Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-01-23
CONGR r. s s.
MOUSE Of REPREsE.a,T.aTIFIIs
January 10.
DEBATE-C.onsfu,.cd.

Mr.. FISH; did not know in What manner he
gentleman wished to be applied to for witt
drawal C his proposition; but he thought It
would be d;sgraceiul to Congress that such q
| resolution should lie on their table. Aeatirne
when we are about tn raise IN army TO de-
tend our injured country, an attempt is made
| to tarn the whole Into iidicule, by a pro-
position to employ them in making roads and
digging canats! Things which may be pro-
per and reputable in one situation, may be
improper and disreputable in another Vihe-
ther 1t was proper or decorous to call the az
my of the United States EKereenerv SlQyeS,
ne should icave tlicSweridto Judge; but ire
could never give his vote one iay for raising
Al army fer the defence OF the country, and
the next. give countenance to a resolution
which went to degrade that army.
MI. Stanford was notprepared 70 say whe-
ther 1t would be proper to agree to this pro-
position or not; but it was certainly no new
thing. He asked gentlemen to rccollect who
cut the roads from the frontiers of Tennessee
to Natchez-thcy.w were cut by the army un-
der the direction of the late President. How
were the troops employed at Terre au Bouff
be understood they were engaged in ditch
ing and other work. He stated these things
to Shew that the subject is worthy of consi-
Iteration.
MY. Talmadge understood the resolution
to contemplate employing the troops, when
out OF service. in working on roads and canals.
lie would suggestan amendment to the reso-
luton, which would be, TO employ the men
in erecting Notifications also. He was Gre
dolly informed that government had been i'm
the habit of paying a dollar day to laborers
on Notifications, while our troops were idle.
During his military life, he had been employ
eel in I'll necessary labor; and passing re-
solution like the present would shew that this
House expected, that the labor for which
large sums had heretofore been paid, should
be done by the troops
Mr. Randolph accepted of this amend
mClt.
Mr. Wright said, this amendment was un-
necessary, since every one acquainted with
military business, know that this was a part
Of the duty of an army.
The Speaker declared the amendment to
be in order.
Mr.. Quincy said, that Though the first i'm
i,ressions of his mind were hostile to this pro-
position; yet he could not believe it was a
question, especially asmodificdby the amend
ment of the gentleman from Connecticut,
which ought not TO be permitted to lie on the
table, and hereaTter be considered. He re-
gretted that the Yeas and Nays had been
called for. He supposed that the resolution
would, at least, have been suffered to lie on
the table, without objection.
MIR. Grundy said, he voted in favor Of con-
sIecrinS the resolution; because if we were
to refuse to Consider it to-day, the gentleman
might renew it from day to cay. He bel;ev-
ea the time and circumstances .inder which
this motion was brought Onward, had pro-
duced the sensil,ility which had been noticed
lie did not wish 10 hold out to the world that
this military force was raised with any other
view than to cd % war. Would it not be
highly improper, at the moment we are rails
in6 men 20 Setend our country, that we should
be discrGsinga proposition for employing them
in making roads and canals? Can the gen
tleman from Virginia be surprised that this
motion should excite sensibility?
Why was not resolution Of this kind, If
he thought it necessary, brought for ward be-
tore we had prospect OF war? Would The
gentleman have these men set to work with
their pick-aXes and spades, AZ n momeYi
when thecountry isbleeding under the wounds
which she has received from an impIacable
encmy' UnderGifterent circumstances, and
under different modification, he probably
should not have objected to sucn PROPOSE
ton. The modification to which he alluded
was to allow to every man who should be
thus employedadditional pay. But will any
gentleman who has voted for war measures
consent that this proposition shall lie on the
table Z lfso, the people will still believe we
are not in earnest. If the mover Of this
proposition be disposed, in the least, to &C
commodate the House, it would be best at
once to tlke {, vote on the resolution itself
instead OF the motion at present before the
House
MIR. Kent.--Howeyer ] might he dispcs-
cd TO discuse resolution Of this nature at a
ny other time, am decidedly opposed to it
at this moment, either in its original shape
or as amended. Should we be serious in 90
ing to war, our army will have sufficient en-
| ployment.
lie President knows his duty too well not
| to empty those mcnin erecting and repairing
forts. to guard against tue imroads of our -
/ neinieS---ior powerful one we shall have to
Contend with. View, sir, our extensive sea
Coast from the Chesapeake to Mississippi.
! georgia and the CarOlinas must be watched
| and defended--New-OrIea rnust be pro-
tected, and New-York must not be overlook
! ed. Are we to raise those troops with their
| numerouS officers, and encounter a Countless
| exPeGce, to DO whatl Cut roads and make
( bitches. What effect is the gentlcman's re-
solution calculated to have on the enlist
mcnts about to be made Patriotism alone
can raise an army in this country.
! such Is the facility with which n comfort
able subsistence can be obtained in this hap
| iy land BY akricuitural purauits, that men
are to BE- induced b. patriotism, not in The
| pittance that we Shall Offer them, n enlist in
the service Of their country. However cor
rect the motive and object of the gentleman
! may be, his resolution at this critical moment
- wen calculated to bring our measures in
| 10 contempt. Il is well adapted TO convert
tue serious, solemn acts rs this Houye, inc q
mere farce What is proposedp To con