National gazette. — Philadelphia [Pa.], 1793-01-23 00:00:00, page 4

ar wKaMMOTßcaggugmiLLfTOi vm wi m n ■ ■■ 11—i
[Continuation of the Debate on Mr.
Steele's motion for the reduction of
the Military Edabli(hment of the Uni
ted States.]
Thursday, January 3.
[[Mr. Findley's Speech continued.]
WHAT exertions were made to
procure peace, or grant protec
tion, is a very natural enquiry. One re
giment was employed by the old Con
gress to guard the frontier; though this
was a force in fufficient for the purpose, yet
it is to be considered that the then go
vernment |iad not the command of re
venue, and the individual Rates had com
petent powers, and the command of their
own revenue ; the enemy was not combi
ned, ror so mnch of the frontier didreff
ed. But did this mod pressing object ob
tain the earlied attention of Congress, or
the fird provision ? No it did not. An
ill defined law was enacted, empowering
the Prefioent to call out the militia, be
fore any militia law of Congress exided ;
the consequence was that though they
could not be compelled, yet a number of
those who were called upon went to the
Miami villages with General Harmar ;
with those and his own regiment, he ar
rived at, and dedroved those villages, and
if he had had but two regiments of good
permanent troops with the affidance of a
few chosen militia, he could have fecu
'red a lodgment there, notwithstanding the
tonisfortunes of his skirmishing parties
and peace would have been the probable
consequence ; but as the time of service
of the militia had expired, if he had been
tver so fortunate he mud have retreated
as he did; thus the savages were ex
tremely irritated, the signal given for 11 ■
nion, and a great extent of frontier, for
merly in supposed security, became the
object of more than a common degree of
savage vengeance. In this didreffing situ
ation of our affairs, the next dep taken
by Congress was to enact a law for rai
ling a second regiment, and to enlist le
vies for fix months at two dollars a month,
and cloathing designed for to lad half the
year; jud fufficient to take them to the
wilderness, -there to starve with cold in
the mod inclement season of the year.
The fatal catadrophe in which this cam
paign ended need not be repeated, there
is no danger ®f its being forgot: that it
has encreafed the union and courage of
the Indians, and encouraged them to
treat with the mod indignant insolence
our overtures of peace, is evident from
the fate of the brave men who fell with
the flags ; for whose families we have
been jud making provision. Perhaps it
may be laid, as has at lead been reported,
that Congress only enacted into laws the
plans recommended by the war depart
ment ; how true this is in all the indan
ces to which 1 have alluded I know not;
but at any rate it is no apology. We
have no right to cad our legidative. re
sponsibility upon the executive depart
ment—this power for which our charac
ter is exclusively responsible, cannot be
transferred without a breach of trud.
And for these objects there was no other
information necessary but what was pos
sessed by the house. Congress knew that
the wages were not a fufficient encourage
ment to procure fit men, they knew it
bore no reasonable proportion to the
price of labor, at lead where the men
were expected ; they knew that the time
was too short for enliding the
such scanty encouragement, and for car
rying on so didant and precarious an ex
pedition, even if no accidents or mifma
nagement were to take place; but cer
tainly accidents and mismanagement
ought to be provided for in underta
kings of this nature; they know, or
might have known, that trifling with such
a war would naturally excite the flame,
and not quench it.
It cannot be pretended that resources
were wanting. Congress received the
public purse with the government, and
they very properly soon rendered it pro
dudtive. At an early period revenues
were found ; not only to provide for the
debts of the Union, for the discharge of
•which they were bound by contrast; but
also made proviGon for the debts of the
individual dates, to do which they were
bound by no contrast ; and which are
not yet liquidated, nor their amount
known. I cannot suppose this neglect
was altogether owing to inattention, for
committee! were frequently held on th<
(late of the Union, and surely the defence
of the union was the fird ftibjeft which
could prefervt itfelf to their thoughts. As
no fufficient reason for this neglect has
ever occurred to me, I continue to view
it with surprize; perhaps others can bet
ter account for it.
However, last fefiion we were fuffici
ently convinced of our error, the object
was fully before us, as well as the plan
proposed to be pursued, and however we
regretted the expence, and evils dill more
to be dreaded, from a (landing army, we
from convi&ion, provided adequate means,
and now after much of the expence is in
curred, and the end not accomplilhed,
there is an attempt to withdraw the
means : surely gentlemen have not taken
a full view of the ftibjeft.
