Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-07-22
!; in ali sgrs, drawn from the practice,

IN ali sGrs, cTaHn lroiH TIC I'ractceJ
years.
Under thcte impressions, founded
the experience Of more remote ages
luetricus Washington took the earnS
portunity, after the establishment
Federal government, to recommend Il
establishment Of some means of natic
fence.
This was accordingly cclnrnenced
small military & naval arrangement;
being regulated by the wisdomof COM
was gradually crossing during the
of the federal administrator, witboJJ2
thening the natica with the eSpsnce
large army, nor yet leaving us entirel,
titute of some individuals acquainted
the arts OF war, a small number cf N
was considered necessary for the double
pose Of inducing some men Ct talents II
ter upon military life, and as School
these officers while il might also BE CT
dered as so much towards the national
fence. The peculiar advantage of this
rangementwould appear, by diausing nj
~ skill through a large body of troops, Vi
a sudden case of emergency might req
to be raised and which, without somss
arrangement, would be, for a long time
tie better than an armed mob. The mil
throughout the union, deriving instruoI
from the same general fund, when called
the field, would more rapidly acquire
qualifications OF soldiers. A system d
operated upon, affords the means Of defe
upon the most economical scale; and 4
evadcs The danger to be apprehended I'D
large standing armies nor could suchJ
mics be so eiicacious a defence on accc
of the extension Of cur territory.
Many other things were attributed to 4
Federal admins. ration in regard to the !
ny establishment, with view to stigmat
their MISREPRESENTATION the insultsoiFra,
made provisional army necessary a
mes OF defence, this was proclaimed a.
step towards the. assumption of power
the eovernment.-But as that army v
bo.h raised and when the cause of dams
had subsidized, it was disbanded by the san
party, the i,liberal abuse reflected upon the
must now be considered, by the honest q
zens, only as a deceitf,ll exertion to reno
them from Office.
Itmighs also be objected, by those vi
are warped into the confidence with FRAN
(apd many such are found out amongst G
democratic citizens, from other conntrl,
that the measure was useless because the
men were never called to action. TO Il
there is ready answer. 1t ever was
maxim Of a wise man 70 place himself
such posture of defence, that his enem
would not dare to attack him.-Washins
recommended force to queI the Wests
Instruction, which pat it beyond doa
that they would make no resistance a
thus saved the lives Of our citizens on b
sides. But Jefferson recommended N
diterranean squadron so weak, that after
destruction ofnlany brave Americans, its
found insufficient for the purpose intend
The consequences was, that much lon!
and more expensive equipment was mi
necessary, than would have been suiicl
IN the first instance.
1t should be observed, however, that
neglect of the army arrangement was
SO material as the destruction of the arran
mens for the navy.
Our small naval establishment was co
menced by the building Of few frigat
and the appropriation Of asmall sum arr
silly to the purchase Of such materials
would enable us to enlarge our force, "
the greatest dispatch, at a subsequent peril
when occasion might require it. Tais s
dual increase, though so trivial in e
year az g be itnperceptible to any indivld
(pcrhaps rot exceeding four cent, a he
dlto1gtaous the union would have been,
this zliae, q sch importance as to ena
Us &c command that neutrality to which
are entitled.-if to the force thus gradua
L 4 ~