Newspaper Page Text
THE REFLECTOR
MILLEDGEVILLE, G..TUESDAY, Al GUST 18,1818.
NO. 41.
MILITARY.
a general court martial, and by the United. Ui C'ommand with respect, so that lie might be I have been dragged oft from his family in
Staten’laws. Thus it is that such base offen- obeyed and beloved. Ah officer should have I spite of remonstrance, oi* have subjected
FOtt TIIR MILLVmJI.VILLE IIF.FLKCTUII.
lie fond hope, Mr. Editor, that my
suggestions may do some good, I
introduce to the consideration of the
through the medium of your useful
an exposition of some few of the. great
vaulting from the imbecility and de-
our present militia laws and rcgula-
bcing confident that they are fraught
nany evils and defects of the most se-
complexi ti, and which might be oasi-
viated, if the necessity for doing so
ce taken properly into view and con-
tion. ,
at our militia laws are not calculated
urc respect, and to enforce olwtlience—
the means are not commensurate with
iject in view, nr proportioned to the
that the penalties for the infractions
laws, do not go to defeat the evil rte-
from an entire disobedience and dar-
[intempt of our militia laws, must> I
he evident to every man.
it some should doubt it. hoWCVer, I Will
cm to well known facts and examples,
ove it incontestihly :—1 mean the nu-
deiinqticncies and desertions, which
ken place, and past off with impuni-
iolation, and in contemptuous dell-
all military law and authority, diir-
fr late war with G. Britain, anil since,;
ularly with the Indian tribes-,
the honor of Georgia, whose citizens
lly, are as patriotic, and as invincible
field as any others, I would fain, if I
tear this ibul blot from the page of
ir history, and bury it in oblivion-, if it
e hoped that such profligate wretches
“go and sin no more. 0 But such
c provided against. Human perfidy
ne conspicuous in every age and couu-
d I fear ever will. Such characters.
It examples, must meet their merited
ent and contempt; or in the name ol
, where will the toleration of such
s examples end ? Like all other e-
disgrare will soon become familiar—
oon be thought but little or no crime
any—the disgrace will spread more
e through the community, until it
in a countenance and extent, beyond
h of wholesome remedy. Has tliir.
it been long enough disgraced by such
s characters niid examples ? How
‘ it then he, before mil* legislator!
e an effectual provision to suppress
wing enormities ? I trust the time
ry distant.—But to do this, the pen-
thc infractions of the laws must bl
and every citizen should have it in
r to enforce them. For sad experi
convinced every body that it vvili
trust solely to our militia officers—
tlier respects, miller our present mi
filiations, they are not trusted at
ir they neither have lot nor part in
f the state, in a time of cmergen-
s it suits them, or at least there i
tlsion. Nor do 1 perrieve but little,
ho wish to do as they please, and 1<-
lily their own private and iminrui-
St. For what says the law ?—Hear
itonished, while it shall speak for it-
private soldier shall forfeit and pay
ng to repair to his rendezvous pro-
rrT, accoutred and equipt, when Ic
ed and ordered, upoii any rail from
ander in chief, a sum hot ex-
ity dollars, at the discretion of a
nquiry ! ! !” Does such a penalty
nion as this', look like securing o-
nd respect to our militia laws ?—
sense, aS w-ell as past expedience
the negative. For w ho would rc-
irfeiture of such a penalty ? It is
onorable inert do not require the
f the laws to make them do their
h<nv can such a law- compel the
and the disobedient, against whom
mded to operate ? How low must
ve rated the value of its Authuri-
n the commander in chief, to have
t to be daringly trampled oil, and
:e to, by every villain in the state,
i sacrifice as that of forfeiting
!! ! Had the penalty been five
liars at least, and not exceeding
d dollars, at the “ fliscretiftn of a
rtiry,” it might have answered,
h have been the immediate inte-
11 as the duty of every man to
itly obeyed the laws. And as to
ere not able to pay such a line,
ments, equally effective, might
bstituted.
ehalties been tlius grinding and
be cnfortccd by any and every
la Would not have had one ilclin-
<lur late conflicts, able to do his
nch as were unable, neither dc-
e, forfeit or penalty,
ase and perfidious deserter, he
jto fear after the campaign for
drafted to serve in; has expir-
officers can only try, and pnn-
in actual service, and then by
dfrs escape so easy with impunity, and are
so often guilty of the infamous crime of de
sertion. For villains ever will measure the-
respect that they will pay to the laws, by the
strength of the penalties. The penitentia
ry, in future, 1 trust will be the place of
deposit for such criminal offenders.—
hoi- so long as the penalties for the-infrac
tions of the laws, do not go to defeat, at the
expense of the violate!*, the evil sustained
in his not obeying the laws, so long, I say.
