One hundred thirty-four residents of the town of Petersburg bring to the attention of the legislature the difficulty in having an "efficient organization of the militia." It is too easy to neglect militia duty, they contend, as a yearly exemption can be purchased for $7.50, the largest amount of a possible fine. The petitioners also note that in towns where a military presence would be greatly needed during a slave insurrection, "some are too idle, some too wealthy, some too proud, and many too industrious to attend a muster." To create "citizen-soldiers," they propose that monthly musters be conducted, in the town of Petersburg, during the mild seasons (instead of every two months) and that delinquents be fined $5 for each missed muster, or "any larger sum, which the legislature in their wisdom may see proper."
Result: Reasonable.
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Repository: Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia
