The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-02-08

snare In supporting any contest that NIGH
ensue. hut now, It seems, your volunteer
and militia are considered totally incompe
tent toperform any important MILITARY ser
wees from them YOU are required to with
draw your confidence, and place it in regu
lar troops only, OF whom, you must raise al
army sufficiently large to effect all your pur.
poses. Let this doctrine be once establish.
ed, and the people may trcmble for their Ii
bcrtieS when it is too late-wtcn their chain.
arc rlvetted upon them by the machinery o
military power. But the attempt to raise sc
large regular force at this moment, would
| retard, instead of accelerating the compile
ton OF the objects intended for it will be
found impracticable to enlist and organize
such force in time to act before the proper
season is gone, before the ice breaks up in
the spring. You might indeed collect that
portion which consists of officers; but you
could not fill up tie common ranks. If 10,
or $4,000 electives could be brought into
service III time, it would equal his most san
guinc expectations. You would therefore
have, tits believed, a force equally effici-
ent, 1t the proposed amendment prevailed,
as ii the bill passed in its present shape ;
While your expenditures would be thereby
greatly diminished, and no obstacle. whate-
yer presented to the most decisive and Vi
gorous course of proceeding. Ii immediate
operations be intended, he trusted they
were, they must be principally carried on,
III the first instance by volunteers, who could
and ought to be embodied and prepared to
act Oh the shortest notice. For this purpose,
authorize the executive Immediately, to of
ficer, organize for limited time, and put
into motion, such number of volunteers, who
may tender their services, as shall be deem
ed competent 70 the occasion bring to the
scene OF action as many of your present regu-
lar troops as may be spared from other SER
vices and can with the least delay be CON
centrated; and let these, united with your
volunteers, and such of the new troops as
can be raised in time, make the first i'm
PRECISION; seize and occupy the country con
templatcd, and maintain the contest until
the additional regular force, about to be rai-
sed, can be organized and brought into &C
tlal service. These may then support and
IL due time relieve your volunteers hold the
advantages you may have gained-repel any
force that may be brought to oppose them
and extend, if required, your acquisitions
whiie III the mean time, sufficient corps OF
the militia may be called into service and
employed within the limits of the union,
with such OF the regular troops as may be
retained for the purpose, to protect your
frontiers from incursions by the savages, and
your coasts against attacks from foreign
enemy.
This mode of proceeding would enable
you to act before the season shall pass away
in which your operations could be carried
on, with the least probable resistance, an
the greatest prospect of success. The most
Distinguishing feature that could character
Use your proceedings, at this moment, would
be the expedition with which you progress,
both in egislative and executive operations.
But ii you wait, as seems to be contemplated
by the gentleman from Virginia, until %, 200
or SO, 600 men, are by eniistments, raised,
disciplined and put iu readiness for actual
service; the time to act will have passed a
way; the ice will be broken up, and the APP
prodches by water 10 the country intended
as the scene of action, will be thereby open
ed; andyou may have to effect your object,
should it then be practicable, at mere than
double the expense of blood and treasure
that would have been required, had you ia
ken advantage of the proper time.
What evidence have we, said Mr.. Camp
bell. to shcw that so large a regular force
as that proposed by the bill, is necessary p
The object, as avowed by the gentleman, is
to occs:py Canada. From the best Informal
ton ne had been able TO obtain, there are not
more than 6000 regular troops, if there be
that number in the provinCe.-The gentle
man states the number at about 1000, sup
pose the latter to be correct, would not dou-
tie the number of regular troops, following
for accidents of every desCription) be suffi-
Gent to oppose to thoses And would not
your volunteers be able to cope with Cana
dian militia Upon these data, what occa-
sion can there be, at this time, to encrease
your regular force to $4,000 men Have you
no conhdenccfn the knowledge possessed,
and the Option formed on this subject, BIZ
your government! Have they not as ample
means, at least, as we have, to OBTAIN cor
rect information This 10 one it is presum-
ed, will deny; and the hon. gentleman told
you, they are of opinion, 10000 additional
troops making the whole regular force
10000, would be Sufficient for the present
occasion. To those, the government, no
doubt, intended to add as many corps of vo-
lupteers, properly oficcreA aud organized
for the purpose, as. circumstances should
require and such united tOrce, wcild GER
tainly De competent, according to the pre-
sent state Of things, 70 subdue any opposition
t9 be expected, and to oGcupy any territory
in Your neghbornood that comes within The
avowed objects of your present preparations.
hut. Mr.. &. said he was N'ing to 60 further
Ito increase the regular, force to rear.y
~ 900 men and make ample provision for
bringing into actual service, such corps OF
volunteers, Offered by the \eXecu'ive, and
such number Of the militia, ae shall be con-
sidered necessary. Shou|d t'liT motion not
prevail, Ire would, Notwithstanding, vo:e foI
'the bill, and for any other measures propos-
ed, tlatcould in any degree c&ntribrte t.
ntaiutai, thp ri rhts and oh AZ. cfAt Of tic M.