The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-07-21
s47URDAr MORNING, JULr 81, 1904.

know, that in committee OF the whole hoult
aiore ieveral proceedings can regularly origi-
nate.-MatterS OF religion, grievance, trade, IL
nance, Stc. mutt tirf be difcuiied in committee
OF the whole houie. II, then, queRions on thofe
iu5jeets maa originate in committee, can
there be any tcruple TO refer to limilar com
mIttee, meaiire, the object of which is to de-
lend every thing that is dear and valuable to a
tate, the religion winch exalts, the commerce
which enrches, the laws which regulate and
protect Is there any thing extraordinary, any
thing dangerous, then, in the prefert motion ;
viii 1t be fiid that the iyfein OF defence is TO
good that there is nothing to be added to it /:
Is the experience Of it on its fruits and eff Sts
iuch as to encourage US to rely with implicit
confidence IN the energy and reiources ofminir-
tiers I! What meaiure have they ever adopted
thathas not been thwatted byfome other oftheir
meaiures! What efficient plan has been proDo-
led Tor the recruiting of the regular army? Can
we indulge the vain and chmerical hope, that.
without any new regulations as to the period Of
1ervice, fuch as thoie propoied by the right hon.
gentleman, recruits will be obtained for eight
guineas, when they could hardly be procured
for forty or Fifty pounds Is it upon the wifi
dom, the vigilance, and the energy of theit mi
miterS that we can rely, when we have feen
that no one meafurc for the public defence, can
when ieyeral they have retarded or enfeebled
am tatis!ied that ione plan for the permanent
recruiting OF the army ought to be fettled, and
that we ought with all difpatch to proceed 10
that important fubjeGt. But negleGting the re-
guar army, have minifers improved and per-
tected that iyltem OF the volunteers, in which
they have ipent 10 much time. venture TO af-
hrin, that the volunteer fyitem is fill far from
that fate Of perfection to which itmight be car
RCD. The army ofrefcrve, initead of being iul-
pended, thould be modified. III regard to for
tliications too, in which, hitherto, 70 little has
been done, will venture TO fate due precausi-
onS in that department have been much ne
elected, and that many things have been omit
ted to be done, which, in cafe OF invalion,
would tend both to fave the lives of men and TO
check the prosrefs of an invader.
From all that have heard on the fiib;ed of
the navy, and in fpite of that magnificent cata-
loSue OF ihips which miniffcrS have produced,
andWhich'l thail not at preitnt diileSt, mutt
repeat, that the conduct of that branch OF our
defence, has not been fuch as the public had
right to expect. and upnn this i.1hie1l ! my
take an opportunity to ltate circumstances that
VIII atfonifh the Houfe and the country. Thefe
and many other considerations form the mott
concluiive arguments IN favor of the motion,
and though the righthon. gentleman who made
1t, did not dilate on thefe topics, he naturally
expected, and ltated his expectation, that they
would be taken up by other ipeakers in the
courte of the debate. 1t is true that miniRers
on this as on former occaiions, have given us A
enumeration of the force of the conn
try. have heard that fatement with pride.
1t affords the mott coniolatory evidence of what
the country is capable of doing. But / and o.
ther members OF this Houie have at leaf asgood
a right to exut III that furvey of our ftrenpth
as m'niteers. We have not been wanting incur
e%ertonS to contribute to call forth the fpirit of
the country, and to organized its ftrength. That
fprit and excrtion, however, belong to the
country, and are not to be a{cribed to the di
Eectlon or the energy of the government. IN
oeed II there be any who ought peculiarly to
1tParate that pride from any other feeling of
peI1onal merit, IT IS the prefent miniHers who
have had 10 little flare in the national energy.
no one meafure can they claim as their own
no one meaiure have they improved and perfect
ed very many they have weakened BY their de-
lays, and deitroyed by their incongruities.-
Whatever then the fpirit and zeal of a free and
brave people may have been under the fenfe of
Danger, ought fairly to be separated from the
tardneis, iangour ard imbecility of minfters in
every thing of which they have aiiumcd the d.
rection. Miniiters boat of what others have
iuggeited Or voluntary public zeal has offered,
rs II What was done WIS perfectly ADEQUATE To
orr iecurity. But is it enough 70 have provided
agalnR the danger of final conquef Ruouoh
has not been done, unlcfs we have adopted eSs-
~ practicable and rational means Of checkiue
the enemy, ihould they invade our flores, with
Tie leat iacrfice of life, with the Leaf waite of
the public reiources, with a rapidrty that win
diidppoint the enemy's rra;eSss 81 tiisviation.
Enough has not been done, unieiS every thine,
has bcen provided by which in the ihorteit fDace
we may be enabled TO defeat the enemy with the
lignai overthrow ard deftruGtion, a. will for
ever deter them from repetition of the attack.
and Forever relieve The country from the alarn,
and anxiety ofinvsiion. / do not mean TO C,v
'hat the enemy would according to all human
calculation, lucceed in their deGgns, even had
we no other means of defence, but thofe which
now exit but have we reafon TO believe that
Our itrength is yet arrayed in the ocft manner.
That our forces are diltributed at the proper
ports, 10 as to act with the mof Deceive efSfftsp
Uniei5 this be done Gas fear it is no,) il is NOT
enough TO FAY that we have 1871, 900 feculars ard
militia, and 100000 volunteers and indeed
when It is proved by their own tatements that
me reiources o. the country are 70 great, II
forms an additional ground oS ccnfure aeainH
If our iyitCm of defence be not ade-
4uate to every demand. KS to the obieryations
which have been made upon the amount of force
which ihould have BEEN kept UP during the
peace, and the proportion which exiGed at flc
renewal q the wax, whatever may think with
reipect to TIE opinion held by the honorable
gentleman who opened the debate Oh a former