The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-01-28


of the bill, which was not opposed, and G.,
course prevailed. Mr.. A. SAID, that the mo.
tion was not therefore made without due no
tice, and he would add, without due consi-
Iteration. He had consulted with a number
of the members OF this honorable body, for
whose judgement and opinions he had great
respect. and with whose appreciation, s
he might indeed add, at whose instance, tho
motion had been made. He was, however.
himself ready and willing TO meet all the
responsibility tina. might attach to it; not-
understanding the surprise of the honorable
number as to the quarlcr from which it had
Come.
Mr.. a. said, he should not pretend to re-
ply to all the various observations the gen.
tleman had thought proper to make, very
many of which he considered altogether
irrelevant to the question under considera-
ton, but which might perhaps answer some
other purpose which the honorable member
might have in view.
Mr.. Anderson said, he was as strongly i'm
pressed with the necessity OF Il sufficient
force, for the invasion Of Canada, as the gem
tleman from Virginia could possibly be, and
not a single expression had escaped him to
induce belief, that lie should he unwilling.
to vote a proper and ample force for that
service; but he differed greatly with the
gentleman, as tothe kind of force VIC ought
lnmeClateiy TO employ.
The honorable member appeared toplace
his sole dependence upon regular troops
and yet, if he understood his argument he
was decidedly in favor of making a descent
upon Canada early in the spring. AS t.
the time, Mr.. A. agreed with him but as
TO the means, he certainly differed very
greatly from him. The number of regu-
lars contemplated by the gentleman could
not possibly be raised within the time he
was therefore of opinion, that less mum
Der ought to be Inserted in the bill. 1t
should be recollccted that we had very re-
Gently authorised the regiments in the peace
establishments to be filled they would re-
quire at least 5000 men; add thereto
$4,000 more, the number proposed by the
honorable member and he would ask hi
10 answer candidly, whether he really be-
heved that so great number of regular
troops could be enlisted within the time re-
CURED for the service to be performed.
Mr.. A. said, impressed, as he was, with q
hrm belief, not more than half the number
proposed by the hon. member could be en-
listed within the time they must take the
field, in order to act efficiently against Ca
NADIA, he could not sec the proprety of re-
tanning the whole number contemplated by
the bill.
Mr.. A. said, it must be well known to G.
very gentleman that the invasion of Canada
must necessarily take place before the
breakingup of the ice in the river St. Law
renee; otherwise, twice 5000 would be
required; because large rcinf ,rccments, as
soon as an opportunity presented, would
must certainly be thrown into that country.
MIR. A. said, upon a fair view of the whole
subject, as 1t presented itself to him, he was
decidedly of opinion that the number of re-
gular troops to be raised by that BILL ought
not to exceed 10000 and he had no hesita-
ton in saying, that in his opinion, as efficient
force would be raised under such pro-
vision within the time limited for taking the
field, as would be raised were the present
number in the bill! retained-and in the for
mer case, we should prove to our enemies,
that we were able to raise such number of
regular troops as might be wanted upon q
sudden emergency; but in the latter, we
should not be able to make the same exhi-
bit. What then would be the consequence !
You would give most mortifyirs proof,
that your means were not COMMENSURATE to
your ends; that your plan had been badly
digested, and worse executed. And surely
the gentleman can have no desire 10 present
such a state of things, at the very moment
when all the energies of the naticn seem to
be required. Mr.. a. said, to avoid this ex-
traordinary exhibit, was also one of his OBJ
jects; and this, in his opinion, could be
done by taxing the course he had contem-
plated reduce the number of regulars, and
supply the deficiency by volunteers. This,
he fi,.s,ly believed, was in our power
Combine the two corps take nearly an e.
quail number of each; and the object in
tended could be effected. Mr.. A. said, he
was convinced that it was the mode the Pre-
sidcnt had contemplated; and he entirely
approved it; and if the honorable member
had attended to another fart of the Presi-
dents message where it speaks of volun-
tecrs, he mnsC himself have been convinced
that the President did not mean to make the
descent.upon Canada with the 10000 regu-
lars only; which had been understood as
tho gentleman had stated, To be the auxilia-
r. force referred to III the message. The
object Of the President cannot be better ex-
planned than by referring to the message it.
self. he says" recommend accordingly
that adequate provision be made for fling
the ranks api prolonging the enlistments Of
the regular tronps for an auniiiary force
to be engaged for more Emifcd time foi
the acceptance Of Uoiilntcey curtis, 7yhoSf
f,afrioffc ardor may court a partici,lation In
urgent Services" The manner in which
the President speaks of the volunteers. car
leave no doubt upon the mind Of any one AZ
to the service i'll which they were to be EN-.
pioyed: they are evidently Intended to be
united with the regular troops to perform
argent services, according to the expres,
language OF the message. Mr.. a. would ask
the honorable member, what was the urgen
serUice meant by the President! Most Ger.