Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-03-30

/, TO be reduced"-not that he was al all
opposed to a reduction in any other ar.
ucic OF expence. He briiesed hat many
other and impor,ent reductions M ght be
made in the expenses of the government.
The spirit of reform he said, had long
s!epi in this House. He would go as far
as any man in retrenching expences, but
he confessed his Object now was to take
the bull by the horns. He considered
these two objects to be the great dralnes
and sinks OF the public treasure. do
! not (said hey profess better acquaintance
with the public sentiment than others. but
believe, if you we're 10 PROFOUND the
question to every man in the u. States
capable oil Judging, that no. merely nine
teen-tweptieths. bat nine hundred and
ninety hundted;hs of them always
excepting those who draw emoluments
from these establishments, and their i'm.
mediate connexioas whe her in this
House or out Of it---thc good honest yeo-
manry of the United States, who never
saw these things, whose only proof of
their existence is in the money they call
for, would say, in Gods uame let US have
none OF them Ii we are TO have war, we
know that we, the people of the United
States, and not the invalids from The hos.
pitals on the Mississippi, must fight the
battles.
The House agreed to consider the mo
ton of Mr. Randolph; and the question
being stated on its passage in the follow
ing words ~
g Resolved, That the military and
naval establishments ought to be redu-
ced"
Mr. Eppes presumed that the gentleman
from Virginia would not ask Of the House
to decide this question at a moment's
warning. lhave, sad hs, no objection to
refer the resolution 20 a committee Of the
whole House and 20 discuss 1t. If gen.
tlemen on this door who vot d in 1907 for
an increase of the army and nav d estab.
lishmenis, can find in the present posture
OF the | fairs OF this country sufficient
ground 10 reduce these estab ishments, s.
at the present moment, when perhaps
the first gale may bring news which Will
enable us to reduce them wi h honor
if it is the in,ention OF gentleman thus TO
stamp themselves with the charge of FL. |
ly for originally Increasing Them, caonot
coincide with them but if it was origi-
nally proper 10 raise this force, there are
no circumstances which ought at present
to induce Congress 10 reduce it. But al
the same time, sir, am tar from saying
that do not believe that both the army
andffsyy may be reduced before the end
ofNbe present session. x is truc that
TIE dsict in hhe revenue may b. saved
ID fesuelion of the army AID nay !
tylt that is nd reason Why il should be
dpne si,en evSy o,her circumstanc- for
bids it. NT'hefe is a bill before the House
for the increase of du les; il is repoEI led |
III bIaakzzaad the ratio of addition viii be
fixed at the pleasure OF the House. Ii
is reported on the principle which IS fais |
that those who incur a deb: should pay
il. The deficit Of revenue shoJid % san.
oiled by those who incurred the cxpence
which causes it. voted for the amy &
shall no be deferred from voting money
for an Object winch believed necessary
and which / still believe was necessary at
the time it was adopted. AS to the pre-.
sent situation of the army. of the y. S.
am not acquainted with IT, except from
private letters. No man moie than my.
self dcplo.es the situation of that army (;
and from whatever Cause 1t has proceed.
ed. whoever is TO blame, whoever is res
pousib!e for keeping the troops IN swamp,
and sacrificing one half OF them, hope
will he exposed to the public Il may
be proper to observe that gill passed
this 1ou5e yesterday for organising a
force more congeniai 10 the feelings 81
ffeemen, which will perhaps much re-
duce the necessity of keeping miitory
force embodied.
Sir. do not FOR my Part know what
course will be pursued by Congress at the
present session. The gentleman from
Virginia seems disposed to repeal the
non intercourse and ! consider il per-
feclly consistent in him to vote against
i, because he did so, when il was passed
it is perfectly consls ent in him to say
that it is inefficient because h has said
so before and thaS it is perfectly consis-
tent in HIM to reprobate every measure
taken for four or FIVE years pest because
he did at the time reprobste them. Our
situation as to commerce, sir, does not
proceed from our asis, but from the injus-
tice OF the beIigsrents, who by their de-
ctees Ynd orders at single slow reduced
cur expoEs from one hundred * eight 0aIl