Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-01-02
VIRGINIA ARGUS.
RIG II NJ o N D:
FRIDAY, JANUARY ?, 1907.

TO consider n French invasion, as 4 proba-
BILE event, anxiously wished for by the
French government, and which they are
only prevented from CARRYING into eXecu-
tion by the superiority Of the British navy.
This is far from being mere harmless
speculation, such as the citizens of London
formerly amused themselves with, when
they dreaded the approach OF an earth
quake or a comet; it is capable OF pro-
ducing. under the manage nent ofartful am
ambition men, practical effects of the most
serious kind. Already in conversation and
the public papers, NAV we discover synp-
toms Of an inclination Ia standing armies
and n0vies. If unfortunately, this country
were ruled bv men, who should seek the
agsran1izc nent Of their own power, ~ the
EXPENSE Of public liberty, there is no sen
sati1n incident 70 the public mind, which
they would more readily encourage, than a
fearful apprehension OF foreign danger.
Already, has oar country, under the infiu-
ence of grOluless panic, been betrayed
into measures which experience and cool
reflection have since condemned.
Before the people Of the United States
suffer themselves 70 view with favor cr n
difference, the prospect OF q standing ar
my, il would be well for them TO consider,
wi1at evils they will incur, in order to OPP
pose an insecure defence against an unccr-
tain, imaginary danger. IN order to con-
stitutc, what 10 all substantial purposes, is
standing army, it is not necessary 5hat
TIC law which creates it should explicitly
declare i permanent tits sufficient that 1t
should be created in time Of peace, and that
the occasion which is made the protest for
raising it, should be one of frequent occur
reucc, or constant existence. As the Pre-
sitc1t observes in his message TO Congress,
"Nerc armies to be raised, whenever a
speck Of war is visible in our horizon, ne
SeUer Sh0Uii HdUe been yvitboNt them. Our
resources would have been aXhausted on
d i-crs which have never happened, instead
Of being reserved for Whit s really totakc
place" In fact we should h Ave always had
4 standing military force.
y D one can denv that England has had
standing army FOR a century pest; and yet TO
act Of parliament has ever declared it per-
manent, but il has been continued from
time 20 time, under tac pretcxt of neccs-
sity which it is always in the power OF the
ministry TO create or to feign. SO that the
people Of that country may fairly be said
70 have been cheated into measure, to
which they would not have submitted, had
il been presented in all its naked deformi-
". Gre lt-Britain from its inSular situat-
on. anil geographical severance from the
continent Of Europe, might well have dis
pensed with a standing army, had she wise
ly avoided continental wars and connecti-
oRs; but under tho system which has pre-
vsiiel, on he cont nent Europe, s. the fre-
qucnt collisions of intere9t which have there
prevailed, an exemption from This evil could
not be expected. In that quarter OF the
world, every country is bounded by one or
Fore Jealous and hostile neighbors, with
whom there has existed al almost unremit-
ted state OF hostility.
From this state of things, from the pro-
pensity of all despots for the military life,
and their unboundcd means of indulging it,,
every resource which absolute power over
the persons and property Of their subjects,
could place at their command, has been
exhausted, in order 10 present tormida-
bic military aspect. Every monarch has
been esteemed, in proportion 70 the num-
Der Of troops which he could send into the
field. Under all these circumstances, it
was calculated previously to the French re-
vulution, that the number OF soldiers in Eu-
rope, was 10 the number of other inhabi-
tants, as /, to1TO. Now according To this
calculation, the United States containing a
population of millions, and supposjng that
the people Of the United States were flee
ccd and oppressed like those OF Europe, il
would not be possible to maintain, in time
Of peace, an army Of more than S6,0OOmen.
Moreover tits tobe considered that cor .
derahle proportion of cur numbers consists Of
saves a specie Of popu'a ion which dds to
our weakness instead Of our strength Such
ansruy would necessarily consist ofthe dregs
Z, refuse of the people, ofmen ready for amy
enterprise which popular and ambitious
leader might prompt
We do not conceive it possible that a
standing army which has never been en-
gagged in actual service, can possess any adj
Vants gcs which might not he soon impaired
in q superior degree, 90 troops enlisted on
snv emergency, and actively employed in
opposing am invading foe. But we have no
reason % expect, at "A number Of men
Commensurate with our population, could
BE- enlisted in time Of peace. The SITUATE
Oh ~ or country is such rs % rcmunerate
the labor and industry Of man with 50 libe-
raj Il hand that there exist none Of those
Temptations. which in more populous coun-
tries impel men % adopt the military pro-
fessio1. IL was this circumstance which
defeated the views of The former federal
administration in the formation Of q STAN
ding army Notwithstanding the law omDon-
rrcss authorized the enlistment Of 10000
regulars, not more than 5000 could be ac-
tua'ly enlisted. In that case, tho admi-
rcrs of European policy, were furnished
with re- practical lesson ON the absurdity
or rr.er larrrtIsfsf t,rt fr 10