CHAP. XXXIII. Governor's Message. January 12th, 1822. Gentlemen of the Senate, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, THE death of the Honorable Major General Joseph B. Varnum, has occasioned a vacancy of Major General in the Third Division of the Militia of this Commonwealth. Council Chamber, January 12th, 1822. JOHN BROOKS. CHAP. XXXIV. Resolve authorizing the payment of $300 to Jacob Kuhn, for Fuel. January 14th, 1822. Resolved, That there be paid out of the Treasury of this Commonwealth, to Jacob Kuhn, Messenger of the General Court, the sum of three hundred dollars, to enable him to purchase fuel, and such other articles as may be necessary for the use of the General Court, together with the Governor's and Council Chamber, the Secretary's, Treasurer's and Adjutant General's Office, and also for the Land Office; he to be accountable for the expenditure of the same. CHAP. XXXV. Resolve on pay of Valuation Committee. Resolved, That there be allowed and paid out of the Treasury of this Commonwealth, to the several persons, members of the Valuation Committee, named in the roll, the several sums therein annexed to their respective names, in full compensation for their travel and attendance as members of said Committee: And His Excellency the Governor is hereby requested to draw his warrant on the Treasury for the payment of said sums accordingly. 53 Pay Roll of the Committee on the State Valuation, for their Travel and Attendance on that business, from Wednesday, the 7th November, 1821, to January 8th, 1822. CHAP. XXXVI. Governor's Message. January 17th, 1822. Gentlemen of the Senate, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, The Secretary will lay before you, an abstract of the annual return of the Militia, and a return of the ordnance and military stores, in charge of the Quarter Master General's Department, together with two communications of the Adjutant General, explanatory of the abstract and return. The Constitution of the United States provides, that the Congress shall prescribe the mode in which the Militia of the several States shall be trained and disciplined. Recently, we find the General Government has directed, that the system of discipline and manœuvres of the army of the United States, shall be observed by the Militia. This change of system, as it ensures uniformity of discipline and practice in the Militia of all the States, must be approved by every reflecting mind. But as it renders all preceding modes of discipline obsolete and useless, such difficulties in acquiring a knowledge of their duty, must be thrown in the way of the officers, as their own means will not enable them to overcome. It is therefore offered to your consideration, whether a sufficient number of copies of the regulations should not be provided, and furnished to the officers as books of instruction have heretofore been furnished, at the public expense? I would at the same time observe, that the same regulations require that each regiment of Militia should have a national standard and a regimental color; and I would suggest the propriety of having the device on the latter prescribed by the Legislature, and in such a manner as to exhibit on one side, the insignia of the sovereignty of the Commonwealth. It would be needless for me to press on the enlightened Legislature of a free Commonwealth, an attention to the Militia, always of importance in a republic, but in our complicated system of government, of infinite magnitude. Massachusetts has been distinguished for the high character of |