Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-01-20

country To step forward in defence OF our
r'ghts, he thought such 4 motion very impro-
per, and he hoped Congress would not treat
1t with so much respect as to suffer it to lie
upon tho table Tor moment The gentleman
had frequently told the House ne believed
the army was composed of the worst mate-
rails, and he now appears to wish to bring
The service into disgrace. lie hoped the pro-
position would be disposed Of without much
debate.
Mr.. Randolph never dream. Of the great
sensibility which he appcard to have excited
IN the House by this motion. He had cx-
Changed conversation with some of the best
and wisest men in the community ON this
subject, who had agreed with him in the o.
pini'n as to the propriety of thus EMPLOYING
the army AMI nothing bat the pressure of u
ther business and the re notencss of cur stu.
ation from any theatre Of public WORKS, had
prevented him from bringing forward the
proposition lonSago.
Though he was a native Of country the
Chief part of the labor of which is performed
by slaves, yet he had learnt to-day, for the
tirst time, that honest labor was disgraceful
that the honor of n soldier Cannot survive
1t. He was sorry, if such were the case, to
lind there is indeed n much wider distinction
IL
agined. Men put on Il livery-thc livery If
the king-are engaged in performing mental
Offices TOR their officers, who expose Their
naked backs to the mcrciless executioner. are
deprived OF free agency--5ut they are above
honest l;tbor He wished we could avail our
selves, it it were only now and then, tn lock
OH the practices OF other nations that we
would not believe that we are the most ell
lightcned people in the world. Who were
the constructors of the great military high
ways which perva0eI every country when
reduced to the form OF Roman province ,
That wise people never deemed any coun-
try subdued, until great military high roads
were made therein. And by whom were
they constructeil They were constructed
by the Roman legion. If. sir, you go down
even to this Navv-Yartl, You will be astonish-
ed to hear, that the Palace there erected
cost only somewhere about n thousand dol
lars, the work CT it being chiefly done by the
marines.
But it seems, that in Maryland, it is cri-
mlnal punishment, and therefore disgraceful,
to work on the roads, and on that account the
army OF the U. States must not be put to any
such employment. IN Virginia, the crimi-
nails i'll our Penisentiary are employed in
making shoes, nails, clothes, so that if the
.
have no shoemaker, nailor or tailor enlisted
into our army, lest, forsooth, he should con-
taminate the honor Of the corps.
Shall ask, in what manner the DELAY of
public business is produced by laying on your
table resolution authorizing the President,
not to take the army from their military DUTY,
but when they are not employed in the pub
lie service, and when in his estimation, the
public interest will not thereby he injured to
employ them in public works of utility,
There was TO relation between this resoluti-
On and the business which was before the
House yesterday. For three years this sub
Ject had been floating in his mind, and moth
ing was further from his expectation than
that he was about To excite the feelings os A.
ny gentleman, much less that he was about
to incur charge OF delaying the public bust
ness.
The gentleman from South Carolina (Mr.
Iaihoun) had stated, that it was not to be
wondered at that gentlemen opposed to the
preparations TOW making for war, should at
tempt to delay the public business He did
not wish to produce any delay in the mea-
sures which the House had determined up
on. In extreme cases, he might be induc-
ed to steps of this kind but, in case like
this, he should not do it..
He did not require to be informed by the
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Wright) of
the polite attention with which the House had
favored hin, while he was discussing sub
Ject OF moInentous concern to the nation But
on whom is the delay of the public business
fairly chargeablel lie appealed to his wor-
thy friend from Georgia, if it were no.
chargeable on his friends for that gentleman
had said some days ago "that he would wait
with pleasure to hear any thing which could
be urged in opposition; but he was wearied
out with debate from the PROGRESSED, and ne
had no doubt the real friends OF the measures
under discussion"
With the aid OF the previous question, and
majority. of so in favor Of war measures if
there be any ability for public business, let
us not hear of delay from laying a simple &c
solution on the table, and debate proceeding,
not from the party Offering it, but from those
who are not willing it should lie on the table
from which If it wcr, taken, it would not be
by his hand, except it were asked with more
courtesy and urbanity than had been sicwn
by the gentleman who suggested this course.
(De6cte to be CoHfiHucdJ