Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-01-27


siicr him either incapable ofjudging what
IS necessary, or as guilty OF something
verse.
An Iilusidn has been made to the mea-
SuIes Of the last session. Ii is regretted
tie gentleman from Virginia, that his OBJ
mons we're not adopted /; and he thinks he
has right to triumph, because the mca-
stIres, which he then recommended, are
now found necessary. Suppose the same
measures should now be nee ssary, which
ne then recomnended-whiCh. however,
am far from admitting--are the circum-
stances of the country the same F? 1t will
be reCollected that one of the purposes for
which that gentleman wished troops TO be
raised, was 60 chastise Spain. / was not
on opinion that II was then necessary TO
chastisc Spain; and am stiu on opinion
that 1t Is not necessary to Chastisc her.
AA0ther reason has been assigned BY that
gentleman Tor those measurcs-it seems
those measures would have prevented this
internal conspiracy. 1t docs not, however,
appear, thiC we knew of the existence OF,
or 'orestw any conspiracy, or had any ex-
pectatlan ot such i thing nor did the gem
MN Mmsel, apprchend or predict it. II
he had eni-rtaiGed such opinions, it would
certainiyhIve been kind TO have told us SO.
Il, then, every thing on this subject was SO
vague, are We to be tod that il was neees-
sary TO raise troops TO guard against con-
E spiracy that might happen seven years af-
- forwards! In mg opiaion we ought not to
have raised additional troops the last year,
nor ought we TO raise them this year, SO
long as things remain as they are. At all
events, will never give my consent, dur
ing time or peace, to raise additional
-troopi, unless necessary for garrison duty.
believe the militia and volunteers arc a.
lArVr, l1r.a1, E~.e
will however say this, that if it should be
considered necessary, from the extension
OF our territory, to raise a-few additional
troops, for garrisoning our ports, I do not
know that 1t viii meet with nv opposition
But as to raising additional forces, with
which 20 so TO war with Spain, have no
idea Of it and as - raising TROOPS to crush
any conspiracy that may exist, or be apDre-
hended, see no necessity for it, Ii is re-
nGrkable, that VIC shou d entertain any o.
pinions in favor of such a measure, when
the President, on whom the great resoon-
sioility rests, does not consider it nccessa-
~.
Mr.. S. repeated his surprise at the alar-
ping picture which had been drawn of our
sltuat on, and his opinion that no necessity
existed t. adopt the resolution at this time.
II ne believed she President INADEQUATE TO
the performance O. his duty, he might be
the more ready to accedc TO it; but, believ-
ing aim fully competent, he should vote a.
gaust it.
81, Ma. HOLLAND. This appears to ne to
be very improper course. The President
HIS not ventured TO tell us what measures
he has taken, and what measures he here
alter intends 10 take, to suppress this con-
sPiracy. THIS seems 10 me extremely ex-
ceptionable, and may go to defeat the very
end intended to be answered bv obtaiJ,inp
che information desired. Where is there
any necessity at Ill for this measure AZ this
time Is 1t not the duty of the President TO
give MS such information at all times as the
ezigeDcies of the country require And
have we not reason to repose confidence in
the executive rs we have, this resolution
is altogether useless. We have been told
by the gentleman from Virginia, that ifthe
measures recommended at the last session
had been adopted, he thinks it would have
been much better for the country, and th Mt
all kind of danger would have been rcmov.
cd. ], however, am one of those who do
not possess that confidence in regular es-
tablishment, which the gentleman from
Virginia possesses Nor have any aDpre-
pension tor the peace and safety of the
country. | have reason to believe that
there are some desperate characters en-
gagged in disturbing the peace of society ::
but conhde in the integrity of the peoDle !:
and believe the strength of the militia
will always be found competent to the eyi-
gency. IF have any fears, they do not A.
rise from this quarter; they do not arise
from the want of regular establishment.
The larger that establishment the greater
bis fears. If any fears are TO be entertain
ed, in my opinion they ought to be fears of
the disaifecton Of the army. hope, howe
yer, that VIC have no grounds for Scars NJ
present OF this head. But if there should
be any such disatfection, / believe the e1cr-
81 OF the people would be sufficient to re-
sist it, would be sufficient to resist any eiap-
ger from within or from without. Thinking
differently from the gentleman from yjrg'-
MA, and that the safety of the country DIES
not consist in the extent of our military es-
adjustment, am for taking different Inea-
sares. an against extending the army,
but IN favor Of organising the militia. in
such way rs to render il efficient. lam.
however, hostile to the adoption Of This
proposition. The gentleman from Virgi-
ma Mr. B1rWeU) has re rlkcI that the
time has come when we m safely adopt
TIE proposition. Th4t gent cman NAV
have Information which VIC do lot possess
that-msy induce him to form this opinion
Bat from the Information possess, 7 think
differently. ! believe the President viii