Arguments have been drawn in favor of
the resolution from the flow progress of
the recruiting service, and the inactivity of
the army lad summer. On this fubjeft, I
have a very different opinion. Let gen
tlemen for a moment refledt upon the dif
ficulties the recruiting service had to en
counter. The levies after a scene of ar
duous fatigue, enduring hunger and na
kedness, many of tl em were left rotting
on the desolate sod in the wilderness, and
those who survived the horrid carnage,
returned with infinite hardlhips to their
homes, they with difficulty procured the
pittance allowed them by law ; their
mouths were filled with complaints, nor
did they alone complain ; and though the
wages were raised a dollar a month, yet
even so, it was not a fufficient encou
ragement where the greated number, and
the bed men were fought for; but this
house are not to blame for this, for we
had agreed once, and again, to make the
wages higher, but were over-ruled by the
other legislative branch. When gentle
men maturely reflect on those eonfidera
tions, and also that the fprlng was far ad
vanced, before the recruiting service could
commence, they will with me rather be
surprized that ;t has succeeded so well ;
it is indeed beyond my mod sanguine ex
peditions, and the men are not generally
of the mod inferior kind, as has been sug
gested.
With refpeft to the ina&ivity of the
army, the observations may have in some
degree arose from something expressed by
me lome days ago, I think on another
fubjeft.
I then said that the army which ren
dezvoused at Pittsburgh had not underta
ken the defence of the frontier, and pre
vented the necessity of militia service.*—
That some of the counties had been more
didreffed by the savages lad summer, and
the militia service more burthenfome than
at any time since the peace with Britain,
that even the county where thev lay had
to employ militia ; and this is certainly
true ; of the reasons for this I have not
been informed, nor am I accountable for it.
—However, it is but reasonable that I
(hould offer such reasons as fugged them
selves to me. It is well known in this house
that General Butler's having, according to
orders, sent such of the levies as arrived
early, to the frontiers, and therefore afford
ed necessary protcftion in time of harvest,
was much complained of, and assigned as
a cause of defeat, not only by delay, but
want of discipline, though I do not think
it had that effect ; yet probably to prevent
complaipts of this nature, the introducing
difciplirte and military habits among the
new raised troops may have been judged
preferable to the defence of the frontier ;
prevailing desertions might have had its
weight; but though this might be com
plained of with refpeft to those oppressed
with savage depredations and militia ser
vice, yet certainly the army may be more
-fit for the great object of an expedition,
See. From my own observations I know
that unremitting indudry has been used to
promote discipline among the troops.
But an argument of another nature, and
which seems to have the greated weight
with the gentlemen, has been often ur
ged, I mean the expence, and the danger
of new taxes. Is it possible that we have
not revenues fufficient for the defence of
the union ? Surely every other claim mud
give way to this. Let it not be said that
a tax for our own defence could not be le
vied ; the people would cheerfully pay
taxes fcr this purpose, though they might
think themselves oppressed by other de
mands that are more amply provided for.
But a new tax is not necessary for that
purpose ; a surplus of exiding revenues are
at ourdifpofal, besides the edimates of the
war. It i» true, we designed to have avail-
Ed ourselves of it to begin the extinguiflr
ment of our debt, though we have been
since told that it is necessary to be applied
otherwise, and we are called upon to raise
a new tax for that purpose, not for the
purpose of procuring peace. However
anxiously I desire to pay off the debt, yet
1 am certain it would be an unwarranta
ble policy to subject the country to deflruc
tion for that purpose ; besides, I believe
the alternative proposed would eventu
ally encreafe the expence.
We have a particular plan in view in or
der to accomplish peace, is that plan exe
cuted ? Is that obje£l obtained ? No.
I believe gentlemen know wc cannot ex
plain fully on this subject, as it involves
confidential communications, and plans not
submitted to public view ; but they fay
that two regiments are fufficient to garri
son the exiiling forts. Surely they know
that Fort Hamilton, Fort Knox, &c. are
not the objects contemplated ; nor would
these I presume be kept for their own
fakes, they cannot defend our territory
nor make it the intercft of the Indians to
be at peace. If we expect to exill as a na
tion we must defend the territory which we
have purchased, which we have fold to o
thers, and which unfortunately for them
we have encouraged others to fettle upon.
In this I presume the committee are a
greed, at lead I hope so ; but it will be
said the difference is about the means.
