5

To the Honorable the members of the General Assembly
of the state of Tennessee at Knoxville now sitting. The
undersigned petitioners respectfully represent to your
Honorable body, that there are some parts of the militia
laws governing the citizens of this State which ^are very
unwholesome, and can be very easily remedied by
your interferance; As few of the most prominent
ones are here noticed.

We the undersigned committee chosen from
the fifth Brigade of Tennessee militia do report
to the members of the present General Assembly as
follows; We believe it would be perfectly con=
sonant with the interests of the citizens of this
state that, that part of the 8th section of the
Militia laws of this State which leaves it
discretionary with the Brigadier General to
call the officers now commissioned officers
& musicians to the centre of the Brigade for
the purpose of instructing them in the various
branches of the military suscipient; We do
recommend in its room, that it shall be the
duty of the Brigadier General to call the
officers non commissiond officers & Musicians
to the centre of each County annually
in September & there to be drilled as the law
directs -