Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-08-30

5000. IF a war with G.. Britain should
take place. we must have an army OF at
least $4,000. Allowing such an army to
cost at the rate which was paid in 1909,
the expense for a single year will be
f7.725,e00 deilars. A war in all proba-
biiity must last, at least, fire years. The
expense Of such war, reckoning at the
same rate, will be EIGHTY-EI EIGHT MIL
LIONS, SIX HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE
THOUSAND DOLLARS. In case OF war,
also. VIC should find it necessary to in
crease our navy little. Three or four
f'igates and 40 half-rctten gun boats,
will not answer much purpose. In the
year 1900, the navy. miserable as it was
for size, and out of employment, cost
more than 2,i27 900 dollars. Estimat-
ing the probable increase of expenses,
when actually engaged in hostiiities, we
may fairly put it at least. six millions a
year making thirty millions for the FIVE
years war. The two estimates added to-
gether, make rising Of ONE HUNDRED AND
EIGHTEEN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. Where
will bankrupt administration find ways
aud means to raise this sum?
Not only soldiers, but officers are ne
cessary to carry on war. Where are
the officers to take the command !? Are
we again 10 see Van Bladder commander
in chief? Let the administration, IL they
choose, With or without law, feed and
panlper this bloated hero out Of the pub
lie treasury, but the country will never pa
tienhy see their independence placed at
his disposal again. SWcetmeats and Sc
CARS We can put up with but we cannot
afford to pay for his commission. Mill
tary stores, artillery. arms, ammunition,
provisions. &c. &c. all are requisites for
war. Where are they to be had?
Public opinion is a matter Of some i'm
portance, in case of a war. In the war
Of independence. a spirit of liberty, and
OF right, animated all classes Of people.
and enthusiasm and u sense OF oppression
and injustice surrounded all obstacles.
How will the public feeling probably
stand, in case Ola war withGreat Britain?
In New-Ham3sllire, Massachusetts. New
York, New-Jersey. aud Maryland, the
parties will be nearly balanced. In some
Of the states, there will be a strong major
itv, whose sentiments will be against the
necessity or justice of it, and in every
state a great portion Of the inhabitants
will be opposed to it, at least, on the
ground Of expediency. A war undertaken
under such circumstances would drag hea-
Willy. Soldiers would not be found very
ready to enlist. The promptitule of the
Virginia militia, and the volunteers Of
the District Of Columbia. in case of actuGt
serrice and zOinter's campaign, would
sIacken considerably; no great reliance
could be placed upon the emisrants from
Europe who iniest our country the sons
Of our farmers and mechanics would not
readily enter the service; and no enthu-
siasm would attend the conflict. How
would the government collect an army?
Would they adopt the g Code Of Conscrip-
ton" and d,,ire oar young men chained IN
pairs to the field? That scheme may do
in the region of slavery, but can never
succeed among free 7chite men.
This viii 10 for the present. When
these difficulties are removed, we will en-
deayor to find more work for those per-.
sons who believe that the administration
are intending to excite war. Repertory.
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