The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-07-25

upon TINS, as wei as upon other points, reminds
ne of a practice in the Legislative Afembly OF
a neighbourng nation 0he United States Of
Hoand) in which, when it was determined to
get rid Of a queNion, the relolution was ad ycjc-
rendnm, which meant to take no more notice of
1t. The nature of the project thought it my
duty to recommend to miniiters, related parti-
ciIary TO that which have often mentioned in
this Houfe. For the advancement of the difci-
pine Of the volunteers, the nCceftv of appoint
ING Adlutants 10. 4 certain number of men,
l his has been in part aCCeIIed to, bit in what
manner? An Adiutant is appointed to fIch corps
only as amount to 400 men, ard to them only in
cafe they eXerciie so days in the year, although
the men are allowed pay but for 20 DAYS.
Where, | would put it to the common fenfe of
any man, can be found hrcnger inltance OF
weakness and nconEitencv than this order fur
nlihes No provliion is made for the pay of the
AdJutant unlcfS the corps eXerciie so DAYS, for
one fourth of which only the men are made any
allowance. Is not this alone enough to expofs
the mind of miniiterS (; to flew their unacouain-
lance with the means ofeXecuting their own plir-
pofeS Indeed am perfectly convinced oftheir
want OF vigour every circamhance ferves to
thew it, and have therefore the itiongeR con-
vitticn upon my mind that they are incapable
ofacting upon any thing like fyten, of adopting
or executing well digeaed or energetic plans for
the defence of the country. do not of courfe
place any hope on their eXertions, and, therefore,
concur in the proprety of the Propoied COM
mittee, where every queftion connected with
our iecurity may be fully Investigated. One
re&ion recOlect, for 70 tardily adopting the
plan for the appointment of AdiutantS was, the
difficulty of procuring officers from the line to
fill thofe ftations. ] Recommended that Serieant
Majors thould be choten; but to this was told
that SERGEANT Majors could not he periuaded 10
give up their name for fuch 40 jutancies, uneis
they were allowed half pay. l faw no good
reaion for declining to make this allowance, St
I therefore aCiviled iii December iah. I was
promifed that the fuhieGt would be taken into
confederation. ! afterwards applied in March
10 know the reiult OF the confederation, but |
was told that no decifon was made, and I'M
bertrand it is undecided ftii while the difcipline
of the volunteers does and has for months back
10 iinperatively called for an Immediate decifi-
on respecting it, although this was one of the de-
fcttS in the volunteer iyitem which government
promifed 10 cure. When fefore lait Chriitnlas
an application was made 81 EHFIIiiiht5rs with 1e-
gard to the confufon which prevailed among
the volunteers, the gentlemen who applied were
dehred TO wait Until after the Chriitmas reccis,
when a dige!tcd plan would be brought forward
by minitters which ihould remove and prevent
the recurrence of the evils tompiaired of and
communicate 10 the volunteer fyffem all the per-
! fiction of which il was fufceptible. This di-
geffed plan has been laid before the houfe, and
at length made It's way, after various alterati-
ons, through it.
Iho1e alterations were added to the Houfe of
Lords; and now it is returned to us, there is
icarcely one feature remaining of the original
meafure-of the well dgefcd plan of minifters.
The iuggefticn made to them by others, they
reluctantly adopted, and the Object oftholc fug-
geftions they in fome initances have almof de-
feat ~
TO permanent duty, aud applying the guinea
propoied to be given them as bounty, which is
10 be attributed in fuch way as to hold out no
inducement to the men or benefit TO theii fami-
hes. Minilters have been equally injudicious in
every other pre- ject OF defence, from the army of
referve TO the { oneut OF clafIes under the
General Defence AG--an act which ! had the
honor Of d large flare in fuggeRing, and lament
much that miniiters did not adopt it at a more
early period but the faf is, that 70 far from
minifers having fpontaneouny taken any vigo-
rous proceeding for the defence of the country
hnce the commencement Of the war, I ftate
broadly that no part OF the meaiures for the i'll
create of our military Establishment has origi-
mated with them, "a cry of hear hear in which
the Chancellor OF the EXchequer ioinedl-Mr
Pitt proceeded. If laid ne, the right hon. gen.
tleman means to deny nay aflertiCn, fhall ap-
peal to the recollection of the Houie, whether
IN june idit, when the army climates were under
diicufiion, did not ak the rgat non. Secretary
at War (Mr Braggc) after he he'd fniihed his
itatement-I did not az, if what ne had men-
toned comprehended All the pfovifon that MI
nIit1rs meant to- make for the defence Of the
country? To thisI was anfwered in the afft-
native and ] accordingly gave notice of nv
| intention TO fubnlit meafure founded on the
fame principle with that of the army Of reierve..
Any benefit that may have refulted from that
meaiure, is not, alert, attributable to mint
tiers, who were quite at 4 lofs what courfc to
take-who knew not, in facl, what moaflrss
were applicable to the dangers Of the country.
viii not dwell on the execution Of the army of
reierve act, as ] lhali 20 into that lubea verv
fully on Wednefday next, and If ihculd not
/ then have the good fortune Of periuading she
lloute TO acccde 70 the proposition which J
would with to have Dgra'tcd on the army ORE
ierye bill, in order TO provide conttant and re-
gular iupply of recruits for our regular army.
hall feel all advantage in thc eLifence OF fuch
a committee as the motion before the Houfe pro-
PoieS 10 chablifh, as ] may thus have an oppor-
tunity of again prefing The project upon the
confederation Of the Houfe---a proieGl which; if
am arle TO demoHtrate its practcabiiity for
great objects in yiaw, am flirc that every man
will feel it to be dcrabie, and all will b. ready
TO give 1t their concurrence. If can fhety that
even iindll increaie can be derived from this
p1OisCt TO our regular army, it is inpoGbls TO