they Will prove ineffectual and un -beyed.—
And What is the end of law, if it is not to
remedy or supply human defect? For
my part, Mr. Editor, I do not wonder at all
to see villains remain at home, when drafted
and called out in defence of the state, in con
temptuous defiance of all law and authority,
to get rid of three or six month's hard ser
vices and privations by incurring only fifty
dollars penalty, (never imposed,) when it
must cost them at least five tiirtes that much
to get a substitute, or more to leave their
concerns. Neither am I surprised to see o-
thers cowardly desert, when it is so often
done with impunity.
The plan of receiving substitutes, under
the present regulations, is likewise a bad one.
I do not mean that they should not be receiv
ed at all, but that It should be, under more
iinalijied restrictions. This state has been
much imposed on from this quarter also.—
Vll kinds of people have been hired and re
ceived as substitutes, So that the drafted
man could stay at home, it mattered tint
whether his substitute Was infirm, a stranger,
foreigner, traveller or What, it wa'a all the
same. But look to the consequences J—De
sertions have been much mote numerous,
and the state has not only lost, in a time of
peril, the services of many of her own draft
ed citizens, who should always glory in her
defence, hut she has incurred the black dis
grace of the desertion of such substitutes
ii her own citizens. For such substitutes
neither care to defend the state-, nor for the
infractions of the laws. Their object is money,
and as soon as they got that they were olft
It is obvious to me, thru, that the drafted
man should be. bound to serve out his own
ioiii-, in case of the previous inability or
the desertion of bis substitute, or lie should
turiiisb another. Such a regulation as this
would make people more cautious whom they
hire in future to take their places, and bet
ter men would be obtained for the defence of
the state. But Our long l-ourtd-about plan,
(bat we have to pursue, in limes of the great
est emergency;, to prepare, to meet our ene
my, exceeds every thing—And well it me
rits the eternal contempt of every friend t<
the state, it baffles all description to mea
sure its length of criminally, Our state
crowded with internal, and more (ban half
surrounded by the most blood-thirsty and
savage enemies, should always he ready to
command its resource!) for self defence with
1 lie greatest alacrity and promptitude—yet
1 will venture to give it as my opinion, that
there is no state in (he union so illy calcula
ted to do this as Georgia is. For in t
vent of a sudden invasion, we have ncithei
arms siiflh ient to defend us, officers t-> lead
us, nor discipline, either to guide or govern
us. Every thing is then to do ! All is [mi
nimi confusion. Every tiling is done b
lveS«—-out of time, and after all hut seldom
right. And while we are looking out for
officers fit to 'command us in a time of peril
and advertising elections, warhing in the
men, holding our elections, preparing to sc
off', aiid marching away off' to Hartlol-d, or
perhaps to Florida) or to——God know
where !—to elect our superior officers and to
complete our organization, and the consoli
dation of our battalions and rogimehts, Ac
the state may,one. day or another, he over
run ahd lost. Yet all this must be done) cir
ciiinstanccd as we are, or otherwise our
movements must still be moke criminal!
