Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-06-17


supported by religious respect.
When we contt mplate the unreasonable
shores we give TO the sea the vast extent of
territory our National Dominion spreads Itself
over, we are obliged TO confess she error OF 4
reliance on staining army, tor an effective de
fence against the invasion of foreign enemy.
To preserve The forms Of war. with the princi~
Piles and feelings of military discipline. some re-
gular troops are necessary BIZ; Our defence must
remain with the militia. They are, perpetu-
ii guard against internal connections. an irwin.
chile power to shield a country against ITS ex-
terDal enemies The soil must be protected by
lis owners. This description. includes all the
people, because all have an equal right 10 acquire,
aud possess fee simple estates Impressed
with these sentiments. the militia shall have my
undressing attention throughout the >eas
"Peace with all the world. is the great OBJ
ject OF our national councils; yet, it we would
maintain so invaluable a blessing, we must BE-
| prepared to meet every hostile aggression, and
to rspel every Invading iasut. A dependence.
on any other power for assistance. will. finally
! involve NC IN difficulties, from which we c1nnor
| exuicate ourselves, without great expense and
! danger. a treaty of alliance must open q wide
door to the influence Of foreign nations il would
weaken the natural pillars OF our national indie.
| pendence.
"Europ-, as the ustrious Washingtos has
|
! 10 gs, have none, or a ve,y remote relation.
| Hence she must be engaged in frequent consro~
versies, the causes of which essentially for
| eign 10 our concerns " Those cautious senti
ments have been carefully adopted BY the present
| President. From she W sdom hGnneSs u mode,a-
ton OF his uiea u-c3, under the favor Of God
we remain the quiet spectators. of those Wasting
wars which the situation of European powers
4 may have rendered eXpedent, o. necessary a.
mong.t them; bu; by which they are delused in
blood and oppressed with expenses.
"Should a suitable proportion Of our militia
in the United States. be trained 70 proper de
| gree of discipline, AID be property armed. tho
the FIRST column of an invading enemy, might
not lie inS, an,iy Tepe ed, yet the decisive appear
| 4Hce os victory would b. soon exhibited On ia,
| 5t;ndard Of cur uRion. Il is tru-, that the art
Of war, like Other arts is 70 be most perfectly
| Termed from practice and experience but his
| Is q bloody and expensive method OF acqair
| ing knowledge. In Z nation, where il il not
received, rs an established truth, that was is the
natural S a'e OF man; IN Country, where no
| INVASION is 10 be expected. but from the error,
or sshuess not from the interest of foreign
power, the art 81 war may be sufficiently cut
vated AZ a mode, ate expense by Military
; Schools. and cjher;vise in time peace. Each
ate IN the ratio1 has the same interest in the
discipline Of the militia OF the others as IL has
=
M Improperly in contemplating this. as 4 sub
lect of national conccrnment. Whether you,
Gentlemen, will Conceive i, to b. your duly, tc
use your influence with Congress, on an affair
! OF such magnitude, as far, as it shall comport
with the national and state constitutions, OF
! whether, you viii turn your attention to the mi
li,ia of your OWN stGtc alone, 1 chcerfslly sub
NIT to your wisdom Bur this venture 10 al.
tirn ,ha' all neglect delay in this business is
in compatible with the safety os the Country.
No foreign power, Will dare TO invade our
! Country, IN project OF conquest, unless the u
states, like tine ancient republics, BY csnrover
sfes and animosties, anongst Ihemse.ve. sSai
furnish their encaiies with the hopes as wtil a.
the means, of success. To preserve union oil
, interest, and sentiment, so absolutely necessary
to QUE existence, as nation. ieaiouSies are &c
, be lad aside, charity cherished. and ,eciproci
~ Of asec ion. aud civiiity, TO be exhibited Al
tie States must he The country of the citizens oil
/ each; and each State the Country of all. Out
national union, glowing on the pubic opinion
is the best defcnce of our soycE. iguty; and
those, who woud cheek it there, would sever
} the roo; from whence the tree of liberty draws
IN coPioGs streams, lis principal nour;shmcnt."
FROM TEE BALTIMORE AMERICAN.
WHAT was long ago asserted by the
friends of the administration with regart
, 10 Miranda, is now completely verified
On the trial OF Sir Home Popham, Lor;
Melville, one of Tie witnesses, stated a!
follows:
"Soon after came tn the head of tn,
Board of Admiralty, l had occasion L
learn, that The administration preceding
that of which l had formed pare, hat
communication zgitA gen. Miranda reiotiv,
10 some frCjectS he entertained relative q
South Hmerica. l did not immediatel,
give much attention to that subject, be-
cause, not beng then at war with spain
= 1t did not occur to me how, consistent,
with that situation, the government of thii
Country could take any active part In thC
c summer Of 1904, anl particularly towards
b., the Autumn of that year, / had little doub
III my own mind, from the official informa
= ton had occasion TO receive at the Boart
or Admiralty, and from the communicate
= on with the heads of other public depart
: ments, had little doubt that such a wal
D must soon take place. Therefore thought
' It my duty 70 see Sir Evan Nepean, Sir II
, Fopham and others, who, had reason t
= think, were acquainted with the particu
lars which had passed under former adj
miniStrauons, 10 inform my8cLT more ir3He
@afely relative 10 the Uie5vs and hrojcctj
. Of gen miranda / Hkewi8e had more
, fhan one confidential conversation uitl
~ n