Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-12-03

SOM fevery gentleman inthis house.
Personal indispotition has prevented
nv attendance in this House, and
did not hear Of this bill unit! last
night. 1t was then mentioned TO ms
by enc who is fast in the old filth,
and has often brought the house 10
recollection Of good old principles
and did hope that they would this
day have received more strenuous aid
| crom that quarter than they have.
| I hope the house will refuse to pass
| the bill, if it were only TO shew that
there is some one act Of the admi.
nistration of 1799-1S00, which the
present possessors Of power have not
copied from their statute book
There remains only thisand the eis;t
per cent. stock loan--and We are saw.
ed from the latter only by the infrac-
tons of That law, which we imperi-
ously refaed at the last seeion to re-
peal. 1t is the infractions of this
law which has poured money into
| our Golfers and saved us from the
| disgrace Of an eight per cent. loan.
,Ehere is another part of this bill
which strikes me as being iDexpsdi-
ent but as | io not wish to blend
considerations Of expediency with
those of great and vital principles. I
shall wave any thing GA that head.
lam of opinion, when called into
actual service Of the United States,
the snilit:a onsht to receive better
pay ti'91 tnaH allowed by law ; be-
cause mauy Them are in such si-
tu&tion tiat iaeir families are de-
pendant Oh their personal services for
subsistence-and it is not possible
that, at the present rate of pay, any
thing can be spared by the soldier for
his family at home. In one respect
l think my worthy friend from N.
Carolina has induiged rather in Gu.
rious specuIations than sound prac-
tee. when he would refuse to avail
himself Of the services of man be-
cause he has 10 participation in the
government. Would he also, dis
franchise those who mad passed the
period Of liability to militia duty? 1
knoy he weald not. But iftllere be
truth in his position, that no man
should be called to perform military
duty who has no agency in the ga
verument. it would follow that no
man should have an agency in 60
yernment who is moi called on by it
topersorm military duty.
Whether, as respects the regular
army, enIistments are TO be procur-
I'd mere readily by an increase of pay
orhonnty. 1 leave 10 those mare skill
les' in military affairs than myseifto
determine. Bu, il strikes me-, that
il IS net by an increase Of pay that
you Will obtain any addition TO the
number Of recruits. Those who en-
list IN the array 10 it not with view
to the pay. bu! to the bounty. Take
away that. and venture 10 say you
may treble the pay and you will
hardly Get meu to enlist. lam con.
fl,crt you would not if you doubled
the pay. How far it is politi. in i
government Ike that Of the U. States
10 cherish military establishments by
hisI! bounties. willproperIy he a sub
,jeet Of discussion when the bill is re-
committed TO a committee of tho
whole House, as | trust it will be:
but it always has appeared to me
that il sou wish to perpetuate any es-
Enlistment, to ,'ivet it on a nation.
you ought to make itas respcr1a-
bile" and lucrative as possible. What
is the reason that any particular
class or profession in society has held
its ground against all opposition? It
has been the " responsibility" ofthe
calling, the IHeaaliyoness If it. II
you coald never set rid OIL the army
when it was neither lucrative or res
pcctahie, Go you expect ever to get
rid Oft when il is more lucrative 6.
respectable--when the whole youth
ofthe country is emboGied in it, ard
there is scarcely a family in the coun-
try that has not an interest in keep
ing il up? My eyes were caught last
night by paragraph in a uewspa-
PER announcing the trial of desert
er. II was there stated, that the
practice bad become 50 common as -
entangcr Tie safety Of lie nation.
viii that practice be diminished by
an increase Of the. pay Of the SEE
tiers? The man who was san:'c MT
cd to death was che who !s:G rc;..'ai-
eddy enlisted :or tic FurInse -: o.
bly, ofobtain;ng TIE bounty. " len,
-, tbn pn,nno YSon,,II.,. ~ ~ j.,o