Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-02-05


IrDuter, and if is supposed that the reeu-
lar f1~Ges there placed as security aglins,
ANNOYANCE are not sufficient, and that more
are necessary to preserve peace, do not
see any impropriety IN raising an addition
al number; s';1 rs gentlemen from that
part of the union, possessed of better means
of information than myself, seem to imagine
it TO be at least worthy of consideration,
am not anxiaus for postponing it. The no.
norable gentlemaa from Il. Carolina (Mr
Maconl seems to suppose that there is not
more difference of opinion there than there
is in other parts of the United States be-
tween fcteralists and republicans. fancy
. the gentleman must take these terms in Il
sense very different from that which is de-
rived from a most authentic source; for,
from very high authority the nation has
been told that swe are all federdists; we
are all republicans If we are all of one
. character, we are certainly not contcnding
one against the other; the gentleman
words must therefore convey meaning DIFF
ferent from this highly authentic definition
Could any one imagine that if one character
is here applicable to all, though possibly
there may he some slight shade of differ
ence, that there is no more difference of o.
pinion in the territories AS respects the
inhabitants of some of these territories, BIZ
asScd by strong monarchical attachments,
their habits oflife have rendered them liable
70 foreign influence in mu h greater d"gree
than the people within the old u. States
1t is therefore peculiarly necessary that
this part OF the country should have the
assistance of regular troops to repel invasi-
or.
NJ. Withereli. This postponemcnt of bu-
sincs3 inoks too much like getting rid of it
altogether. | t9inS we shall not be in 4
better situation to decide on the necessity
for adopting this bill OH the first day of
March than we are now. Ii it should lie
on the table or be left within our reach,
am not afraid that we shall lay violent hands
on il. We are not generally in such a hur-
~ to get through business that we tear II to
pieces in getting hold OF it. AS this is the
first time the subject has come under notice,
am rs perfectly incapable of deciding on
the bill as when it first came from the Sc
nate. I should wish it to lie on the table,
or that it may be referred to select COM
rniitce
Mr. Rhea. l am as much opposed to
standing army as any gentleman in the
House but shall act as think right at
this time, leaving other gentlemen to do the
same There may be times at which lar
ger military force is necessary than at o.
theirs and the present may be one of those
times. An objection has been made 10 the
bill because the number is too small. do
not know whether shall give my vote for
raising all the men proposed by the hill !;
but part ri them are necessary An objec-
tion has been made to the bill because it
contemp!ates an addition to our peace esta-
blshment. AS / consider that we are now
approaching To n state of war, do not see
how the number proposed in addition TO our
N1to1 cl, ok., 81
II this number be raised, or even further
additional number, the number TO be rails
ed on war establishment would be by so
many diminished 1t rs well known that a
bilfn mas been passed this session, appropri-
ating sum of money for erecting and re-
pairing Qualifications. If erected they must
b. garrisoned and although the number
proposed NAV be considered as now too
large, vet, when we advert to those places
pecessarv TO be garrisoned, they will not
appear TO be too many and when we con-
slider our extended frontier, more may he
necessary. if only to guard against incursi-
cns of the Indians / shall vote against the
postponement If the bill, and hope it will
be now considered the committee now
sail to be about T. report on war estab-
lishment, may accommodate the number Of
men 20 be employed to the number to be
raised by this bill for the peace establish
ment. For another reason I shall vote a.
gainst poslponcment shall take into con-
sideration every thing which comes before
us on TIE principle of national defence, and
make the best of it / can; and shall con-
slider this measure in that light. What may
be he fate ofthe bill for a war establishment,
10 be reported by the committee, do not
know and therefore intending to vote for
every thing however small towards the
great project Of national defence, / shall
vote against a postponemeHt Of thIs
MIR. Rowan. The whole northern boun-
dairy Of Orleans, the Indiana and Michigan
territories, and the St. Louis country. are
all exposed and although the Indians NAV,
IN the prevailing language of the day, look
up To their great father, much alarm has
been excited in that country, special missi-
onaries have been sent to enquire into the
cause Of their tumultuous aggregation, and
II is not now known for what purpose they
arc convened. While that country sin its
present unsettled stute, until its population
is such as to repcl the attacks Of the Indi-
ans, II is prudent TO have small force To
cooperate with the militia. IL is impor-
tant that there should be force establish
ed at Orleans for while 1t is the key 70
the whole western country. Men may talk
Of patriotism ; bur it must be known, that
any power which possesses the mouth ofthe
Mississippi river, will possess the whole
western country The Gmor fafrine will
do very well in theory but in practice il