tai-dy. Now the cause of all this anarchy
delay, hurry, hustle and confusion, when
men are called for, and Wanting in defenr
of the state, is well known.—It is owing to
our having two sets of officers to command
our militia at once j oiie set to command on
ly iii a time of peace, and another to com
mand in a time of war. What kind of re
gulations are these ? Most infamous !—
\nd while Ibis practice is continued, the r
sing martial genius of this country ninst for
ever bleed in the dust.. For there is no
durement whatever (unless trouble aiid ex
pense) held out by the present mode of of
ficering our militia, to induce inert
pride and qualifications to accept, or to
hold any military command in a time
peace at all—Consequently we never can
have very distinguished militia officers, while
this is the case, in future. For I contend
that it requires experience to make an offi
cer, ami time to gain experience. An officer
ought to understand discipline well, both in
theory, and in practice ; he ought to pride
in his office ; he ought to have time to ac
quire the habit of command-~«to know how
judgment and practice, that he might act with
dispatch, firmness and decision—and he
should ever feel a military pride and confi
dence in himself, in order to excite it. in oth
ers. And Sill this is not to he learnt and ac
quired in one, two nor three short revolving
days, weeks or months, but it requires a con
siderable time. And the officers should learn
this at home'; for it will be too late when
they are once before an enemy. It is therefore
proper to have the same officers to command
in war, that we have to command in peace ;
otherwise, it will not belong—nay, the tithe
has already arrived, that every man of pride
and feeling, begins to look down With con
tempt on all military commissions under the
present regulations, in time of peace. The
consequences are, and will he, excepting
here and there an instance in the officers of
the higher grades, the people must elect such
as w ill command, or rather pretend to it, rc-
ardlvss of merit, qualifications or talents ;
and, the men who best answer for nyerecreu-
ures of present cohvcnience, will be made
fficers ! Such, 1 know, it is said, will do
n times of peace—Most fatal error I For
blockheads in power are, of all other cha-
acters, the most baneful and injurious ; they
onfiniud all just distinctions ; mistake on
uality for another, and degrade every per
in and thing to their own level.” Yes.
while these mere creatures of present con-
cniertce, by their ignorance and incapacili
bringing every militia officer into con-
nnpt and disgrace, they are most fatally
blasting all notion of-military discipline and
authority from among us. Why not then
make a stand ? pause and reflect—and in fu
tore consult experience, the best oracle of
wisdom, in the proper plan to be pursued ?
For our militia peace officers, are in fact do
ng us infinite injury yjvery way : even by
heir almost entire neglect to have the sa-
red duty of patroling attended to, they ex
pose us to endless evils ;—for while our in
ternal foes are thus left to rortm at random,
ind to plot all wickedness and mischief a
ainst us, our property is exposed to their
ceaseless plundeV and rapine. The day is fast
approaching, when our internal Us well as
xternal safety, will require the best senti
nels of police to guard if.—But instead of
such, a way is payed out under the existing
cgolutionp, to deter men of merit and talents
in future, from bolding any military com
maud at all. Thus it will soon be seen, that
he great bulwarks of self defence, of both
person aiid property, will be placed entirely
n the hands of the ignorant aiid incompe
tent. And thus while our naked imbecility
will invite insurrection at borne, and inva
sion from abroad, it may pluiige us into all
the horrors of a once flourishing St.Domingo.
But extra of all this, the present mode of
officering our militia is Vqyy exceptionable—'
In the first piaffe, our militia peace officers,
(for I know of no other name so appropriate)
are. in this way mqylc ,a kind of privileged
men—not being Compelled to bear any part
of the public burden in a time of emergency
in defence of the state. . It is certainly there
fore unjust ahd partial, to extend a privilege
to one part of the community that cannot he
-xtended to others. In the next place F. call
t oppressive, inaSrrtuch as our private ntili-
ia have to go into active service oftener than
their proper term®, in consequence of our
militia peace officers having the liberty to
remain at home idle, and having to hear no
part of the public burden irt a time of emer-
enry. , On such privileges—nay, injustice,
partiality and oppression; I look down with
an eternal rohtempt and abhorrence. If my
ountry is engaged in.war and peril, let me
share with the sons of Washington in the glory
ofher defence; nor let another stand exempt.
For why should one part of the community
be allowed to turn their backs on their bleed
ing countrymen, while struggling in the com
mon defence ? But a military peace officer
is a still more highly privileged character,in
another point of view, and hoi less at the
expense frequently of priVate picn ; for let
one transcend the bounds of all authority—
basely neglect every duty of his office.—-or
let him injure, wrong or oppress a dozen
privates in his company, battalion or regi-
meiit, and (exerjit in cases of the imposition
of exorbitant fiiies) where is their redress ?
