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

regular attention To numerous details
and prompt decilion upon occurring
cafes. Whatever may have been the
attention befowed by Mr.. M'tIenry,
his meafures were taken with 70 much
tardinets, that the fimplef operation
was protra6ed until its utility was
nearly lot. His table was foon COW
cred with an accumulation of bu6-
neis; every thing was delayed, and
much was entirely loft in the heap.
The beif friends of the administration
called aloud for reform.
This reform was attempted by Ce-
neral Dearborn with what fiicceis
the public has long flnce feen. With,
habits, directly oppofed to thoEe of his
predecefor, he has reitored the ener-
gy and regularity 70 eGsntial to ali mill.
itary arrangements. With much
fmaller fun than that allowed under
the preceding adminilra,ion, he has
prelerved peace on the frontiers and
has diltributed the force in fuch
manner as fully TO protect the forri6-
cations. Nor ought il to be omitted,
that the acquiiition of Louiliana has
not augmented the army a man, or
colt the nation, for that purpofe, a
fngle cent.
Some flight diGatisfadion has aric.
~,, 80, ~.l,,,nu ,,> tha sra,t,,>o,.e &C Co1
Butler, and the arrangement Of certain
officers. But the former is the aa of
court martial, and the punilhmenr
he has received is in truth that of his
political friends and the derange-
ments are, for the mott part, the ne
ceaary effects Of law. Some brave
and able officers may have been diE.
miled ; but it is not alledged that
ihofe remaining in icrvicc are inferior
to them and though the politics of
nearly all the officers are adverfe to-
thole of the sdminiaration, not one
OF them has been removed OH that ac-
count.
The fuperinten3ance of the mill
tary department, during period of
peace, admits of the difpIay of little
that is brilliant. Ii does not however
thence follow that its duties are unim-
portant. To Ultimate the importance
OF their faithful diicharge, il is only
neceliary to rehed on the injurious
effects that refult from their abufe.
AS there is nothing more dangerous
to the Iiber,ies or fubverGve of the
morals OF people, than large fland-
ing armies, 70 no greater benefit can
be conferred by government than the
keeping them within the frietef lin
its. The importance of this point is
ably illuarated in the initruStions OK
the Virginia Legislature to their Sena-
tors. underltood to be the production
of MIR. Madifon. 4
Z" Although the Contribution fub-
mits the right Of rafting armies to the
difcretion OF Congrefs, yet, it evident
ly contemplated the Militia as the
great bulvark of national defence, as
well, to ufs the language of the Con-
ltiiution, to repei nvafons, as to e.e-
eute the iasYs eff5s unisn and IwpTss
mjurrcf7ions, and contemplated the
right of rafting armies for prellng and
extraordinary emergencies. That the
militia, except in fuch emergencies, is
the only fate and adequate defence OF
the nation, is political axiom hither-
to held facred in the United States.
This is not only the obvious meaning
of the Contribution but is fill more
ffrongly evidenced by the practical
contribution thereof under the former
administration, as will appear by re-
viewing its proceeding for ieveral fuc-
ceiliye years after the government was