Manilia lex, published in 687, ordained, that all the forces of Lucullus, and the province under his government, should be given to Pompey; together with Bithynia, which was under the command of Glabrio, and that he should forthwith make war upon Mithridates, retaining still the same naval forces, and the sovereignty of the seas as before.
Maria Parcia lex appeared in 1691, ordaining that a penalty should be inflicted on such commanders as wrote falsely to the senate, about the number of the slain, on the enemy’s side, and of their own party; and that they should be obliged, when they first entered the city, to take a solemn oath before the quæstors that the number which they returned, was true, according to the best computation. See Kennett’s Ant. of Rome, page 168.
It will be seen by these laws, particularly by the last, that the most minute military operation was subservient to the senate. The French seem, in this respect, to have imitated the Romans very closely, but they do not appear to have adhered, so strictly as they might, to the law which regards the loss of men, nor are their neighbors more correct.
LAWS of Nations, such general rules as regard the embassies, reception and entertainment of strangers, intercourse of merchants, exchange of prisoners, suspension of arms, &c.
Law of marque, or letters of marque, that by which persons take the goods or shipping of the party that has wronged them, as in time of war, whenever they can take them within their precincts.
Laws of the United States, regulating the military establishment; these are of two descriptions, the first relates to the regular force; the second to the militia, the latter of which is mere print and paper, without consistency, efficacy, or force; and calculated rather to discourage than assure military knowlege in the militia. The following are the laws regulating the military establishment.
Sec. I. That from and after the passing of this act, the following shall be the rules and articles by which the armies of the United States shall be governed.
Art. 1. Every officer now in the army of the United States, shall, in six months from the passing of this act, and every officer who shall hereafter be appointed, shall before he enters on the duties of his office, subscribe these rules and regulations.
Art. 2. It is earnestly recommended to all officers and soldiers diligently to attend divine service; and all officers who shall behave indecently or irreverently at any place of divine worship, shall, if commissioned officers, be brought before a general court-martial, there to be publicly and severely reprimanded by the president; if non-commissioned officers or soldiers, every person so offending shall, for his first offence, forfeit one sixth of a dollar, to be deducted out of his next pay; for the second offence, he shall not only forfeit a like sum, but be confined twenty-four hours: and for every like offence shall suffer and pay in like manner; which money, so forfeited, shall be applied by the captain or senior officer of the troop or company, to the use of the sick soldiers of the company or troop to which the offender belongs.
Art. 3. Any non-commissioned officer or soldier who shall use any profane oath or execration shall incur the penalties expressed in the foregoing article, and a commissioned officer shall forfeit and pay for each and every such offence one dollar, to be applied as in the preceding article.