1442
AMERICAN msTORICAL .ASSOCIATION.
assess the number of the militia, that each district shall supply every month, and he shall give corresponding orders to the respective com- manding officers of the districts; and these officers, jointly with the Alcalde, shall divide the men of their district, who are thus bound to serve according to these regulations, into twelve sections, one for each month, in a just and impartial manner. Sixth. Said Commanding Officer of the Jurisdiction, shall, if pos- sible, engage an officer to take the permanent command of the party referred to in the first article of these regulations; and, if it be im- practicable, from want of the necessary funds to pay the officer, the said Commanding Officer shall detail from among the officers of the :Militia, one for every month, selecting those whom he deems best qualified for that duty. The object of the plan is to keep twenty or thirty mounted men continually on the frontier as spies; as well for the preventing of the incursions of small parties of Indians, as to give timely notice should they come in force to make a formal attack. The intention of the several articles is, to compel every one to con- tribute his share in the common defence in proportion to the interest he has in the Country. Some persons who have received and own lands here, have gone to Nacogdoches in consequence of the Indian difficulties, thus hoping to avoid being compelled to furnish their proportion towards the defence of this Jurisdiction, alleging that the laws governing the National Militia only require their personal service in the district in which they reside, and that while they live at Nacogdoches they are bound to do militia service there, and, that, therefore, they can- not be compelled to serve in this Jurisdiction, although all of their property is here; adding, furthermore, the colonization law exempt- ing the Colonists from taxes for some years, no taxes can be levied on the property they leave here, and that to compel them to serve in this manner amounts to a tax. Those who have more than two leagues of land say also, that the law on Militia makes it obligatory on them to be in readiness to serve personally, but that they cannot be compelled to serve two, three or five terms more than any other persons on account of the greater interest they may have in the country alleging that it would be a tax imposed upon them in oppo- sition to the colonization law. I anticipate the most favorable results from this plan if there is no impediment-thrown in the way of its execution; and I pray your Lordship to communicate to me such doubts as you may feel respect- ing its realization. If you approve it I wish you would send me a formal approbation, with such corrections and additions as you
Powered by FlippingBook