The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-10-09

81 AllFSn OUT oil llc country. ms Is the
province of militia, and here do the benefits
which may principally be .,cxp ectcd from it
terminate. For conlinp0 service in large
bodies, it is totally incompetent. A much
greater degree of discipline and subordina-
;ion is required in such services, than is
found in militia. That species Of cool and
phlcgmatick courage, observed among SOL
diers, IS ihsoire measure, the result of habit,
and is inspired by confidence in the Comman-
dcrs.- Take ten thousand men, all iadiyidn-
ally brave, who have not acquired stricser
discipline, than generally prevails among.
militia, and place them iu an, open plain, in
battle array against five thousands regular.
troops, and they probably would be defeated.
For they have ncithcr confidence In them.
selves, nor in the disposition and erolutions
of their officers confusion takes place ;l--
panick stizes some, and is communicated to-
.he rest for paniek as we'll as courage is
communicatiye--an they ultimately take to
flight and are cut 10 pieces" ia.a a.-. ~
Militia soon become weary OF the camps.
and cast a g longing, lingering look" back~to
their families and secular pcrsuits. They
therefore lose that cheerfulncss and alacri,y,
so necessary TO bear fatigue and surmount OBJ
staclcsa Unaccustomed to habits of military
subordina,ion, the spirit OF maliny crecps in
among them, and battles every plan Of oper-
lion. In regular armies, every man is found
AZ his post, calculations can be formed nearly
. 10 mathematical certainty, wha. any given
number can effect, t,---and war isireduccd TO a
system. Buti is far different with militia,
IN large hodiessandc distant service ;---all is
tfere confusion, antlldoebt, and disu,ay ;--
the commander has no confidence in the men,
nor the men in the commander ,---the favor
able season for action passes by ;-defeat dis
couragcs, difficulties dishcarten them ,;---dis-a
affection scizes one wing, and dieeascianoth.y
er,---untif finally they break up, like north
ern swarm, for home. These are socmni
truths, confirmed. by the experience of
all nations, in all ages, and should not,
be disguised at tins interesting crisis.
Why did Cesar with a handful of troops,
oycrrun and subdue, the warlikc nations,
inhabiting Germany and Gaul------nations
accustomed to hardship and fatigue, whose
business was war - possessinga fierce and
invlnciblc spirit, and glorying in death on the
field OF battle Because he fought.with rcsz.-
Mrfroofs i; and they fought with mihhc 60
his was discipline and system ;---sheirs, was
tunult and disorder. If there can any doubt
peinainf onthis point,snye have the solemn and
strcnuoas. assertions Of General Washington,
whose dictates on such subject may hc con
sidered oraealaw If / were ealled.upon to
declare Under oath, (said our beloved sage,) |
militia had been most scrvicca- |
,lc or prejudicial TO the American causc-~I |
Aonld su6scri6esfo the latter" IL required |
~ rho intluencc, cloquenca@nd pcrscver- |
,rce of Washngton, TO induce Congress TO |
,Sandon .tneiSireliancc on militia, and furnish
Il saflcicn, quan,ilirs the materials for re-
,alAr Army. Anil oar cause at one time had |
ieh been !Gstlin consequences of their ne
'ie cting to- ogcompy with Ais reluisltions on
b;a hoaels l.etus suppose, that war is de-
'laretly and AN invasion Of Canada is resolved
lnS lebus suppose ,hatthe English have as.
ssnablccl an sruyof twcntythousunf,t in Que.
,esk sn.l Montreal, and we send thirty thoa-
md militia TO oppose them. Placing cut OF
Iiew, any considerations, arising frcmc the
assistance, which the inhabitants of Canada
may be supposed TO render siis,s OUT thirty
thousand militia would fail of the intended
object ;--if they fought in large bodies, they
wouldbc defeated ;----they ould re-
In CONSERVATION and disgust So
they would throw gloom over our aftairs,
and tho administration that commissioned
;heni, would loose the confidence indcedit
would occasiun the exccra,ion OF community.
1t these truths are unpalatable, 1t is never
heless. necessary they should be deeply i'm
pressed on the minds OF tho cilizens. We |
must apportion the means 20 the effect in.
ended to be produced; and regularity and
system must ever get the better OF confusion i
md disorder, SO long as the principles OF ma !
urc and morals remain ss they do now. 81
There is one consideration which of itself
should induce every American TO prefer, in
lctive war, regular troops, and that is, an an
Of hap,an blo0d .sgonid thereby
'e hrevenfe1. sdEven if militia could compass
he necessary objects, it would require double
he number, and of consequence double the
quantity of blood would be liable to be split
n the attainment OF them. America has
lccd of all her sons She has no sunernume- |