Virginia Argus. [volume], February 11, 1815, Image 1

About Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816

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Vol. XXII l—No. 3161]
HICIIMOND—SATURDAY, FSSaUUlYli, 1815.
- m ,jm'
[A> .Dolls, per annum.
•3
I WISH ro SELL MV
TRACT OF LAND,
OF TWO HUNDRED Ct SIXTY ACHES
Lying1 within a mile or James Stiver in Powhat
an County, about seven north of the court*
house and 32 miles from the City of Richmond.
There is a suflioieney of woods well timbered to
support the Plantation, three apple orchards
and several springs of as good water hs any in
Virginia, a good framed dwelling and oilier
convenient Houses. I presume no person would
purchase without viewing the premises, a fur"
ther descrip ion is thought unnecessary. Pos.
sessiqn might be had immediately, tiic terms
of sale would Iris made known to an' person
wishing to purchase by the subscriber living on
the premises. Young negroes woubl be taken
in part payment. ‘ EDWARD COX.
Dec 29. if
NOTICE.
THF. Public are hereby cautioned against
taking an assignment of my bond new in f the
possession of Major Joseph Muvo of thin city,
for about $.1300 ,n wMeli there is a Cr. ol
£150, as 1 am prepared to settle the same
with oilier bonds of the said Mavo assigned to
me, and ot which I have given him notice.—
The above bond was oxcuicd by me with John
Cunlilf security, and payable to (ieo. Cox of
Chesterfield.
Z. BROOKS.
Richmond, Dec. 10, 1814*
MANSION HOUSE
. HOTEL,
8. E. Carrier of Marketand Eleventh
Street#, VhUadelpkia.
FORT) CUTTER,
fLafe from «ft'e.v-Voik.J
RESPECTFULLY acquaints Ike public, that
he has taken the extensive premis e, lately
occupied hy Mr William Ilenxhaiv, anil has
commenced nn establishment which he flatters
himself cannot be surpassed in this city.
Mr. fluTTEU has engaged attentive and dili
gent Serv mis ,- Iiia harder will be plentifully
supplied with the best the market* can afford
and a I th - delicacies of Lite season. ‘Ls cellar*
arc stored with t'e choicest Liqnnrs and IVincs
He assure* his f iends and travelers generally
that ho will accommodate them in a superior
style : having s-veral private parlours anil sin
pic and dnub] - bedded chambers, he can en
sure comfort and convenience to t a mi lies and
travellers- The siuwinn is much m .-airy
atul ple:.9 «nt than that of any similar establish
ment in Philadeiphja.
Public or Private Parttr.» can be accommoda
ted with dinners, rooms, <*c. on the shortest
: notice
Extensive ataMrs, rurriageiboiises, Tic. s«.-e
attached to the Hotel, and every arrangement
made to pivo satisfaction to trav< l< r*.
N. !{ Boarders accommodated by the month
or quart* r on moderate t tn*
Am OitOlNAHY, evtry d ,y at three o'clock
January *~5. w3t.
IN PURSUANCE or A DEE!) O'" TRUST,
Bearing dH3 the iotii day of m.»v «•> the
year of our Lord on*» thousand cm ht hint
dred anfl thirteen, and duly recorded in the
county court of Chesterfield, executed by Vu .
lentine YVirttree, jr, tn the subscribers, as trus
tees, to secure the payment of S-^00, to
George Cox, together with alt the growing in
forest there .n, as also the costs and charges
ol carrying the said trust into eflV-ct,
will nn snin, 7‘o T:rA menus nin/ija.
For ready money, on thet premise!, on the
sixteenth day of march next,
J F F A 1 C , OTBEtlWt'BTliB KP.tr FAlii D.IV,
OJVR MOIETY Oil ILF OF THE
Courts loupe Tract of Liiml.
ik c ups te n fi e i. n coun n \
Formerly the property of Henry Win free, dec.
and now the property of the said Valentine
Winfree, jr d -ceased, or a t mtich thereof r.i
may he sniTicieiit to discharge and s itisfy the
afore -id. In v,l»«cli said land ihe Widow
ot the said Valentine Winfree, jr. has her flow
*r, and on which Mrs M irtha Winfree lias a
lien for an annuity of £7 10, from 1804.