unless indeed it is expected thro-.igh the me
dium of a hard exercise culled bruising,
which I believe, when carried to an impro
per extent, our criminal laws make a peni
tentiary offence. But, although I have seen
many, yet, in all my days, t never saw a
more mortifying instarice of the abuse of
public authority, than on the day of our last
draft. A man wart drafted fu go into service
under the followirig circumstances:—He had
arrived in the district, perhaps upwards
of three, days ; hut it was yet uncertain
wheic he. would live ; the waggon in which
he removed, was not yieven unloaded—his
family still out doors—and add to all, lie was
a cripple ; yet under these aggravating cir
cumstances, insulted as he was, he must
himself to he advertised, pursued and pun-
ished perhaps as a deserter, had he not made
application to the civil authority,, and got
relief by paying a lawyer a good fee, to
clear him of his unjust and oppressive en
thral inert t. I likewise saw three others all
of the same company, on the same day, com
pelled to stand a draft, who were not at all
subject to it.* But what redress had theso
men against the oppressive officer who su
perintended the draft ? None. Such privi
leges, and such 'powers over the rights of
men ought not to be indulged in a monarchy,
and much less iii a republic. There is not
a soldier in the United States army, not c-
,crt utidor the strictest camp discipline, w'ho
is left without redress, when oppressed or in
jured unjustly. And why Hhould the irec
and enlightened citii’ens of Georgia ?
The Whole plea', however,, that I have
heard urged in support of, and for continu
ing the present regulations, and for officer
ing our militia as we dp at present, and which
subjects us to Such anarchy, and to so many
incortvnniencies and disasters, is, that by
doing so we can get officers of merit! The
fallacy of this, 7. trust, jias alveady been
shown. To rebut it more fully, however, I
will ask if Georgia ha's furnished officers
more meritorious dining our late conflicts,
or at any time, than our sister states ? E-
very man knows to the contrary. Then, un
less we can do better, why not pursue their ex
ample ? For it is a fact, realized and cop-
finned by experience, that our militia of
ficers, under the present regulations, are
bringing, and soon will bring, to full inatu--
rity, all the anarchy and mischief which
military commands were instituted to pre
vent. . And it is thus that we see that the
present regulations, which were intended
as a remedy, turns out, on trial, to prove
the moat baneful poison,
To conclude', it is my humble opinion, that
instead of resorting to the present regula
tions to get officers of merit, that if the pro
per laws had been provided) or wyro now to
be extending | common justice, to all, and
having due respect to the necessary distinc
tions—and making militia officers serve, as
they do in our sister states, and subject to
be suspended from corrtmand by the adjutant
genoral. when unqualified to command, ns
I believe is the case in South Carolina ; and
the adjutant general Was likewise bound, in
the case pf a refusal of a brigadier general
to haVc any officer tried by a regular court
martial, for incapacity (which should he
made the best grounds for the dismissal of art
officer,) or for any unoflicer-Iikc conduct^
or abuse of authority, when demanded—rtdt
only by officers alone, hut also, by a certiUn
number of privates ; their number to be re
gulated according to the grade. Of the officer,
and they shewing good grounds irt Writing,
for being the cause of the arrest and trial of
such an officer, and subject tliemSelves to bo
tried and puhisbed in case of & malicious
prosecution, I believe it would have had the
lies) effects, and tiiat we should have been
infinitely better provided for than we are at
present; and that the evils that we now ex
perience, arid are subject to, mostly, if not
altogether) removed. The incompetent
would then have resigned, or have been dis
placed at the request of the people. Abuses
,if authority, and. neglects of duty would
then soon haVe ceased or met their merited
punishment. Our militia officers would then
have been elected for their merit and talents
alone; while the ignorant and unqualified
would not have sought commissions, which
they could only disgrace. Thus we should
have seen our militia adorned by officers of
talents and qualifications, aiid having tlio
advantage of discipline aipl experience, wo
should have been formidable—while the state
would not have had to loo3e any of its
effective force, in tithes of emergency, in
its defence, as it now docs.
I am, tV public’s most ob’t Scrv’t;
nU.
* 1 Ms shews that the rights ot'j>rivatenicn ought tobe
more respected hy the laws—and that when tlife public au
thority is abused,, at their expense, that they should have
redress in the laws against the violater.
STOP THE RUNAWAYS.
IiANAWAY ffotn the subscri
ber's plantation, near Eatontun,
two negro fellows, one named El-
lick, 40 or 45 years Of age, about
six feet high, and proportionate
dze, of a yellowish complexion,
nr a full blooded negro, dnd of humble manners.
The other named Sulomon, 18 or 19 years of age,
of middle size, smooth skin) and rather dark
complexion, thick pouting lips, full eves, and
bends rtture than usual in his knees whpn he
wglks—had on oznSburg and tow linen clothes
when they went aWay. They will make for Vir
ginia. A liberal reward will be given, for their
apprehension and securement, and in case of de
livery all expenses paid.
c. B. STROXOl
Eatonton, Georgia, 1,1818,
4 *
It T
tie 1