Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1808-04-14
From the Umted States Gazette.

mos. wholly on the army bill. proposes
to raise 6579 men, which, with our pre-
Gen, peace establishment, will increase tbs
regular force Of the u. S. to ten ,housand
men, exclusive of the navy and the ma.
Fines., The discussion has been very ex.
tensive ana taken vide range, involving
the absolute and relative situation OF the
country, and the state and views OF the
two great belligerent powers of Europe.
The advocates of the army contend that
Sin The present spaugs and co:isulsed slru.
alton of the world, some additional mill
tary force is requisite, asa measure 0. pre-
caution; that our long line Of sea coast,
and our extensive frontier wans protection;
and our Notifications and military posts
20 be garrisoned; that the British may 40
wade US from the north lhe French aud
Spanish from she south; aad the indians
from the west. A Neutrality-suspicious.
may steal out and attack our cities, or land
force,in Florida or Louisiana. The Bri-
tish may attack as, as they did The Danes
at Copenhagen and the Turks al Constan-
tinople. ~.
The opponents IF the bill could peeceive
no occasion for this military force. twas
incredible1has this country would be nsad>
ed; and If so, the militia were compe
tent defence. 1t was ridiculous 10 suppose
that this force if distributed on our coast
and frontiers would be OF any real service.
The quota assigned to each poin, would be
100 small for any use. They could not pro-
sect us, against invasion or naval attack
en- our eMies. As our treasury was almost
drained, anc our commerce nearly de.
ssroyed, the expsnce OF this force was much
insisted upon. II was also con'ended that
the embargo had been laid as substitute
for war, aud that the war system and the
embargo system were incompatible. Mr..
Quincy snd some Others we're in favor of
the bill. because they considered some
addition TO our peace establishment neces
saTy and though they conceived the add.
noo proposed somewhat TOO large, they
chose TO vote for it, in preference to hav.
ing 90 increase OF our regular force. The
me nbers who 10 '98 vo;sd against an ar.
my, ADD who DOW have wneelrc about and
vote for what they then SO loudly eon,
demnsd, fel, quite sore at the well found
ed charge of inconsistency which was re-
,era,ed ia ,heir ears by Mr.. Stanford.
This gentleman had very iudnstrously
collected large cumber Of documents.
journals of the house, reports of debsres,
&C. showing the language of Gallatin, JET.
ferson, and o.Ee, republican standards, as
be called them, against standing armies.
The members who formerly were voclfe.
rous against armies, and are now convinc-
ed of their error, are, among others,
Messrs. Dawson, Macon, Blount, Clops
ton, Smile and Nicholas, To refafe the
argumen. urged against the federal admit
Dis,ration, as TO the army OF '9S We may
refer to the present and late debates of
eongress, and the requisi,ion of The presl'
dsnf. Iodeed, some Of the good demo.
'crsts go SO far as to say they can perceive
no difference. ic the two administrations.
Armies, pavies, patronage, the repunc'a-
ton of specific appropriations. appear, say
they, as much encouraged aud patronlzsd
as ever.
Il is difficult to tell when the question
will be taken. While Mr.. SoothaId was
sneakipg 10 day observed no less than
eight members watching very anxlously to
see him sit down, ,hs, they mighr have
chanes TO speak. Mr.. Sloan being very
active first gained the floor, remarking that
he had +4rrc trrs atremptedtoTscs
chance to speak. As be saw the house
TO be quite Impatient. heeshould not say
much r. believed there was not quo
rom present, but i, wassnot b duty 20 take
care of that business : apdc he should not
speak lors for fear The fen who remained
would go away, end leave him and the
speaker alone. Mr. Sloan opposed the
bill and conceived thar there was not so