The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser

WASHINGTON CITY.

WEDNESDAY, November 3, 1802.

The first Legion of the militia of the District of Columbia was formed for review and inspection, in this City, on Saturday the 30th ult. At one o'clock the President of the United States accompanied by the Secretary of War and General Mason, was escorted to the parade by a detachment of Cavalry, where, in the presence of the Legion and a numerous concourse of spectators, an elegant Standard (a donation from General Mason) was presented by Miss Murrey, accompanied by the following address,

"I commit this Standard to your hands, Sir, with this charge only, that it be never displayed but in a good cause, and when displayed, that it be never deserted." To which the officer who received it made the following reply. "Deeply impressed, Madam, with the honour you have done the Corps to which I am attached, I receive the Standard, with all those sensations your injunction is so well calculated to excite, and promise for myself and my brother soldiers, that it shall be sacredly observed."

The Standard was then placed in due form in its proper station. At two o'clock the Legion was reviewed by the President of the United States. The appearance and conduct of the troops would have done honour to an older and more experienced Corps. All the officers of the Legion, and many of the members of the Volunteer Companies were in complete uniform. From the zeal and activity with which the officers have distinguished themselves since the organization of the Legion, we may expect in the course of the next season to see the militia of this District, in discipline and appearance, inferior to none in the Union. After the exercises and evolutions of the day were completed the troops were formed in a hollow square, and General Mason delivered the following appropriate, energetic, and impressive address.

Fellow Citizens and Fellow-Soldiers,

I have met you to day, for the first time since our late military organization, with infinite satisfaction.

That you should, on the present occasion, be either compleatly armed and equipped, or equal to any evolutions of consequence, considering the recent formation of the Corps, which you compose, could not have been expected: yet I feel great gratification in seeing the ranks so well filled, in observing the officers generally equipped, and the arming and uniforming making progress not only in the volunteer but in the battalion companies; and above all, in having remarked the good order and willingness to duty which has prevailed throughout the Legion. Much has been done, but much yet remains to be accomplished.

It should be remembered by us all, fellow-soldiers, that the government of our common country has confided to us a sacred charge; in placing arms in our hands, they have committed to us, so far as our numbers go, the protection of the lives and property of the community. Should protection by arms at any crisis be necessary; let us then shew ourselves worthy of the trust, equal to the task when occasion may require.

Our best and wisest statesmen have always placed entire reliance on a properly organized militia.

It is laid down as a maxim in the Bill of Rights of the state, of which we have but of late made a part, "that a well regulated militia is the proper and natural defence of a free government."

The great Washington has officially declared to Congress his belief that "the militia of the Union may be trained to a degree of energy equal to every military exigency of the United States." That they may or may not be equal to such exigencies, or that they may or may not be useful at all, must depend principally on the training. Let it be then our pride to be, in knowledge of arms, in expertness at evolution, in strict attention to discipline with the most perfect of our fellow-citizens in the different parts of the Union.

Placed as we are, under the immediate eye of the general government, organized and commissioned directly by them; most near them, and of course most likely first to be resorted to, to repel any outrage which may possibly be attempted on their records, their property, or their persons; it is peculiarly incumbent on us to make ourselves competent to discharge this duty with honour to ourselves, and safety to our country.

Every thing has its beginning, but all may be accomplished by industry, zeal, and perseverance.

We are yet young indeed in the military art, but the display of this day, at so early a stage of our career, is a happy presage of what we may become.

The law under which we are at present organized, is not perhaps so perfect as could be wished, and particularly, in the small number of exercise days by it enforced in the course of the year: but for an amendment in this, if it be a fault, and for any other amelioration which may be really necessary, we may look with confidence to the Congress of the United States.

In the mean time there are only wanting zeal and a spirit of emulation to remedy every defect of this kind.

On you, gentlemen officers, I trust I can rely for laudable example, and constant exertion, to excite such zeal, to promote such a spirit.

The President, in confiding to you the commissions you hold, has expected it of you—I am well persuaded his expectations will not be disappointed, and I feel confident that the non commissioned officers and privates enrolled under your respective commands, will well second every effort on your parts toward the perfection of our system.

To the Captains and Subalterns of the Foe, the Artillery, the Grenadiers and the Light Infantry, I earnestly recommend immediate diligence in completing and having equipped and exercised their several companies, fully persuaded that zealous citizens enough will be found voluntarily to enlist with them, if diligence be used.

To the officers of the battalion companies I cannot at present so well press this part of the subject, knowing the relative disadvantage they labour under; but the compleat manner in which I remark several of those companies to be already armed, induces a strong hope that they may soon, by example and exertion, overcome these or any other difficulties, and by degrees, that they will be fully uniformed and well trained. Should this speedily take place, it will be but the more honourable to those officers and their companies.

On all, officers of whatever grade, and privates on every occasion, when assembled, in large or in small numbers, on duty voluntarily or directed by law, I must take this opportunity of solemnly enjoining regular and decorous conduct, close adherence to the rules of discipline, and exact obedience, each to his superior officer. This is the great clue to military strength, to military respectability without it we should, at home, be a pest to our fellow-citizens—in service an unwieldy mass, incapable of defence or attack—a prey to every inferior force.

It should be remembered, that altho' in our ordinary course of life, happily we are citizens, each equal to the other; yet in the field we are soldiers—there, a proper subordination is required by the very nature of the case, it is prescribed by the laws of our country, and must be enforced.

As to myself, fellow-citizens and soldiers, be assured, I duly appreciate the honour conferred on me by the Executive in placing me in the situation in which I stand toward you; and I can only say, that if constant attention to acquire the necessary knowledge, and a firm determination to execute my duty, let the occasion be what it may, or occur when it will, while I continue in this command, can merit that honour and inspire your confidence, they shall not be wanting on my part.