Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1801-1806, 1804-12-06


o,aso,ooo, cxcluiiyely of a great and
unalcertained fun of voluntary fub-
fcriptions for building and equipping
veiisls of wal, for which the iub(cibers
receive al interelt at Gx per centum.
Thus impo!ing an annual debt or
an annualtax upon the people of nearly
dollars for every individual through
out The United States--to fay nothing
of the moral aud political evils Incl
dent 10 a aanding army, and iome OF
which are already developing them
leves in the United States. Coniid-
ering the grea, diitance of the United
States from the powerful nations OF
Europe, the natural itrength of the
country, the fpirit of the people, and
the fate of one invading experiment
made at a time, and under circuni-
ltances, infinitely unfsvorable to the
United States compared with their
prelent lituation; the General Aii.m-
bly, are per(uaded that as long as the
nations of Europe continue at war
with each other, no formidable inya-
Gon is to be apprehended at all, nor a
fudden and formidable invalion at any
time. Under this proipett Of things
the General Ademby hold it as the
dictate of true policy iii the Federal
Government to huiband the public re-
lources, to arrange and prepare the
Militia, and TO cultivate harmony by
removing as far as pollible, cauies OF
jealouiy and difapprobation. With
thefe advantages it cannot be doubted
tha, the United States would be in a
better polture for facing any danger
that can be frriouily apprehendel,
than can be given them by the preieat
military eAablihment, accompanied
with the anticipation Of refources, and
the accunuIations OF public debts and
taxes inf,psrable therefroIn."
From this concife view OF the rnea-
fures and principles Of the Wallington
administration, it is manifelt that they
coincided with thof. pur(ued by the
prelent. BY both a militia is conGdered
-" the only fate & adequate defence of
the nation" Warrington declares
'that they may be trained to a degree
of energy equal to every degree of Mill
taIy exigency ofthe United State" &
jellerion pronounces &C a well dici-
ciplined militia our bea reliance in
peace, and for the 6rf moments of
war, tlil regulars may relieve them" "
Warrington, in all his annual commu.
nications to Congreis, recommended
the Improvement of the fyitem for
the organization of the militia; Iefer-
ION, in all his meflages, has evinccd
the fame fence of the importance of
the obje6t. Of this his frlt rneGage
affords good fpecimen of the lpirit
of all the ref.
A itatement,, fays he, "has
been formed by the Secretary of War,
on mature coniidertion, of all the
potts and itations, where garriions
will be expedient, and of the number
of men reQuiGle for each garriilon.
The whole amount is coniiderably
ihort of the preient military eiablilh-
ment. For the furplus no particular
ufe can be pointed cut. For defence
! againit invaiion, their number is as
nothing; nor is it conGdered need.
iul or fafe thar ftaniing army
ihould be kept up in time of peace,
for that purpole. Uncertain as we
mutt ever be of the particular point in
our circumference where an enemy
will chuie to invade us, the only force
which can be ready at every point,
and competent TO oppofe rhem, is the
body OF neighboring citizens, as for
med into a militia. On thsfe, col
letted from the parts mott convenient,
in numbers proportioned to the in
vading force, it is bsf to rely not only
70 meet the 6rit attack, but if ir
threatens to be permanent, to main