Should the »ii>l land. cxrlu»ivo-of the said
Widow’s dower, not he sufficient to satisfy
the debt aforesaid, so much of the reversionary
interest in the. sai l Widow's dower will also
be sold, as will make lip the* deficiency.
EDWARD A UGH Eli, > r„
A BASS, 3 trustees
January 2d
to m; solo,
The rvlr 'r of rfnj Property in t hr town of
Mavthotirr, ns formerly advertised,
ON TlJCSpAY, 21st FRIHlUAllY,
At \2 o'e.loci, on the premises.
The pi'oaiion is hi^h and Agreeable, lyin.^
on tho main street. opposite llrooka’ Tavern
Terms tf site—One third of the money to lie
paid on giving possession, the balance in two
annual pa) merits.
Fft ANClS SMITH,
.TanItaly 28. tds
VIRCINI\ :
fti Rules hot den in the Clerk's Office of the .tir
ftrior Court of Chancery for the Richmond
District, the 30th ttay uf Junitary, J i(\5,
Michael Onuly, t : : : pp.
against
John Rell, surviving partner of the late firm of
John and William Bell, and aaid John Bell,
Walter Well, and Rqfchcn fl, Henley, '.tuViv-.
ing partners of the firm of William amt John
Pell, f. Co i t : • Delia.
r~f’*'W Defendant K' uh~n fi, Pritsley, not h;»v.
X ing '■ntcr'd hit appearance anti given M’
rttrilw recording to tho Act of Assembly and
the Pule* of this Court, and it appearing hy sa
tisfartory evidence, that he is not an inhabitant
of ihi* country: It is ordered. That the said
Defendant, do appear *.ere on the first day of
the nest term and answer the bill of the pfaln*
tifT; and that a copy of this order be forthwith
inserted in some newspaper published in the
City of Richmond, for two month* successively
• nil posted at lire front door of the Capitol,in
the said City.
a copv—TEST*,
WILLIAM W. HB..VINH, C. 0.
February 8. w&w
FROM THE KNQU1HER.
INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE GOV
ERNOR.
yii to the ti'u'ineT of cxrcH'ini? the “ Act
aut horiain tc a rc^ulur force for the dc
ft nee of the Commonwealth”
In execution of tlic duties devolved on me
by the law “authorising a regular force for
the defence of the commonwealth,” which
prescribes that the court martial provided
by the 2d section, shall he governed by such
instructions as may be received from me._
I invite your attention to, and request your
observance of the following principles and
rules in pcTorioing the several duties impos
ed uuon the court, by the 3d, 4di and 5 th
sections of the law,
1 he first duty to he performed by the
court martial is to examine the muster
nil’s returned by the commanding officers of
companies, and to correct all errors and
omissions appearing therein, by striking off
troin them all who h ive died, removed, or
become exempt rutu are, and by adding to
them all who have been emitted and a I who
have arrived, since making the rolls, tithe
age for performing militia duty, according
to tne third section of the aci.
1 he next duty to be performed by the
court martial, is to ascertain the amount of
t e taxable property of every non, comm is.
