The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-10-04

can hope for the .fnpport Of Divine Providence,
unlefs W. exer. al! the talent and power il has
gi7'Ciouily bettowed upon us for our defence A.
eain6 oppreiIion. Thefe reflections lead us 70
enquire whas aluresaret to be purified To enable
ustochatt:and puni,h neutrality-suspicious. Are
we prepared Or preparing for war! Our gal.
liant fqnadron viii! foon return; but fhips cannot
tight on fhorc, and we will not have Handing ar
mics. What then is. doing with the NJ; tia a?
This natural fupport, and only hope of a Re-
publican Government, when nations fhut their
ears to reaton and iutice, is left TO languiih un
der the moi feeble and inefficien, laws, without
organization, intelligence, or difciDhne; this
army, which the contribution and freedom of
the union NUT fooner or later depend on for
protection, has nothingto oppofe to an enemy
but lis courage and patriotifn.
General WASHINGTON, in his fpeech to Con-
greis at the FELTON, of 1894, makes the following
obfervation.--" The deviling and ettabliN,ine Of
well regulated militia, wauld be A genuine
fource OF Legislative honour, and perfe6e title
To public gratitude" With fuch An opinion
from fuch man, and the truth of the petition
before the eyes of the nation, is it not afoni-h-
ing 70 little attention has been paid to the fnb
Jet?
That fonething NUT now be done to place
ourfelves in fate of defence, is the opinion of
orifts from the vioIences we have experienced
from our neighbours the Spanilrds; and as we
are all intcre'ted and have our opinions ON the
fubie6f. fhali give mine.
Efectual means fhould be taken to be inform
ed the abilities ofthe officers in comrnfIlon to
I'LL their REFLECTIVE ftations. II is of primary
Importance to have Intelligent officers at ali
times. in particular when there is pro(Dett Of
a want oftheir fervices. The whole force Of the
union ihou!d be divided into three claffes, from
ls to 25, from 25 TO IS, and from IS TO as wears
OF age. The fira rlats Mould he under orders
of readiness, and drilled by their captains once
week; Majors TO exercife and difcipline their
battallons once month field pieces ihouli be
attached to the battalious, and meaG,res t.L.n
TO Inifruet the men in the ufe of them; camp
equipage mould be in readinefs, that at any
time troops may march or take the field. The
dicIpline OF the other two clales fhould be re-
guated according to circum aances, with view.
as much as pollihle, to the convenience of focie-
ty. They would be every where powe,f,I
auxiliaries to the frft clafs, whenever circum
frances required their fervices. With fucb re-
guations we might bid defiance to the united
efforts of Europe, and preferve our government
from the dangers it would inevitably experience
by employing mercenary army.
lhete precautions are necenary, and will not
" "H.o VIZ" h'uNu ehpence; out II 1t ihOud
colt us all we are worth, it is better to paw it =.
and fight too. than fuffer wrong for, by re.
lifting in the fire iuitance, We prevent repe-
tition.
To indulge ourfe'ves in com,arinr great
things with fmal, nations like individuals muft
reiPect themtelves to I've refpected bv Others .
and we certainly are deficient in this nart;,,,ar
when we permit ourftIves to he treated in the
manner the Brtifli and Spaniards arc in The habit
OF 'nduiging themieIYes in towards us. Enoer-
ors or Kings may commit an outrage, or pocket
an intDlt, without the character OF the nat;o.,
they govern being Affected but it is flocl;ne
for whole people TO fubnit 10 a ftries of infuit
and violence. 1t is time to put nop 20 th-r
outragcs. If we mean to continue a S2zkreig,,
people, we muft have <ove,e;2n Eat:mgnfJ, an
be as tenacious of Our honour as onr freedom.
IEONIDAS