Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-03-28

nh 80, -, = -. :. F. = e.
he had been able to take, two distinct pro.
positions in single resolution, in order
that the house and the people ofthe United
States might determine whether they would
submit to encounter tie European system
OF loans and taxes, or whether they would
reduce establishments, which 60 say the
best Of them that could be sadly were mere
incumbrance It was he thought, aoou.
nine years ago since he had the honor Of
making similar motion in this house.
which was the precursor OF the abolition Of
the internal taxes. He hoped the motion
he was now about to make would be the
harbinger of protection against the system
introduced into the house yesterday that.
at least, if it was not made the means If
taking of'taxation, it might prove an anti.
dste against it. MIR. r. :hen moved that
the military and naval establishments ought
to be reduced'-not that he was at all op.
posed to reduction in any other article Of
expence. He believed that many other
and important reductions might be made in
the expences Of the government. The spi-
rit of reform, he said, had long slept in
this house. He would 50 as far as any man
in retrenching expenses, but he conf sssd
his object now was to take the bull by the
horns. He believed these two objects to be
the great drains & sinks of public Il easure.
/ DO not (said he) profess better acquain-
lance, with the public sentiment than others,
but believe if you were to PROFOUND the
question TO every man in the United States
capable ofjudging, tha. not merely nine
teen twentleths, but nine hundred and
nlnety:nine hundredlhs of them, always ex.
coping those who draw emoluments from
these establishments, and their immediate
connexions, whether in this house or out
OF 1.-THE good honest yeomanry Of the
United States, who never saw these things,
whose only proof of their existence sin
the money they call fo", would say, in
Gods name let US havs none Of them. If,
we are to have war, we know that We, the
people of the United States, and not thu in
valds from the hospitals on the Mississip-,
pi, IN st fight the battles.
The house agreed to consider the motion
of Mr. Randolph; and the question being
stated on its passage in the following words,
" Resoi0ea, That the military and naval
establishments ought to be reduced"
Mr.. EppEs presumed that the gentle.
man from Virginia would not ask Of the
house to decide this question at moments,
warning. I.have, said he, no objection to
refer the resolution to committee Of the
whole house and to discuss it. IF gentle.
men on this floor who vsted in / BOG for an
increase Of the army and naval establish.
mens', can find in the present posture OF the
affairs OF this country a sufficient ground
TO reduce these establishments, and at the
present moment, when perhaps the first
gale. may bring news which will enable US
TO reduce them with honor-if it is the in
trnsion Of gen,l men thus to stamp them.
selves with the stamp Of folly for originally
increasing them, cannot coincide with
them; but if it was originally proper to
raise this force, there are no circumstances
which ought at present to induce congress
to reduce it. But at the same time, sir, I
am far from saying that l 10 not believe
that both the army and navy may be re.
duced before the end Of the present session.
1t 10 true that the deficit in the revenue may
be saved by reduction Of the army and
navy; but this is no reason why it should
be done when every other circumstance for.
bids it. There, is a bill before the house
for the increase of duties it reported in
blank, and the ratio OF addition will be FIX
ed at the pleasure of the house. It is re.
ported on the principle which is fair tina.
those who incur debt should pay it. The
deficit of revenue should be supplied bv
those who incurred the expenee which eaas.
es it. / voted for the army, and shall not
be deferred from voting money for an Oh
ject which'I believed necessary and which
| still believe was necessary at the time It
was adopted. As to the present situation
Of the army of the u ST. am not acquaint.
ed with it, except from private letters. No +;
man more than myself deplores the s,tua.
ton of that army and from whatever cause !;
it- has proceeded. whoever :. N hI,r,.