Mooed officer, musician and private, within
the regiment. By taxable property is not
ice itit all property which may be liable to
taxation hereafter, nor fiios.' new subjects
ou winch the last Legislature his-imp >v 1
taxes, liy taxable property is meant that
property which ajip; ar;; on the commissianj
er’s books of the year loll. t..be subject to
taxa i 'n For th s put p --e tiie cour • mar
tial must precur frr.m the clerks of the
counties and corporations, the commission*
ci s books of lltll, or certified copi s there
o; ; t!iey n.Ui nake allowances For such
changes of property as shall appear to
them to nave occurred shice making out
those b ok*. Ji the change ot property has
occurred in consequence of'the destruction
°* t*le property ( s the death of negroes, hor
sts, ike. or the burning of iiou es on lot in
t"wni *Cc.) then it ought not to be valued as
part ot tiie property of vie per--r:ii charged
with i: on the commissioner's beaks, lfi.be
change of propc-i ly (las occurred inconse
quence oi tile sale or other transitr of it, in
like tnann u- it ought not to be valued as
part of tne property of the person charged
with it on the comn i shmer’i books. If the
purchaser is a resident within Hie bounds of
tiie regiment, then tiie property so goal or
transferred rnu.t he valued as his p; iprii;,
biit if kc be not a tcsidcot, then r.o n rice
need be tak» n i.f it. In estimating ;hc value
»i the taxable piopery, the o>urt will be
governed by he commissioner’s books in
those cases when- a valuation of such pro*
I city bus been entere on tliose books (as
in the ca-'.e of c:rri 'ge*) except in regard to
thfi valuokaf lands, l’he value of Sands a ad
of any other taxable property, wh re, from
tb.e nature of the subj-f.', no such valuation
shall have been entered on the commission*
er’.-, books, the court must make a reason
able and uniform estimate thereof; this
wil, be much facilitated, while every cause
of rational complaint will be avoided, by ob
serving the fo!-owing principles :
1st. A* to laud. i’he prcoer.t reasonable
value of ta h tract of land it should be the
object <»f the r r.irt to ascertain, anil to make
that value cnargeabie to the propriet >r.—
i o ;r certain this value the court is advired
to fix it. •
ai Hie laic <xt wilfUll 1U«U8 Of IIK: iltkC
quality in Uiu viciiii.y of sueu tract may
have recently sold. It no suck sale h'ts
keen made bo us to afford ttiis criterion c,t
value, then
2ndly. At the medium of the price which
may have been return ly offered and a ked
tor it. 1-aii■ pj 'his evidence of value, then
Srdly. At the price at which the proprie
;or may hold it. Rutin each of the forego
ing cases the prices that may he fund died
should be liable to change or correction by
other evidence that may be given to the
ceurt, and which the court may think ciiti.
lied to its confidence and respect.
linrily. As to slaves ; the c art should in
the fust instance determine what in its npin*
ion is a reasonable average value of suc.fi
3iaves a> are liable to taxation, that is. of
slaves or twelve years of age and upwards ;
ami h >ving lix il the average value, its duty
wul merely be to multiply the nuinbei held
by each proprietor respec'ively by the ave.
rage value, ihi. will give that uniformity
to their valuation which the law prescribes.
Iiicily. As to horses, asses, marrs, mules
and colts; the like Course should be taken
t’> ascertain their value, as is suggested »n
relation to si . /es.
IV thlv. As to *tud .horses and jack-asses.
The amount of (he season, will be perhaps
the best index ol value, and the court hav.
iog ascertained the value of any one of them
fioui evidence, their own knowledge or
otherwise, the proportion of that value to
to the sum charged for the sevson will fur.
nish a ready mean to ascertain the value of
' **lljr* As to houirs and lots and all other
laxnhle propeity, where the lax is on the
annual faliie. '1 he commissioner's bonks
turnish the annual value, and as the fee
simple value always proportioned to the
annual value, and in this country, the fee
simple value is usually computed to be tif*
teen Mines the annual value, tlie court is ad
used tor expedition in discharging its duties
and uniformity in making their valuations to
ascertain the value of ail such property, by
multiplying the annual value by fifteen, the.
product of winch will he in eacis case taken
*s tiie fee>simple value.
Alter this valuation sf the property of the
non-commissioned officers, inuMcisns and
privates, ha* been made, their cleik shai
make out a fair alphabetical list of them
with the estimated value of the estate of
cacii, placed opposite to Ills name. This
last is to be set up at the door of the house
where the court martial *;ts, ar.d the court
will then uppotyk'ft d»y, not less than three,
nr.r more than ten days distant, on which
they shall meet, to hear complaints against
the estimates, and to make corrections
therein.
The court martial is also bound to make
ort alphabetic. ii lists of all the commissioned
and staff officers of the militia, residing
within the regiment, and of a'l free persons
residing therein, being exempt from* militia
duty, and who own any prooerty appearing
on the commissioner's books, whether such
persons be male or female, infants or adults.
If a person owns taxable property within
the regiment, but does not reside there such
person is not to be put on the list. The val
uation of the property of militia officers, and
resident exempts, and the lists with rcsnecc
to them and their property, is to be made In
the same way, in which those duties are
performed as to the noti'commissioned offi
cers, musicians and private*. Those lists
are to be recorded in the regimental book,
and fair copies transmitted to the clerks of
the counties. It will be observed that any
omissions or errors, in these lh.:s, last men
tioned, or ir. the estimates, c annot lie cor
rected by the court martial, but may be by
the county courts, at any time before the
levy is made.
