The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-07-11


the fervce, fuch thing has been attempted But in
the freea country IN Europe, in that country which
BOATS ID the vigilance and which it exercies by
law the perfons and properties of the people, is il
monrousrh this ihoud be the only place where
are 70 entitled. In Englandthe law impofes re-
araints upon perons with reipe9 the alienation of
their property. A man IN many cafes, diipole
Of his property, and under the age Of 81 can
keiiate any part of his eate. Nay, mott unwifey in
my mind both fexes reitrained from dfpofng of
,her peronsin marriage long after they have obtsned
an age when nature dictates them the propriety of
Going 70. But though they cannot give away their
properties, yield to the honef and generous
affections Of the heart in dipofng of their pertons in
marriage without the content OF their parents they
may by law in this free land fell thenrelves at any
aye into military bondage for their natural lives 1t
Is amonrous foleciin. IL is tn upon our military
code, and, like every other grcfs and abfurd practice
1t ierves to impede inead of promoting the fervice
For what 10 but this contract for life that rendersths
tervce 70 terrific TO ever parent and every relative
Every gentleman mutt have had frequent opportuni-
ties of feeling the e which it has upon the hearts of
fathers and mothsss, in the very lowell claes of
fociety. Theymuit have ieen with what agony they
have heard Of their fons emitting for life And with
what eagetnefs they hoard up from their fcanty earn
ings fun to buy him of. With what earneit fuppli-
cations they pray for his relief And why is ali this
-but that by the of this engagement, made by
youth in giddy moment, they confder him as cut
of from their family forever cut off from the enjoy
ent Of all the quiet befhDss they intended for him or
from theexertions by which their tolls were to be
safed and their old age protected .becaufe they con-
hder his emitting for life to civil arinih-
iton but would it be 70 if the contract were limited
to certain and that ihort period On the contra
ry, would it not difpofe many parent, not merely in
the lowell clafies of focety, but even farmers and
tradeen conientto atoms entering into the eryice
of u:
nghm perhapsa little unteady quiet occu-
pations they know that hismtary careerwoudbe over
IN certain number Of years, and that he might then
return to them with mind improved by the know
ledge of the world and with habits uefu to his future
Life Ithe abfurd practice done away is it to be
apprehended that any comfortable number of good
men would be loft at the expiration of their TERMS and
IS there any utreaonto dread that they houd dband
IN numbers at one time Againf both evils eaiy pro-
Siion might be made. Good folders would not be
likely to quit the fervice. Men are fond of that in
IN which they eIcel-a new bounty--hope of promo
tien--or perhaps in fome cafes an increafe of pay
would be irreiiitable temptation. And as to general
dfbanding, that might be eay avoided, and would of
courfe be 10 If the nature of emitting wasmade uniform
New modes mutt be undoubtedly tried-for hitherto
plan had fucoeeded. The breach of the peace was
announced 70 long ago the beginning of March, and
hoitilities began in May lah. We are now within
three weeks of a twelve month at actual war, and
what tucces have made in erecting regular army!
irs iaidthat great evil is removed by putting an
end to the abufe of rank Officers cannot get now more
than one itep This is fomething, but with all poibe
refpe for the vigilance with which office is adnini-
tered at this time, do think it poible atogetherto
check the abufe of rank There will be evaon of the
rnes, the lcat looP-hole is permitted, that which is
foPerncious to the fervice. Nothing efecfua can be
done IN the way of recruiting the regular army with
out radical reforms. There muf be competition for
txxr, sl,z
emitting for life The army OF Referve mutt be totally
1ufperded, andthe militia he f!e.e quietly TO melt
down to Its proper level With refpea to an acceno-
ry force think there hould be general arma-
rnent than that of the Volunteers / will not fay to
what length the fyfem might have gone indeed if it
had not been checked by government in every way,
and by every fpscies ofperfecution They rehcdth
right OF rehghation until they compelled to
yield it, and in the fame manner they fought eve
~ privilege for which the Volunteers commended and
TO which they were entitled by the acts under which
they enrolled themfelves Inths way the government
certainly laboured to their utno damp the zeal Of
the volunteers their zeal could be damped by any
thing which Miniaers could DEBUT without nfrng-
ing on the Volunteer yifem, Iif to go farther and
TO propofe general arming of the PeaGantry--
aforce which Though not 70 good the volunteers
TO .ightng In battalion, will yet be of infinite value for
the kind OF attack with which threatened.
do not with TO propoe the training Of the peaanry to
the uieof arms, in the hope of uing them an army
but it rs great thing embody all the phyfca force
OF the country, and to form it into ihape which might
be contributary to the regular force. ihould never
have done if were attempt to enumerate all the
advantages which would are from arming the peafan-
try, and from employing them locally in the defence of
their own immediate homes and neighbourhoods
Ihoie who have feen the consequences of an armed
Peaiantry in the cafe of invading foe can alone form
an idea OF the neimabe value Of ich force. 1t fets
nation actually cafe againff the mott desperate at
tack OF an enemy.-An armed peafantry, with their
geographical knowledge of their territory is ire
Eitibe. 1t the natural itrengh which of all o.
theirs, free people in cultivated country ought to
look. Every thing elfe may fail U.S. The volunteer
fSitem may relax. AS the immediate danger difap-
Pearsas the threatened nvafon is protraed the vo-
lunteers may melt away. Your regular army would
be too fma to guard every part of 70 extenvea coat
but in country 70 adapted to defence-Co populous
an armed Peafanty taking advantage of every hl-of
every valley-of every lane--of every hedge ac-
quainted with every turn and pats, would make it i'm
poble for an enemy to advance, or If advanced, to
return. do not peak of them as of an army to fight
BATTLES; lipsak OF iai rer and more fatal ipeces of
attack, which they would be nfiruaed to make on an
enemy in which theySould give them no repite, and
from which the enemy could have no retreat.
A new report appears to have been made by
the Grand Judge at Paris, duplicating Mr..
Spencer Smith, Dritifh Minifter to the Fleefor