Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-07-23
CON CIR E S S.
MOUSE OF RsrsEsHNrA9IyEA
ApRIL -,

Ma. VARNUM. Mr.. Speaker, il will
be recol!ected by the House, that early
in the session that part oil the message
of the President Of the y. States, OF the
third OF December last, which relates to
the classification and organization Of the
militia, and 20 the augmentation of ourlsnd
forces, was referred 10 the consideration
Of sele@ committce. Several other sub
jess relative to the physical s,reng of
the nation havs, sphseqnent 10 that time,
been referred to the same committee.
They have auen,ive,y considered the Sc.
vcral subjects referred 10 them, and have
reported TO The House, the result of their
tie!iberston on each of them. Ths sr..
pension OF a rspor, on the subiea OF our
land forces 10 this time, has necessarily
been occasioned from the nature of the
reference. Thst subject MAS submitted
20 the committee in the words Of the mes,
sage, which are as [,llows--" Whether it
VIII he necessary In augment our land
forces will be decided by occurrences pro.
badly in the course Of your session"
Hence the committee have deferred their
report to THIS time, with view that it
faight be made coincid.nt with the exist
ing state Of our country, at tn: close Of
the session, in conformity with the prin.
cipies on which the subject mas submit.
ted,
But, sir, at time when the great pow.
ers of Europe are engaged in war, devas-
tation and bloodshed, and q, period
when there are subjects of difference ex-
i'lins between the U. States, aud several
of the European power., it may not be
Improper to state to the House, the out
lines of the physic strength Of the coun.
try, which may be drawn into operation,
in case of an invasion by any foreign ma,
ton; which view OF the subject has in.
'duced the committee 10 make the report
now submitted TO you. And, sir, in order
TO exhibit in it's true point of light, the
present strength of The y. States, it may
not be improper to take cursnry vie of
the situation of the Uaited States, at the
commencement of The revolutionary war
with Great Britain, and the important
stand which, in thf: situation, was made
against the strong arm Of Great Britain.
] viii then state toyou, III a concise man.
Ter, some of the present means of de.
fence within the power of the United
States; and l:ave il 10 the House to dcaw
the contrast, between our situation for
defence at that time, and at the present
time.
Al the commencement of shat war, the
pecale of the y. States, were subjects of
Great Bsi,ain, they were in state OF dis.
organization. believe there vas not
single Company of the militia under legal
organization; you had no standing army.
There had been kind Of organization un-
der the recommendation OF Illegal asso-
Citations, in part OF the union; but no
commissions had been issued, no compul.
. sion could be exercised. One class of your
citizens were SO much attached &c royal go-
yernment, that they either withheld their
aid from the cause Of the country, or wen,
over to the enemy and fought against us
there were another class who from pecu-
mary views took side on the part Of the
British, and armed themselves agains, The
country; 4 third class were, from appre.
tensions OF feeling the weigh, Of British
vengeance in case the country should be
conquered, induced 10 take part on the
side Of the enemy; and fourth class
from conscientious scruples as 10 the Jus.
tice OF opposing their king. were induced
10 withdraw their ard from the cause Of
their country. These several classes OF
opponents were very numerous in some
oil the states, ard such were the arrange
msnts OF tho country atlhat time, as TO
permit them TO take the side they ci,-se
without even branding them with the ap.
pailation of traitors. The whole popuia.
ton ofthe country did not consist of more
than 100000 souls. Thus, sir, did
those patriats who justly appreciated The
blessings OF free government, put their
lives, and their all at stake, TO procure for
themselves, and for posteti,y The blessings
of independence and free government, in
opposition 10 large portion OF their coun-
trSmeD, aud the whole force of the British
ration. 1t is we'll known by those gen.
tlemen who were on the stage of action
at that time, that the means for carving
on war, then in possession of the PEG.
pie; were very small. We we're almost
entirely destitute Of Cannon very few of
the Gre arms were such as are generally
considered the bes, calculated for defence
against an enemy; they were FIRE arms
generally used by hunters, and most Of
them without bayonets we had very In.
tie powder or balls in the country. In
this uupronising situstion of our country,
commenced the revolutsots -. ...:,L