The court martial will then proceed ae
cording to the directions of the 5t!i section
of the act to arrange into classes all the non*
Commissioned officers, musicians and pri
vates, as follows: Each class must consist
of fifteen persons; Divide the whole num*
her ot non commissioned officers, mus:c;ar.s
an'cl privates in the regiment by the lumber
lif eon, which will give the number of class
es : (thus, if t!ie whole numb r of the regi*
inert amounts to 450, there will be 50 c‘a-s*
es.) If any number at persons remain after
ascer airing -lie number ot clashes, then
j '.ha? number will be distributed among, the
clai es formed : (t .s, if the regimen con
sis-i uf 5oo, t ie.' : will be only 33cla ses,
j and the remaining 5 militia men most be
distributed amongst five of the classes.)
•The several courts manual are advised,
classing the militia, to take care, that
ti: re shall be a leawt seven persons in each
class, who are not religiously scrupulous
nnsc qeanng arm-*.
Toe mo.!: difficult [.ait of the fluty of the
court inarth’.rthcn’follows The lawsivs,
I:i arr-tnthe classc, t!:o value of the
whole property bjongius to :h.; individuals
ot each cl1*. s, shall l>-< made us oetfly equal,
is is consis»f.T with a prudent regard to
the convenient residence of the ,numbers
n ar each other. If the value of the whole
property belonging to the members of one
c :tss, should uotwidistandiug exceed the
average value of ho whole prop, rty belong
ing to the members c,f other rl ,s.-,e>, by a
sum greater than one tenth part of such a
vri '.i-.; value ; then such excels of value
sb^it oe made chargeable in gorne other
ci.i,s or classes^ in the regi nent wherein
tlie value of tint property may be below the
! are a -e. The excess so hi .le % chargeable
in he other claisca,shall be ct the property
of the wealthier raen in the class, And shall
be regulate l so as always to leave in the
class to which such inen belong, a greater
proportion oi thru wealth, than is assigned
to any other class.” To e;:p ain tide clause,
i« Hi.tv be proper to Ulustrnii hv example_’
Suppose the court to have ascertained the
number of classes to be one hundred, th y
have already ascertained the value of the
property of each non commissioned officer,
musician .and pr .cie: by adding tog, ther
tiiese st vcr*l values, they .(--certain the va*
!ue oi all of them, in the regiment. ])j
vide the anjeunt by the number of chaf
es, and yon get the average value of the pro
p^rty oi each cia.s. Thus it the whole pro
perty of ail the non com ni sio:i>-d officers
musiciaiisand privates within to- iv'iiucnt*
amounts t*» 400,000 d<>!i .rs, divide tuat sum
by 100, the supposed untnbev of clashes, and
it results that ‘.$100.0 * * the average value of
in*- properly of each c! ,ss. Tut* classes in
su-U Ciis’. oug it to be laid off, jq as to make
the value of the property of each class as
nearly the average value (that is ^4000 in
the upposed case) as possible; h tving rr.
g.ir.l howe ver to the convenient residence of
the meinbi r».
i f in the arrangement of the clns»cs, it is
found inconvenient c i impossible to equal
ize the property of the classes, so that the
value of the pn perty of one cla^p, exceeds
one tenth of the av: rage value of all the
classes, then uch excess of value shall be
made chargeable, in son e o'hrr class,
/•hose property is below the average value,
1 mis in toe c.v*e before supposed, where
the average valu o the property of each
class is % 4000 The tenlhpart of this a
verage value is 3 400. If class No. 1 owns
property to the amount «f J000, then
the said clasj. No. 1 will be chargeable to
some other class or classe.9, whose proper
ty is below the average in the sum of S 1< 00
— in other worth, willoe liable to pay ( «c*
cording to another section cf this law) one
half of one per cent, on Hint excess to those
otnrr Classes, in case a soldier is furnished
by Miein, when such excess does take place
in me property of any class. That excess
so chargeable on that class (in U» »r of the
other daises) shall be of the wealthier min
of the c ms, hut in such manner that more
of the r property shall remain in their own
‘<»e mnrrs. /\ucr the classifi.
cation is thus made, the classes shall be
numbered in regular order—the clerk of
the court martial to make a plain and dis
tinct roll of each class, and to deliver a co<
py thereof to some person of the class, to
whom it can be conveniently delivered, and
who is fit V be entrusted with it, who
should in < ’ c ase he the most discreet
and best qu i.’.ed msn in the class to man<
age tha business of the class, llis duties
are plainly laid down in the law.
