IN ASSEMBLY, January 26, 1831. ANNUAL REPORT Of Phlio Lewis, an Inspector of Beef and Pork for the city and county of New-York. An account of provisions inspected by Philo Lewis, in the city and county of New-York, from 1st month 1st, 1830, to 1st month 1st, 1831. H The average sales of pork, in barrels of the above, .. .... $120,581 00 The average sales of pork, in half barrels of the above, .... 2,064 00 The average sales of beef, in barrels of the above, supposed to amount to, ..... .. 13,223 00 Fees, &c., for inspecting 13,653 barrels, and 344 half barrels amount to, ..... 2,082 35 $137,950 35 To his Excellency ENOS T. THROOP, Governor of the State of New-York. I believe it right to request to be re-appointed as inspector of beef and pork, therefore I hope thou wilt favor my appointment. I am with due respect thy friend, New-York, 1st mo. 1st, 1831. PHILO LEWIS. Inspector. IN ASSEMBLY, February 4, 1831. 1 REPORT Of the committee on the militia and the public defence, on the message of the Governor and the annual report of the Adjutant-General. Mr. Myers, from the standing committee on the militia and the public defence, to whom was referred so much of the message of his Excellency the Governor as relates to that subject, and also the annual report of the Adjutant-General, REPORTED: That the committee have had both of these subjects under con sideration, and have bestowed upon them that attention which their importance demands. The committee agree in sentiment with his Excellency, that large standing armies in time of peace, are burthensome, expensive, and have sometimes been dangerous to Republics; and that a well organized militia is their best defence against insurrections or a sudden invasion. The committee also concur with his Excellency in the opinion, that the burthen of military duty in time of peace, should be made as light as a state of preparation to meet sudden emergences will admit of. In examining this subject in all of its bearings, two modes of lightening the burthens imposed upon the militia, have presented themselves, either of which is well calculated to afford the desired relief. A majority of the committee however are of opinion that the proper time has not arrived to carry either of them into effect. Ours being [A. No. 103.] 1 a government of laws founded on public opinion, it might be dangerous materially to alter a system so long and so successfully practised, until public opinion shall be more fully developed on the subject. The committee at the same time feel it to be their duty to report the plans, which may probably at some future period be carried into effect, without the hazard of deranging the whole system, or of destroying this arm of the public defence. The first plan proposed is, to form the infantry of the state into two classes. The first class to be composed of all free white male citizens, not enrolled in any uniform corps, and who are subject to military duty, from eighteen to thirty years of age. The second class, those from thirty to forty-five years of age; both classes to be enrolled as at present, but the second class to be marked as such on the muster rolls, and to be exempt from military duty in time of peace, but subject to be called out in case of insurrection, invasion or war. The committee are aware that the above could not be carried into effect, without an amendment of the law of the United States now in force, passed May the 8th, 1792, which requires the parade of all the militia once in each year. The second plan of relief is, that the whole body of the militia of the state, as now enrolled, should parade by regiments for inspectien, on a day specified, and at no other times except in cases of insurrection, invasion or war. This would accord with the requisition of the law of the United States on the subject, and relieve from the additional parades required by the laws of this state. From the Adjutant-General's return it appears that the volunteer uniformed corps of the militia are numerous, amounting to about seventy thousand. This of itself presents an efficient force, perhaps equal to any emergency that can happen. These volunteer corps may be properly considered the National Guards, and are composed principally of the most active and efficient men of the country, full of patriotism and military spirit, well armed and equipped, and with but little practice would become a well disciplined army, and equal to any troops in this or any other country. With such a force at all times ready for service at a moment's warning, it may be considered that this state would always be prepared for defence, even without the aid of the additional ununiformed militia, which numbers one hundred and thirty thousand. The committee have examined the militia law, and are of the opinion that but few amendments are required at the present time. They are unanimously of opinion that the infantry in the city and county of New-York should be relieved from one parade, and should only be subject to parade once in each year by companies, and once by regiments for inspection, as is the case in every other part of the state; and that the officers should be relieved from four of the eight parades for drill, which by the present laws they are bound to attend. No particular reason suggests itself to the committee, for compelling the militia of that particular county to do the additional duty now required. The committee have not been able to discover the necessity of exempting the students of colleges and academies from the performance of militia duty, if over eighteen years of age, any more than apprentices and other minors: on the contrary, they are induced to believe that there are reasons why they should do military duty, as the relaxation from their close studies, and their exercise with the musket two days in each year, would tend to promote vigor and health; and that there is no time of life more proper for the cultivation of military science, and no situation in which its study is more pleasant. The committee recommend the repeal of the sixth section of title one, tenth chapter of the first part of the Revised Statutes, as they cannot discover any good reason why persons employed by the year, month or season, in a furnace, iron foundry, glass, woollen or cotton factory, should be more entitled to exemption from military duty than other mechanics who are not so employed, but who have to seek business and live by their daily labor. If it should be urged, that those now exempted cannot be spared from their work without stopping the establishment in their absence, it may be answered that the same reasons will apply in other cases; and the ability to pay fines is certainly on the side of those who have constant employment in these establishments. The committee are unanimously of opinion, that the clerks employed by the year in all of the post-offices in the State, should be exempted from the performance of military duty. The law of the United States exempts all ferrymen, stage-drivers, and persons engaged in carrying the mails; and it is equally important that those engaged in the distribution and delivery of the mails, should not be |