Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-03-18
Gonlfrg89.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIYKS.
DEBATE on the 6iAfor The Classification Of
the Militia oCfhe United States.
TuESD6F Feb 10.

4
hope gen lemcn will think with me, and
not impute impure motives--the fact is, /
have Two sons that Will soon be twenty-one,
and | love them as much as any man can,
and perhaps can say what few Can. The
first property gave each of them was Il
gun and lave enjOined IT on them in my
will, that 1t was given them TO defend that
country which their father had assisted in
delivering from bondage. My sons gun
shall bear in his mind that he must fight
when his country calls for his services; it
| is his fortune.
| ] hope gentlemen viii take p serious view
! of the subject---that every man will lay 5
Shredder To the wheel and rise up TO the
east ana west, south and north, to prepare
for the protection Of his domicile. Gentle
men have said s!"ys this is n new project,
that 1t will create CONFUSION now, when the
service of our militia is most venting. j.
is because of the crisis that have AZ this
moment brought the matter forward The
present system is acknowledged TO be de
fective; we wish TO make il rs efficient as
possible---that our countrymen may know
who must march 1T a moments warning
In Virginia, during the last war, young
men, merchants, lawyers and doctors went
out to battle, staid two or three weeks, took
SICK and went home. AS long as every
door was open, the hand of every man gil
ing TO them friendship and carressed by e.
very woman, they stood their ground but
when deper lence was placed OH them for
service, they were off. I reco!lect cir
cumstance OF some new militia lust come
into camp on the eve of battle The time
OF battle soon came these men were placed
IN front bus no sooner did the red.coats, AS
they called the English, come within 100
Yards than they threw down their arms and
ran as Though their lives depended altoge-
ther on their heels for preservation. When
they were asked where are you going, boys
Oid you ever see the ike, said they, we can
not stand them When the red-coats come
now, II will he Just the same substitutes
towards the close of the war became gnoA
soldiers. know thar substitutes pre- obiec-
red to bv some Gentlemen they wish every
nan TO stand in his own nlace, all 20 stand
mn the same footing. In my opinion this
would he bad policy, because all men have
not the same gifts. Some cannon feht from
riligions principles--otners cannot fieht for
me want of nerve. The hill has m de pro-
vision for such, If they cannot fght, let them
Sirnish substitute. We know al men are
NOT gifted alike; the strength of some lies
III one wav, and in others another Samp-
sons lay IN his hair. Now on this floor
some gentlemen of strong minds who think
! a great deal, never talk while some who
talk incessantlv, appear never 10 think at
all Il certainly would be a great ecnno-
missing Of public time and menev, for some
20 think more and talk less 7 am not in
the habit Of public speaking. not being me-
chanically bred to II; nevertheless offer
my mite in support of the proposed system
1t rs great project; and although not fin
ent of speech, yet nm willing 10 he tested
~ my votes and actions, from the year
| l776' the time commenced NV political
career to the present day, and DEFY any
man To say that ] ever gave other than a
| republican vote, or did anv other than q
republican act while acting as public
nan. ] know the word republican IS with
some hackcued word but 7 mean tho
true elective principles of republican gov
-rnmenf
went young intothe army myself. was
never nGt Of it, after ! entered IL, until the
Iconclu'On ~ the war. ! have been ,hirtv-
two years in public life ] mention this to
shew that I avn entitled 90 Claim n know
ledge Of mankind.
You may exercise your militia from the
lace Of rs Till they arrive AT IS. and after
the whole q years mastering they will NOT
know the rnanual Ny object is not 10 call
out any man till he is wanted and when
they are wanted, 20 call them out. and in one
fortnight they will he ready for service, and
IN month may take the field, ALREADY sol
ldiers--cornparatively speaking There
VIII attend this system no expense in time
of peace have seen number of projects
tor taking legiOns into camp for six months
at time The project will not do When
lyon take your men 20 the field, let Them
think OF nothing but fighting--not even oil
women These half way soldiers, half re.
Igulars, and half militia; would be- Of No &C.
lcount. They would be a heteroseneou,
mass, III for neither the one thing nor the
lother What do we hear NJ the sailors al
80 ton, who cannot ~ 20 seq, IN account oi
The embargo The hneer ~ Heaven poin.
ted 20 nm embargo. Here Mr. Clay poin.
{ Itfd 10 1le Potomac river, which was fro.
zen overl Tits mere prctonce. They are
! NOV, we understand, assembling about the
/ itoWn demanding what they are to do: We
know they are set on by nrtfi and design.
ing mrn. " these sdlors ave So riotous
pnat would a standing army be when dis.
banded ON account Of peace, IL set on by
artiol mem They would tif able TO do il,
loverturn the government.
hope the representations which have
made may be- fIken notice of Ly cvcrt zen.
iueman IN thc Uousc 10 does nof seem nc
icordant with military regulations 90 Place
lthc tHther nd son in the ranks together
the sor feels az ave cihis father. Is undo
nH .aa.aa d q.