Forms of rolls or lists arc hereto annex
ed, whi. h wdl tend to elucidate the princi.
pies laid down in the law, and in these in
struCtions.
For the information of the classes it is pro.
per to state th it each class, or a majority
<-i iIkj cla'is, must make the contract wit’,
tus recruit neither tlie militia oilicer* noi
t!;e exempts have any tiling to do with it ;
the law ha.* properly confided tha* business
to the militia classes of fifteen, who have
the greatest interest procuring the re
cmits, np noon the success depends their
exemption from militia *evv:ce ; the eta »
or a majority of it, fixes the bounty, ami
they are not limited in the sum they will
give, by any thing hut their own discretion.
All the recruit is to receive, they must
pay themselves except one hundred do".I jvs,
to be paid bv the State in the manner pre
scribed bv the law, wh:$h needs no f-.rther
extdanation ; and one hundred anil sixty
1 irres of land given bv the United States.—
'l he class is afterwards entitled to receive
from the militia officers and exempts, u
i proportion of the bounty ; that proportion
is to Ik: regulat: l by the proportion, which
the whole taxable prnnerty of the »»»itlt:..
officers and exempts bear< to the whole
taxable property «»f the classed militia.
Thus, suppose the property of the classed
militia < f the regi neuts » > he ft 400.000, Sc
<>f 'he militia offir ?*s and eXcmot. to be
S 400/00. the class has given the r emit a
bounty Cf 3-400, u er and above the $S 100
to be given bv the State, ’he cl is» may re
ceive from the militia. officers and exemtits
S 200. IFthey give a larger sum, tli y
must pay the excess themselves. For the
payment from the exempts, the class and
not the recruit, applies to the county court,
who gives them a certificate that they are
entitled to s certain sum out of the levy —
rU^ court will fix w-iat each militia offi
cer and exempt shall pay.
The power given ta a majority of the
Class to bind the wh' le class, d es not ac
crus to the majority, unless the cl-ss shall
fail to pr'.dace an able b died tree white
roan at the time and place to be appointed
“ by tiie Ciovern ir ; upon such failure the
majority arc ai liberty to employ a recruit
And to recover from the o‘her mem \-rs ami
frutn the other persons, part of whose es
tate is chargeable in such class, their seve
ral proportions uf the bountygiven. ”
It is to be uuder.stnod, that no member of
a cla*'s can be compelled to pav more than
n! v cents for every hundred dollars of the
esti tinted vaiuc of his property, nor can
'.u y cm: n ot cue exempts and tnilrn oiti •
cer-., a proportion of any bounty they m i
t;ive, beyond the one hundredth part of t:..
e'-,i.iia ed vnlne of the property of ■ nr1
c a.; ; ,iui in no c se,n ore ban fi •< certs n
the httiidr cl dollars. In limit'pg the power
o lasse , to ore cortr’bution t m It own
members or front others, the Legislature
left the uncontrolled Dower to add whate
ver might be necessary-from their own funds
by v luutary contribution. It is believed
nothing need be said to convince the ruili ia,
they can never expect to procure an ex
emption for Lhciiiselves upon easier terms,
than when the government of'he U. States
of this State, and the exempt*, contributes
so largely towards the payment of the houn
tv, its hey are made to d •, by the act of
Congress of the 27th January lS’S, and the
act an: hovi injj a regular force for the de®
fence of the Commonwealth.
If any or all the cla'.s s should fail to fur'
uisii to the officer appointed in each regi.
inent to receive the recruits, which they
now have an opportune y of doing, for the
■pace of twenty davs after the day appoir
ted for receiving rccraits, then anv two mi
litia men may exempt themselves from four
drafts ♦ full to n's of du y, by furnishing to
the* clliccr appointed to receive recruits,
one able-bodied nan to serve for two years,
or ar.y four men may by a similar procee
ding exempt themselves from two fuli tour<
of duty.