We are told that the militia are more fit
for this kind of war than an armv ; let
the army keep the forts, and the militia
defend the frontiers where they reside, and
carry on expeditions againll the Indians:
Comparing the militia and {landing army
is to little purpose ; I have known both
the one and the other on some occasions
behave so as to deserve great commenda
tion, and at other times behave very ill;
this depends greatly on circumilances, each
have their particular advantages, and each
may find too much employ ; there are fi
xations and circumstances in which the
militia are undoubtedly belt, and there are
other situations in which a (landing army
have the advantage. But when 1 speak of
militia not mean such ai are called in
classes from their families, and composed
of many that have neither been accullom
ed to the woods, nor arms, and go out
with reluctance, leaving all that is dear to
them behind, and considering the service
as a grievous oppreflion. I know and feel
these things. I have been oftener than
once out with the militia ; I mean a fclec
tion of the militia willing to go, and ex
perienced in the woods, and in mod of the
frontiers such men, or suitable arms do not
now abound ; but farely for services of a
more permanent nature an inlifted army is
more suitable.
But do gentlemen consider the conse
quences of throwing all internal defence,
and diflant expeditions, upon the militia ?
Is it not enough that they already stand as
a piquet guard to their brethren who live
at ease ; that they eat their bread in the
fear of their lives, and are frequently em
bittered with the view of mournful inci
dents ; but that we muff lay a deliberate
plan for encreafing the number of their
fatherlefs children, and childless parents ?
I recoiled, it has been said oftener than
once on this floor on former occasions, and
is still owned by members, that the states
who have frontiers ought to provide for
their own protc&ion, and that the govern
ment of the union ought to assist only in
the last resort ; in short that protection
ought not to be a common cause. Such
highly antifederal sentiments I confefs I
heard with surprise.
There are some members, however, more
generous and promise to vote for a fuffici
entfum of money to pay the the expense.
I believe these members are sincere ; but
do gentlemen contemplate to what issue
the principles would lead ? Do they not
observe that the fate of the government is
deeply involved in the decision ?—Perhaps
I may be alked, did not the states depend
chiefly upon their own exertions for the
defence of the frontiers under the old Con
gress ? Yes, they did, and were better pro
tected than since that period. But let it
be recolleited that at that time the states
had the command of their own rcfources,
and the laying and executing their own
plans: that the Indians were not so for
midably combined ; but that since, the
states had not the power >of retaliating,
nor the means of gratifying with presents,
since the Indians have been solemnly told
to look away from the little fires of the
states, to the great fire of the union : they
have looked upon u» a more formidable and
dangerous foe, and made their arrant
rriT 5 '"' and L Eur °P«" nylons
and emifiaries among them J lare improved
upon the circiimftance, and excited and
aided them in their „ nion and exert!
1 0 be continued.
A FEW COPIES OF THE
transactions
Of the Society in/iituted in the State of
a /-p. f or f^e promotion of
AGRICULTURE, arts, and MANU
FACTURES,
May be had at this Office.
[Price half a dollar.l
Jan. 5- J
CHARLES BITTERS,
No. 120, South Market, near Fourlh-fireet,
has received from New-York, and ma.
nufafhired by Lot Merkel,
i\/r arge and afibrtment of
Muffs and Tippets, Trimmings
and Edgings,
reat Coats, Caps, Mitts and Gloves lined
with Fur, which he will fell,
Wholesale and Retail,
at the lovveft prices.
Nov ' 2 * :aw
NOTICE.
ALt. demands »g.in(l the estate
of Godfrey Wanderer,, late of Eucks County,
deceas d, arc requefled to exhibit their accounts
properly authenticated, in ordrr f.r fettleir.ent—
And tbofe who are indebted to said ertate to mate
immediate payment, to
„ . _ hough, Adtniniftrator.
Bucks County, Dec. 28, , ;92 . 4 Maw
Philadelphia, January 12, 1793.
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Refpeclfully informs the Citizens of the
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Guthrie's Geography
IMPROVED,
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ROBERT LESLIE,
CLOCK and WATCH MAKER, No. 167,
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AFTER returning his sincere thanks to hi«
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great encouragement he has experienced since the
commencement of his bulinefs in this city, takes
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ference of his intention of going to London in A
pril next, he is felling oti, at very reduced prices,
his Hock in trade, confuting of a very large anl
general assortment of enamelled and plain gold,
gilt and silver, capr, and capt and i"w^lled
WARRANTED WATCHES,
Mod of which are of the latest importation and
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