The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-06-02

Nlr. L OK TOOK occasion to notice the
remarks ofsome of the Hon. gentle
men, OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
ly of the smoek, trocsed force, as
they were termed. He recollected,
said he, I" that America was vic
torious over her opponents, not be-
cause she had a large regular army,
butbecause she wasan armed country
and the result of that popular arma-
ment was, that two of our best &c
nerals, at the head of some of the
best troops, were compelled to sur
render.-Precisely that kind OF force
which SO conquered in America,
which emancipated Holland, which
triumphed III Switzerland, and per-
formed such prodigies of valour in
La Vendee and Ireland, is what |
should recommend to be resorted to
IN this country. The misfortune is.
with view to this, that, as | under.
stand, the Volunteers have taken so
many arms, that enough are not LEFT
for arming the peasanty: but there
are weapons in abundance tohe found
TO suit them, and they wont require
much training. If this plan be not
attended to, many parts ofthe coun-
try viii, in point OF invasion, be left
defenceless; for when a Vclunreer
corps is called into service what be-
comes Of the town or village to which
it may belong ?''
In reply to this part of Mr.. Fox's
speech Mr.. PITT observed: "The
right Hon. Gentleman, and those
who hold similar opinions on this
subject, have endeavoured to satisfy
their arguments by what happened
In La Vendee and in America. We
are told, Sir, that in both these ca
ses it was by the exertions of an ar
med peasantry that victory was &C
complished. 1t was true, Sir, that
the peasantry Of La Vendee, head
cd by some OF the most able and he
roic leaders, whom the world ever
saw, maintained most glorious
struggle against the monster who
tyranised over France.
''But, Sir, is it necessary for one to
call to the recollection OF the House,
the circumstances Of that affecting
warfare 1t was by encountering G.
very form Of misery and suffering, it
was by submitting to every aggra-
walton of cruelty, that those brave
men were upheld in their resistance
to injustice and oppression. They
saw around the ravages Of fire and OF
sword. They beheld their abodes
consumed. their dearest relatives
massacred, their fondest hopes de-
stroyed. Animated by an mcon-
querable and heroic spirit, they
thought no sacrifices too great which
were to be the purchase OF that indie
pendence which was dearest to their
hearts.
" Nor does it appear to me,
that the argument drawn from the
history OF the American war, is at all
more conclusive. It is true that al
the commencement of that war. the
Americans did employ an Irregular
force; but it was not by such force
that their final triumph was effected.
They had time, from the cifcum-
stances III which they were placed,
to accustom these troops, at first raw
and inexperienced, to all the varie-
ties Of discipline; and they received
from Our troops, the lessons which af-
forwards were made the foundation
ofvictory. Besides, sir, when the 81
tuation of America is considered, it
is impossible to draw any parallel ap-
plicable to the present situation of
this country.
The theatre of war in America,
was over an immense tract ofterrito-
ry, widely extended, thinly peopled,
possessing no eternal point, no place
particularly established as the seat of
government or power, no vital, and
few vulnerable parts. A province