The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-01-27


coniid.r him either incapable ct Judging what
is ncceffary, or "a guilty CT fomething worfc.
An allu(ion has been made to the meafures OF
the Iaft fefion. II regretted by the gentle
man from Virginia, that his opinions were not
odopted and he thinks he has a right to tri-
amph, becaufe the fame mcafurcs, which he
then recommended, are now found neceiiary.
Suppofe the fame meafures fhoald now be ne
cefTary, which he then ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
however, am far from admitting--are the cir.
cumnances of the country the fame! 1t will
be reco,teSted that one OF the purpotes tor
which that gentleman wihed troops to be rail-
ed, was to charlie Spain. 1 was not OF opinion
that il was then necefary to chall,te SPAN |;
and am Rill Of opinion that It is not neceiiary
to chaGife her. Another realon has been al
hened BY that gentleman for thole meatures -
it feems thcfe meafnres would have prevented
this internal Conspiracy. Ii does not, however,
appear, that we knew of the exiltcnce Of, or
forefaw any copfpiracy, or had any exPeefa-
ton of ruch thing nor did the gentleman him
felf apprehend OF 2rediSt it. If he had enter
tanned fuch opinions, it would Certainly have
been kind to have told us 10. If then, every
thing on this fubjea was 10 vague, are we to
be told that it was necefny to raife troops TO
guard againtt confpiracy that might happen
ieven years afterw ards In my opinion we
ought not 70 have RATED additional troops the
70 long as things remain as they are. At all e.
vruts, will never give my content. during a
tine of peace, TO raiie additional troops, IN.
.efs nccelTary for earriion duty. | believe the
militia ard volunteers are abundantly fufficient
for all cxigencies. will however FAY this, that
if it fhou!d be conlidered necefiary, from the
extcnfon of our territory, to RATE few addi-
iionai troops, for garrifoning our potts, 1 do
noe know that il will meet with my oppofition.
BIZ: rs to rafting additional forces, with which
TO go to war with Spain, have no idea of it !;
and as to rafting troops TO crufh any confpira-
cy that may eyiR, or BE- apprehended, fee no
necefIity for it. 1t is remarkable, that we
ii!ould entertain any opinions in favor of fuch a
mearure, when the PRECEDENT whom the
great Responsibility refs, does not confider it
necetiary.
MIR. S. repeated his furprfe at the alarming
picture which had been drawn of our tituatior
and his opinion that necefity exifted to a..
dept the reiolutiou at this time. he believed
the PRECEDENT inadequate to the performance of
of his duty, he might be the more ready to ac-
cede to It but, believing him fully competent,
he fhould vote againft it.
Mr.. HOLLAND. This appears to me to be
very improper courft. The Prefident is re-
Quired to tell us what meafures he has taken,
and what meafures he hereafter intends to take,
TO iGpprefs this coufpiracy. This feems to me
the very end Intended to be anfwered by OBJ
tanning the information delred. Where is there
any neCeiity at all tor this meafure at this time
Is it not the duty of the Prehdent to give US
fuel, information at all times as the exigencies
of the country require? And have we not
reafon to repofe confidence in tho executive ?
It we have, this refoluion is altogether ufelefs.
We have been told by the gentleman from Vr-
gina. that if the neafures recommended at
fht. [sfI had hssp adD ted he nh IN
would have been much better for the country,
and that all kind of danger would have been
dd B Pousis f2Y teSasKudMceHe ct regular sha
hifhment, which the gentleman from Virginia
poHefes. Nor have any apprehension for the
peace and fafety of the country. have reafcn
to believe that there are fome defperate charac-
ters engaged in dilturbing the peace of fociety {;
but confGe in the integrity Of the people |;
and ! believe the freneth of the militia will
always be found competent to the exigency.
IT / have any fears, they do not arife from this
quarter (; they do not arife from the want Of
regular eftablihment. The larger that eflab-
lifment the greater my fears. Ifany fears are
to be entertained, in my opinion they ought to
be fears of the dfaGection of the army. hope
however, that we have no grounds for fears at
prcfcnt on this head But if there fhould be
any iuch difaffettion, believe the energy of
Of the people would he fuflicient to rein it,
would be tuhcient to rchtt any danger from
within or from without. Thinking differently
from the gentleman from Virginia, and that the
fsfcty of the country does not conlift in the
eI'ert of our military enabihment, am for
taking different meafurcs. ! am againft extend
ing the army, but in favor of organizing the mill
tia, in fuch way as to render it efficient. ]
am, however, hottie to the adoption of this
proposition. The gentleman from Virginia,
(Nr. BurwelD has remarked that the time has
come, when we may fafey adopt the propofi,i-
on. That gentleman may have information
which we do not pofefs, that may induce him
to form this opinion. But from the informant.
ON polTtfs, think differently. I believe the
Prrlidcut will communicate TO us all the infor-
nation that j: recetiary and proper for US to
poiTefs, and his not having communicated it TO
this i!,Nancc, is coucluGive evidence 10 my mind
IF the iTproprirty Of aikingt.
Mr.. ffNDLEY confdered the refolution AS
of fome importance and worthy of CONFEDERATE
on before it WAS adopted. lie therefore moved
lis pofponrmcnt till Monday.
MIR. BUR WELL. fdid he had Jingle remark
tomal,c, in reply tot the gentleman from North
Carolina, wh0 had intimatcd that he might be
~qlainted with fome circumstances not in poi
frfiion of the HOMIE. He begged leave to in
form him, and the other members Of the Houfc,
that I've was a, quain,ed with no circumnances
other than thoIr which he had obtained thro'