The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-07-21

yet omitted To deve meailres to oounterat1 his de-
iigns, and to put the country in tate f.tcd for ne
description OF hotiity to be apprehended. In this
fate :he country point of fact even now Mar
ed-and this forms one ofmy realons for concerning
m the motion before the iioule becaufe as they who
thought TIE peace likely continue did not pre-
pare Tor wal, aid who iinCe the war has commenced
have not peferyed that cuurfc of vigorous exertion
which the ltuation Of the Empire called for are not
rhoie III whom would cUnide for the eGabhn,ent of
our iecurity.
Aiiners forefaw the war, and yet they did no, at
tempt TO blilo for the militia as they ihould have
dono during die peace. They fhoud have availed
ticn.elvcS OF taat period, when they mutt according
! to the'r own confeions iince 70 repeatedly made
have contemplated wa- as N,.,cth;ng more than pro-
babic, iet every l., molten for def.r,i;nr III
country againit nvaion The obervations they wer.
enabled 90 make At the oofe of the lai w,r r H..
plans and purpoes of Bouapaf;e were fffce. 10 at
lure them that his hrit motion an invaion of this
country, which the ort period that elapfcd between
the eitabhment oil peace upon he continent and the
conciuiion OF the treaty OF Amcns, did not Qualify
HIM TO attempt but the progreis OF his then rreparat-
oIis erved to thew that his refoluon was rot to make
aelultory attacks upon US, but do that which he
mas iIace 2ccemphed viz. collect large force u1-
on Tome part OF the coat moi convenient FOR the uur
pole OF making de!cent upon this country What
ten are we to think OF thoe rninters, who, with uch
an opportunity OF ob!ervation overlooked renewing
the ballot for that important part of our force the mi,
iit'a, during peace And how did they ac towards
Tie volunteers, on Whole gaantry they now prote 70
much TO rely? The hcuse NUT have in recollection
the letters which ninters adGreGed to that body Of
men during the peace, which letters were 20 much cal
cuiated rather to damp than to animate and encourage
the zeal of thofe corps But this was not ALL for mn,
der circumstances peculiarly aupcous for the puruoe
and with the proipecfs before them nave already men
onedhey retuied attend plan iuggelied 10 the,
LOT pro'idg certain reiource for the recruiting &
IMPLY OF eur regular army. This plan was founded
uPol the fame principle as the army of re.rve with
the addition Of that which took location lately
TO Lay before the houie, ard which, if adopted
when my opinion was firt urged to ininiters,
would have furniihed the means of adding to
our army, with all pofiible expedition, not leis
than 30 or $4,000 men. This plan has, ad
NIT been lince adopted in part; and ihall
feei 1t my duty to utge the adoption of the
whoie OF 1t again and again. The committee
propoied by the motion | conceive the mott
convenient place for entering into the detail of
this and other meafures for the puplic defence
Il; 20 branch vi which i perceive with regret
nave minIiters attended in due time, and 70 the
execution OF none OF which do they aDoear TO
be adequate. Paiiing by all the omiiiions /
complain OF during the period oe peace draw
ing veil over their conduct on that occaGon
altogether; and ttppoiing the war recommen-
ced as much to the furprife of minifers as TO
1900 VI AiiduJ ISiiOllS Ill lllS nOuie and the
country; fuppoing that they were not all pre-
pared to expect it-let us only look at their
proceedings iince that event, and Let us examine
now far their meatIrres have been 70 contliycd
or executed rs to jultify hope, much lels an o.
pmon, of tlfety to be derived from their exeyti
onS.-t ne irit part of their plan of defence, and
that 10 which they feemed principally to look,
reia'eo 10 volunteers. This topic has, I am a.
ware, been already very fully difcuned, and on
al ~ 81 ..
the propoiition before the houfe but unou This
point ! would with to ak of miniltcrs whether
they 1oreiaw or had even a remote idea at the
commencement Of hoitilitics, that this deGcrDti
on OF our force would have extended 70 far. whe
Their they contemplated that it ever flould he e.
numerous! 1t was known BY thofs who had 4
ny knowledge OF their fentimrnts, who had any
conver1ation with ininiiters, that they had no
iuch intentions, and that on the contrary tbev
exprefed their difapprobation OF the noiicv re
then predeceliorS in allowing the volunteer fyf-
tenn to enlarge 70 much. This fact alluded to
merely to thew that they are entitled to no
pralfe Tor the multiplication of the volunteers
and to tate that the fpirit which produced the
incredfe of that body arofe out of the dEcuIions
OF this lIouie--a fpirit which, as miniGers |
themielves admitted, far outves their calculate |
on or hopes; and alto, as it leemed, exceeded |
their power Of direction, for they afterwards !
II.
fnoeh rs to the origin of the volunteer fvfem. |
But how did minilters proceed to cari:y that |
iyHem INTO Executions why, without go;ug |
much at length into this part of tie f,Ifb;el;. |
which oo moi mean at preient, will merely |
remark on the cafe of exemptions, which Lave |
been much and very jutly objected to.-rhe |
Proprety OF granting theie exemptions could |
never 'ee---certain it is that they were never
nscendry; for the volunteers for the hton mart
required no fuch thing in the fhape of encou-
ragernent to offer their fervices, and many of
them were not at all aware when thqy did en- |
gage that any exemptions were to be granted g.
on the contrary, it is notorious that thew were
IN ieyer2l ditritts actually fubfcIibinc certain
in'n OF each to purchaie fubltutes for anv ne
their body which might be balloted for tire mill.
ia. such was the fate Of the volunteers wien /
The act of parliament was pafItd with the Arono |
recommendation Of mimiiters for allowing 70
emPuons, cogged however with flch co6difi- !
olS That the mealure was not TO be well undpr- |
itood. In Another part Of this aet of m;niCters, |
there was iomething itill lcf5 fnteliieible win
rSipect TO volunteers right Of teligTation. no.
on which minfers have evinccd the NOT COM |
piete want OF penetration and forefght. Had
they judged wliely, they never would have At. |
tempted to dhpute this wight; for paradoxical
as u may ieem, nothing tends more 20 oreE.rye |
dhciplnc among thoic corps than the lindifm. |
ted exerclie OF this right and the reaCon ia this