Lieut.. Col. Layne Lieut.. Col. Boiling and
Col Durey.
communication was received from The Ad.
lutaS General accompanying sundTy documents
in felaion TO the Militia, which, on motion Of
Captain Gwynn was referred TO the committee Of
Which he is chairman.
Emanuel Scamon was elected doorkeeper OF
me Convention
/ And on motion Of Major Hyde,
Y The Convention adjourned to meet tomorrow
morning at | | o'clock.
TUESDAY MORNING, Jan. 2lst.
The Convention met according 10 adjournment,
when the iollowa. additional members appeared
and took their seats:
BIT. Capt S. Bassc,t French, from 23i Rest
| Capt Gales Seaton, from 10Th Regiment.
Lieut.. lsa. G. Scott, from l9,h Regiment.
| Capt. Il. Nelson Fox, from 18th Regiment
Lieut. Henry V. Morris from Gsth Regiment
t|'eu'' JSull !IUlll ~ NeSt CdYGEV.
Col James s. Gillian, from cd Rest Infantry.
Capt Richmond I. Lacy, from SD r. Infantry
The Committee appointed 10 prepare business
lorlhe Convention, through their Chairman, made
the following
REPORT:
/ The Committee, charged with the duty of pre-
pairing subject matter for The action of the Con-
vention, have, according TO order, had the same
under consideration, and respectfully submit the
following Report
Your Committee, deeply impressed with the
Importance of keeping up at all times, well or
Sanlzed force, sufficient Tor such emergencies as
may require its action, cannot but deplore the in
difference which now prevails with regard 10 The
only, and in Republics the best, defence To be re-
! lied upon-tSe Militia OF the Stale. II j. indeed
! difficult task, IN times Of peace. 10 create and
iniuse among The mass oi the people The spri, of
! war. The paSeantry of martial array ceases 10
/ inspire in the absence of an enemy or the seem
! ing certainty OF security The number NAV be
regarded rs comparatively small, upon whom Ma
ture has conferred the abiding spirit in peace. as
well as in war, of the soldiers, and 10 these we
must look as the nucleus, around which. when
stern Necessity demands, The strength Of the Stale
/ must be gathered.
| Ii il were possible 10 Danish all arprehensions
/ of danger from without, and il the hope Of Il
| peaceful security from foreign Interference could
extend through all time 10 oome-stil there are
remaining considerations too strong 10 be over
looked which warn and admonish Us OF the ne
cessiiy OF i ready and efficient iorce-and your
Committee believe that this can only be attained
by culiivatin. in and among those whose feelings
aspire 10 il. the martial spirit
If the officers OF the Militia, who are already
sacrificing much 10 the good of The State, could
attain The opportunity of acquiring the nstruc-
ton and information which are necessary 10 The
trusts they fill, much Of the labor which is nc
cessary 10 The discipinins OF the body OF the Mi
li;a, would already be accomplished For. il is
a saving no less rite than true that good officers
make good soldiers. And it, loo, such encour-
agement could be superadted TO our now only
reliable in times of emergency. the Volun-
icer Companies o. the State. as would ill up their
ranks and promote their laudable and well-di-
rected efforts all that could be expected or required
in time of profound peace, would be effected.
These are the objects a, which your Commit
tee aim in the following plan, under present cir
cum>tanccs To keep up The organization of the
Militia into Companies, Bauaions and Regiments
10 provide Tor their enrolment, and 10 add new
motives for the exercise of a military and pa
trotic spirit By our Volunteers, would provide
well for The present, and lay the foundation for
much future good. Therefore,
RcSolred, lst. That there should be but one
muster OF the Militia of the line in each YEAR
such muster 10 take place in The month Of May.
and on the same day throughout the year il
practicable; TO be conducted in the same manner
as now regulated by law, and the company re-
turns 10 be made, aud fines 10 he imposed as al
present; and, that this be a Regimental, Battalion
or Company muster al The discretion the Board
of Officers for each Regiment; provided, that if the
Board OF Officers shall decide in favor of battalion
Inuscrs, then the first battalion shall muster on
the day prescribed for musters throughout the
State and the second battalion on the next
day. All the field officers Of each regiment shall
attend both battalion musters, and The Colonel or
the senior officer present shall command
81. That each commissioned and non-coEl-
missioncd officer, and private Of The line, pay, as
Communication for the two musers 10 be dis
penscd with, The sum of fifty cents, 10 be collect
ed and accounted for as military fines now are,
and paid over 10 the Auditor and by him set
apart and by law appropriated as a military
fund.- for carrying into effect the objects of this re-
port
Bird. Tha; the Governor shall be authorized to
appropriate two thousand dollars per annum for
the purchase Of wall and common tents in the
proportion Of four wall TO ten common tents;
and upon satisfactory assurance that two hun
bred volunteers, including The Militia Officers OF
The Brigade from which an application may
proceed, will unite and form an encampmenl for
military instruction, he may loan a suflcen,
number of tents for hal purpose
1,h. That the officers Of the Militia, and The
Volunteer Companies OF each Brigade, or of two
or more Brigades combined, be authorized BY
law 10 form an encampmcnt for military inslruc-
ton, 10 continue six days in each year, the time
and place within the Brigade or either of the Bri-
gades 10 be fixed upon BY a majority Of the Off
GERS proposing such encampmenl, a, meeting 10
be held for that purpose The senior officer OF the
subject 10 martial law, and the rules and regula.
lions Of the United States Army during The en-.
campment.
9Th. That upon the requisi,ion of majority