Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1805-10-03

military preparation. Instead Of adopting
any new system, or materially impros:a9
the old, almost every thing that has beer
done tor monetary effort, has been hurt
ful upon great scale, and with reference
! to permanent objects. Instead of deyisinr
any means for setting on foot and MAINTAIN.
ing a military force, such as the circum
stances OF Europe and of this country, in
relation TO France, demand, we doubt very
much whether due provision is made for
repairing the inevitable waste of ordinary
casualties, &c. As to the reduction Of the
militia, and turning them into the line, il
may have some slight effect, by bersering q
par, OF what we had but We have very liz.
tie more reason TO say, that our military
Strengths incroasedby y expedient than
man would have to boast of the increase
of his wealth, who merely took twenty
gulneas out of one pocket, and deposited
them IN another.
This nation cannot be safe while France
remains mistress of Flanders and Holland,
and governs her whole TERRITORY with mi.
l'ary vigour; unless we have a military
population, and that military population
never Gao be created till a yerylarge pro.
portion OF it has passed through the regu-
lar army. As to peaceabie volunteering,
and SO forth, we believe nobody stands up
for thar noasense now. fhe inevitable Eff
trct OF that unwarlike sport is 10 make the
people after the frs; half year, more unmi.
htary than they were before. But if il be
impossible all at once TO introducr sysIy m
of service limited in point of duration, and
TO give thu effect produced by that system,
il IS high time TO take some steps towards
sohra!plng a regular army. on toe best loot
ing, liz which eur means and opportunities
allow.
a. presen. England is reckoued by TO-
reigners maritime power. They do not
reckon US military nation In the ordinary
sense. they deny that we have an army in
the soldiers understanding of the term.--.-
They allow hat we have sever al good
troops of the different kinds, and are excel.
lent materials as 10 the common men, but
as to the system, science and management
il is uttrri, denied 10 us. We have seen
miltay books writ en- in different coun-
tries, descriptive of The different armies Of
Europe, but an Englishman must be hurt
at the view they give of our military sys-
TEN.
We have little hope that our hacknied
Office bred statesmen will be moved out Of
their routine BY any argument however CO.
geat. Nothing but experience, the hard IN
struc.ion OF misfortune, can enlighten such
men and make them practically wiser. Yet
every day that passes on more 81 more de-
monstrases the necessit, of being efec ual-
" armed at home.-We cannot prevent
France from perhaps ou,-numbering US at
sea should the war continue, and after a
few years peace she will most certainly e.
quail US at least. We must not limit the
energy of BonapArte's counsels By the dot
age of our own.--And If the natives of
France and her allies approach TO US to
exceed us IN number, where can We find
safety but in an arm, of courage IS skill to
defend us ?-.Every thing Blu, that is bur
momentary opiate TO lull asleep alarm 81
cowardice. II permanently weakens and
DESTROYS MS. Whether for honorable war
or secure peace. this nation must have an
army that will command the respect of our
enemies and The confidence of our friends.
The paper army of seven hundred thousand
tYnoses ne ~ the d. rIs,on of the one