The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-05-27

90 with regard to the army which already eX-
ITS, and it is to be regarded as liberal boom to
whichthey could have no right by the condi-
tions of their engagement. Now, Sir, after the
omiifon of 70 material a point on this head
can tcarcely venture to aofwer, that have o.
United others of great importance. Now,
however, fhal' proceed to the fecond great
branch of this fubie6t. The frft branch which
relates to the regular army is, certainly, that
which is to be regarded as mot Important
The other branch which relates To the great
problem, which remains TO be tolved when you
come to the qucftion what is to be done for
our defence with that part of your population
which does not exit in the lhape of an army !!
The rife and fall Of nations, however, do not de-
pend on theie, but on the regular army, aud by
themieyes it can never be expected, that they
can be oppoicd with fuccefs to regular troops.
The only iuitance which he recolleSted i'm hito-
ry, where population had retitted Il regular
army, was the cafe of America. But, attentive
ly viewed, that inttance afforded no valid reafon
for TINS country adopting Gmilar fyltem, when
the narrow tcale on which we acted was COM
pared with the immenfe continent OF America.
The views he entered ON the fibieSt ofthe po-
Pulation were to be found in thofe records,
which were not generally deemed very authen-
TIC but which had been 70 in this inaance. He
certainly felt for the errors of the two late adj
minittrations, as they had thrown difficulties in
the way OF that project and the preient adj
minitration came forward under very great dill.
advantages, as the ground on which they had
TO tread was not cleared. What might have
been then right, had fince been found to be
wrong and, in his own opinion, he wiihed for
nothing but the mott fimpe of meaiures. In
1905 the country was terrified by the dread of
invahon-but to fuppofe that what could have
been done then could be done now, was GER.
tain'y very bold idea. AT that time, it would
have been better for the fcrvice to have been
purely voluntary. Nothing could have been
better than to have given the MATS of the peo-
pie an opportunity of coming forward, with
proper lntructors to teach them what they
were to do, when they met the enemy, without
InliitdTy decoration or character whatever This
mails divided into FINAL ailociations and corps.
warming over every part OF the country, led
and directed by regular officers, would have
formed much better protection for the time.
inHead OF armed aiioclations of men OF high
CT rank ierving at their own expvuce. The
population would thus have been led on under
the guidance OF regular officers and the gentry
and Will not only harrafs and wear away the e.
nemy, but the habits they acquired, would fur
Nun fecruits tor the regular army. Whether
rms plan, had 1T been adopted, would have iuc.
ceeded or not, 1t was not for him TO determine ::
but certainly 1t was the cheapeH of all expedi
4
cription had been formed, upon falfe concent;.
ons. The government faid, the country is
IN danger every man mutt ARM The yo-
iaiteers armed and then they fad, Sc let us
LOCK and manoeuYre like folders :" and in this
me government acqliefced. From this he dat
ed all the difficulty that had fince arifen. He
differed entirely from shote who accepted the
iervices of many of thefe corps. They were
men VINO, from their habits of life, never in
fen ri.It hi ,~1I
or the lame ideas with themfelyes 70 that thew
could not be fuppofed that hard fubNancs
which could Dc moulded into troops capable of
taking the held aganit the enemy. 1t was ridi-
cuious 10 think them as good as troops of the
me oecauie they looked as well and if thew
were alone TO be employed to drive awav the
enemy, then was the fate of the country aIrea-
dy ieaied and decided. The volunteers were
nevertheless OF iome fervice. There was 6rf
the advantage of numbers of men being enroll
ed, and next that of their having been trained.
rom winch circumitance they might in time
become utetul. He profefled himfelf adyerfe to
the practice OF calling them out on permanent
duty, as 1t was of very little avail towards the
attainment OF the object in view, and was at
tehded with an enormous eXpence. He with
cd FOR as many volunteer corps as poliible, and
great part OF the population loofely trained.
Out theie advantages he wiihed to have ar &C
cheap rate as poih5!e. Recruits would, ND
on TINS plan, be turnilhed readily for the army,
VITA the additional advantage of their being
acquainted with the ufe of fire arms, while the
whole or the country would be covered with
an armed peaiantry. Theie were his ideas, but
ne nae Teen them utterly diregarded, and the
whoie CT TINS force thrown into volunteer CORPS.
formed on very different principles. Thefe
corps now colt government about 5000 .oool.
year, aud as the voluntary fubfcriptions for
tneir iupport were In great meaiure exhauR
ed' their continuance to the end of this wear
"otHd incur charge of 1o,ooO,oOol. fun
winch was completely loft to the defence of the
country IN any other way. He ihoud therefore
Pr"poie great reductions in this force as at pre-
ient conittnted and nitead of trying to per
'ect their d'iciPne, he would admit of conf;de.
raoie relaxation in that reipect. This would
TIC attended with 10 disadvantage but he
ihouid not win to reduce them altogether, I'M
VI dnother ipec'es OF ieryce grew out OF them.
ne wired, however, not to be miiunderfood
his ideas only went to the di1olution of the
kind or PArincrfhip which new fubGfted he.
tween them ana tie government, by a difcon
I"u1nCe or the allowances. Tae fervour ex-
cited by a'arm had fubidcd, AID ne did not
th'Gk that voluntary iervce could be carried
much farther. He mutt therefore have recourfr
10 co'hpuiiory terglce, however unwilling to
rel9rt To It, [ n Iagyb on TIE ot52htisn bencb-
H'J he would allure the gentlemen on the
other hde that he did not like cofnpulfory fer.
wee, as Coming from their fhop. He recolleG-
Hsi Hfa Form 81