If, from any cause, the classification
should not be made in any regiment the In*
spectiog am] receiving officer, to be here®
after appointed, may receive such recruit1
as may tie tendered by voluntary as*> cia
tions of four or two persons, after the tirm
hag expired in which he is audinyited to te
cuve recruits from the classes.
WILSON CAKY NICHOLAS.
Adjutant (IcnrriV* ufficc,\
Richmond, Feb 6th 1615, >
GENERAL ORDERS.
The Government of the United States
ha vine; assented to the several Conditions *
limitations of the act of the last General As
semb'y. authorising a regular force for «lie
defence of the Commonwealth, the Com
mander in Chief hastens to afford the M li
tin an opportunity of availing themselves of
tHe exemption which the prompt execution
of that act is calcal.itid to a*«ure to them.
On the receipt of theorders. the com
minding officer of every Hraiment, will
forthwith, Rive notice to ail the Field Offi
ceri and Command mts of companies of e*
very denomination within his regiment, re*
q tiring th.-m to a’teud at such place as he
shall appoint, on any day within eight diys
from ’he time of his receiving these order-,
to form a court martial; requiring al-o the
• aid commandants of companies, whether
Cavalry, Artillery Grenadiers, Rdlemeu,
Light Infantry, or Irfawryof the line, to
prepare complete most* r rolls of their r-’
speetive companies he laid before the
said court m <r;ial when it shall convene —
Immediate notice will also iie given, as far
as practicable, to the individuals of e^ch
company, of the time and place ot the n«.*
sembling of the court martial A majority
of the officers, us aforesaid, with at ha* ,
one field officer, shall compote the Court,
but any smaller number may adjourn from
day to day. In the absence of any com ma n*
dinjjofdber of a troop or company, h » place
may l>e supplied by either of his soha ter s
detailed for that purp* e, by the conn man*
dant of the region nt, or the president ol
tiie court. The c.erli and provost marso i
will also attend. Ilefore the court procetdi
to business, the clerk will administer tht
■ oath prescribed by the law. The couri
will he furnished with mustcr»rol!s of a!
> troops of cavalry and other volunteer coni
pantes in actu d sc-vice at the time of theii
{sitting: they will take care that no per'
son properly belonging to a;.y troop ol
company shall be omitted from the roll
because ofa'-y absence on a tom* of duty,
»<r any other temporary absence. The
* mi't thus cr^aniz-J will proceed without
(1. lav, and contlnn? rhri- session from day
to day, and from t.;na to time, until ;•!! tha
i.titles required of them are performed.
I he commandants of regiments will lav
before tlie.r respective courts, when con.
venecl, the forms ami instructions accnmna
n\ mg this order, and be regulated by them,
n every difficuty that mav occur in thw
construction and execution of the act they
arc required to carry into effect.
, ri ” wi!l be rnadu to consist of fif*
.cen men ; and any fractional part of a
c ass winch may remain after a division of
me tot d number of non commissi med olfr
cers, n iiiciuns and privates of every rrgi.
meiit, by the number aforesaid, wt.J be disa
'•.tl \ among the classes in the mode pro
scrioeu >)y I^iw, 4
l he Act, in pursuance of which this Gen.
oral Ord^ir ,s promulgated, h s fo.uf„-(« iba
TdvT, Wh-C? itcreatC(1 by heavy penalties
01 ,t,;e or Violation of them.—!,et
wim "f t;*e unworthy cuhten
^t bo di ?cfi:u,cc i°,the «aws, and m -cks
attbc distiesse* of IPs country ! But the
com bander m chief, confidently apnea’s to
uie honor, i ,e patriotism, the duty, of the
. hc,rs of the nil iti i, of the magistrates, cc
> t the pc -pic o. Virginia, <o Co uperat. wi-o
•mn m accotnn idling the views of the Lo
^" Uie, in autnoriung a perimnenl fo. ee
or the de cnee of the State. The safetv oi
ourceuiitry ; tne relief ot our citizens who
~re now >u much hurrassed in the mi'.iu
service by long tours of duty ; and the pre.
