Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-01-23
Ia dollars per annnm.1

| extensive scope for observation, because fit
should unfortunately succeed, it wo ud es-
sentialiy derange. as he conceived, the whole
views OF the committee, who had reported,
, the bill. He would therefore present 10 the
senate, the most prominent and important
considerations, which he presumed had ope-
| rated on the committee, and had certainly
OH himself, 20 induce the recommendation OF
! twenty five thousand men, as the smallest
possible quancum of force demanded by tile
crisis; to demonstrate the advantages OF u
iorcc at least 70 that extent, over that which
| seemed t'sbS conteIu lated by the honorable
mover, and still more over that which - said
to consist with the executive project.
IN the consideration of this subject, it is
important 10 turn our attention to the objects
Tor which Il military force is demanded, 20 c.
nabie ns the better to apportion the means :o
the objects intended To be effected For III ~
parpoSe he logged the most serious attention,
| OF the Senate to the Presidents message at
| the commencement of the session.
must now add, observes the President,
| that the period is arrived, which claims from
the legislative guardians of the national rights
system OF more ample provisions for main
| tanning them. Notwithstanding the scrupu-
lous justice, the protracted moderation, and
The multiplied efforts on the part of the u. S.
10 substitute for the accommodating dancers to
the peace OF the two countries. al the mutu-
al advantages of re-establ;shed friendship Sc
confidence; we haze seen that the British ca
binet perse"eses, not only in Withholding a
4 remedy for other wrongs So long and SO
loudly calling FOR ii /; but in the execution.
, brought home to the threshold Of cur terri
| tory, OF measures which, under exsinp cir.
eunistances, have the character. as well as
the effect, Of war on our lawful commerce.
with this evidence Of hostile inflexibility
in tramPing on rights which no independent
naticn can relinqush, congress will feel the
duty OF putting the u. States into an armour,
and an attitude demanded BY the crisis, and
CORRESPONDING with the national split and
cxpt citations.
- recommend accordingly, tha, AIDE.
quate provision be made for nliing the ranks
and proIonging the enlistmcnts of the regular
troops; Tor an auxiliary force TO be engaged
10" more limited term for the acceptance
OF volunteer corps, whose patriotic arduur
may court participation in urgent seryi-
ces; for eetachments, IS they may be want
ed, OF ether portions Of the miitia, and for
such preparation of tile great body as viii
proportion its usefulness 10 its intrinsic csp.-
city"
Here Gntl, in the first l-,ce, INC acEc
solemn and imperious cali upon Congress in
the character of " Me Legislature guqr9ia,.s
OF the national rights, tor 4 system Of more
, ample provisions for maintaining them
he President then very properly and en-
phaticaiiy proceeds to tell us shy he makes
this solemn call upon the legislative suarai-
ans of the nation at this time ifc tells lis ia
substance, that notwithstanding % The scru-
puioss Justice, the protracted moderation,
and the multiplied efforts on the part of the
United States, to induce Great Britain to re-
cede from her hostile aggressiors upon their
al
ing to these polite and pathetic invitations,
she had increased her aggressions, and had
adopted measures, which, under existing
circumstances, have the character, as well as
the eject, OF warupon ourlawfai commerce"
and that these measures are, in their eXeCuti-
on, drought home TO the threshold of our
territory" Could the President have cho-
sen language more emphatic to shew the i'm
perious character Of the call made upon con-
Sress to furnish him with adequate physical
means to retrieve the honor and redress the
wrongs OF the nation? Lest there might be
some possiblemistakeo the part of congress,
he tells us explicitly that the aggressions of
Great Britain have the character 10 qveK as
tie e6cct II zcar upon cur lawful commerce,
and that this 7var is brousht lone 10 tie
MreShoid Of orr territory.
But, sir, the President does not stop here.
He tells us that notwithstanding our protracted
moderation, &c. &c. Great Britain with hostile
! inHeX.bility, perseyercs in trampling on essen
| tial sovereign rights rights al least, which
| no independent nation can relincuish" Here
| then, it is evident, the President conceyes.
! that our independence, as nation, is brought
| into question, and put at hazard. Can any sub
| Ject present more awful and irnper;ous call
upon congress to exert and apply the whole en-
| ergics OF the natiOn, than question of INDIE
| PENDENcE THE plain English Of all this
Loon YNNf ar ~rN. l..
the inefficient measures, which have been adopt
ed IN relation TO the beligerents for three wears
| past, had not answered the expectations of their
] projectors but instead Of the eypected recess
! sion, had produced, on the part oil g. Britain at
least in'ieNible hostility This was q very MI
| tura result, and ono which Nc had always anti
| cipated, rs was well known TO this honorable
| body But the administration having learnt
| wisdom by these feeble experiments, had INV
| determined TO change its course, and for the
| purpose OF rendering this hostility more ncXi-
| bic, had at length resolved instead OF CONNER
! cial restrictions, 20 try the effect of physical
! force. An adequate force is therefore demand
| ed by the executive; and the adequacy Of that
| force IS very properly r. fcrred to congress,
where thc responsibility is placed By the consul
/ tution where It ought 20 rest and for one, &c
! was willing 10 take his full share oft Ru! sir,
| tic President goes on further. Afcr des,gnat-
| ing the objects, he points out the staadard for
/ asccrtainmg tie adequacy Of the force demand
| ed for their chcctuaton. In ths Official rcspon-
! sible mc-sage, he tells us that "congrsss viii
feel the Duty Of putting the g. States into an ar
| inOur, and m attitude demanded by The crisis,
and corresponding viii, the national spirit and
| expectations" The standard here pointed out
Cor calculating the qusntum Of lo.cc to be sup
! plicd Is " The Crisis" which had been previ-
ously described in the most solemn and iGpo-
/ sing terms, and " The rrtiorc1 sbirit and esA
| Precautions" Whether the committee hsd re-