>ervati.m ol the expo cd par s of ihe State,
t.uiH Uie ernd outrages of an enemy who
11 1 "s biiiself disco arged from every re*
straio.impos cloy he usages ot Rations, or
die laws o. God, in his warfare with us, fur"
imperious motives for the exertion of
our national and individual energy. To
repel an enemy who neither feels the rev
ert nee due to uge, nor respects ilie sanctity
ot lemaie character'; an enemy wh.> stixes
*1 n eq.i.d avidity the law ul spoils of war
aud the property ol individuals, winch
wou ti be inviolable by a humane, brave and
generous people; who not satisfied with a
**,> (-ah non ot his own strength in the
LO,uef1l Wlli‘ tue United States, excites the
merciless savage tn an indiscriminate
iiaiigater ot all ages and sexes, and uses his
a .mast eifort* to can e assassination to be
-a;n d in.o every house in the Southern
*v aU s ia ttlu d / the die ate of the most
it uu abie |*i de and the most solemn duty.
It is cnou.' », that Virginians should know
(heir duty to perform it. Th at ourc u try
lo be dear to us, needs r.o proef. if
any were necess .ry, the very difficulty of
.rocurmg regular soldiers is an evidence of
(he advantages we enjoy over every oth -r
people. In other countr es, men are dri*
'e 1 to the army *o seek *ubsistetice, In
tn.s, happily, there is no such motive As
a matter of duty, military service should
be equally performed by ail. If there is ro
ne an inequality of >e. v ce, nothing can be
more jus: than, that those who perform it
should be compensated by those whom they
pro ct. lrer.ee the provisions in the law
tor provid ng an ddequate bounty ior such
of our citizens as may voluntarily engage
in the defence of their country. The utili- «
ty o! this law to the public, will depend ve
ry much upon the dispatch with which it is
executed. Justice to individuals requires
•hat a reasonable and unitor ; es imate
should be made by the C ur.s Martial, of
I all properiy they may value.
| The commander in chief is sanguine in his
expectation*, that if this c» rps is raised,
tliere will not in future be. many occasions
to call the militia into service, except to
meet the enemy in the field. From that
serv ee the brave and patriotic people of
thi c luntrv would not oe exempt. They
are, and always bint been, rendv at am.-,
front's warning, and at every rick, to rep<d
ii invading toe. The only service which is
irks me to them, >•, that which keep* them
long m camp in a state of inactivity, separa*
ted from their lamillcs. The successful ex*
edition of this law will put an end to these
inconveoi. nces. The tndi a then, have a
deep ihteres' in its sucre s. If .lie required
number of men are raised, they are to serve
i isteul of miliiia, and cannot be carried t ut
of Virginia or an adjoining s.atc without
the consent of the ex cutive ; cm equcntly,
ti-.ei-e will be no cads of militia unit.? that
lorce is inadequate. What is like!/ to hap.
pen in future, may be judged of f-om the
past, We have been at war npnrly three
years, and except for a short period, ive
na e never had in service, at any one time,
many more than that number of men. It
may hcrefore be sah ly stated, that if this
law a id passed at the commencement of the
war, the iniliti i service would n< t Wave been
felt in this state. It may be as confidently
expected that the eff. cts of the law will bo
to relieve thr militia Irom that distressing
pait of the service which is now lhiou.ii up*
on them. Its success depends much upon
the Classes. It is believed that the money
rai-ed upon the property of the classes, up*
nu the exempts ar,d militia cFficcis, with
the bounty hundred d< liars to be paitl
by the stale, -n.i one h ndre.i and sixty a.
ctcs of land offered by the Uniti.il States,
wi'l l>c a stifficit nt inducement to command
tir.: services ot the required number of men.
If it is lint, it in so obviously the interest of
the classes to make up the b< u- ;y winch
may be necessary, th l there car. !>c no <lcubr
of their doing so. More thm half of the
piiceotthe exemption to be obtain. '1 b) n
compliance with the law, will bo paid by
tin state and persons exempt from niiliti.
duty i whereas, If the lav is not executed,
and it should oe necessary to keep a miu'i:
force cons.an ly in service, a very lar por,
tion of the miiitia will be obliged ii> .,erve.
in person, or, out of their own fm li, pay
i toe price of a substitute, l»e it what it may.
Tne commander in chief congratu! iteshis
■ countrymen upon the spiet.did victor*’ rii i.
ed at New-Orleans, by the gallant .mriy
■ under the co umand of General Jack.'-un. Jt