Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-11-25

crate from 0cDte cOheh "osS~
as well as after enlistment, and IN
as all laws should be sradu-
atea upen scale Of public good, he
thought if congress passed this law
as It now stood. it should also pro-
vide for the payment Of all debts
contracted before the period OF en-
listment. He therefore R,oved to
strike out the word. !" before orr"
and the section would then read
9. for any debt contracted after en-
listment.' ;.
Mr. BACON hoped the motion
would net prevail. He was of the
opinion it would defeat the very IN
tention of the session, which was TO
prevent the frauds and collision
pra.tised upon oficers-petty de-
predations which they more dread
ed than facing the enemy. strike
out these words "bsfore or" ana
the clause is the sane as the Ia"
now stands. which secures a soldier
from arrest for any sum less tnaa
90 dollars contracted before enlist
ment. If yeu can exempt from ar
rest for any sum under 20 dollars,
Won NAV for 10 doIlars--he coaId not
see any constitutional provision a
gain.t it.
. On the question being put, the me-
ton for amendment was negatyed'
On the reading ofthe third section
Mr.. STOW rose and said, that the
respect he felt for the house, seem
ed to forsid that he should propose
to them any thing not fully matured;
but. that at the same time the OBJ
iections to enc section Of the bill un-
der consideration, appeared to him
80 many. and so important, that ne
could not refrain from urging them,
Though, as he feared, in somewhat Of
an irregular and desaltory way.
In excuse he said, he had supposed
the present bill. agreeable to the one
reoorted in the senate, and had not
observed the difference till that no
mant.
His objections were to the Cd Sec
ton, and which he should close by
moying thatit be stricken cut.
Ee arranged his objections princi-
pnlly under three heads-tst. its ten
dency to violate the public morals
ed. interference with public econo-
ny and Sd. its violation Of the
spirit Of the constitution Of the U. S.
He remarked that proper instruc-
ton and discipline of youth lay at
the Bottom of all that was valuable
in this life and perhaps in the
life to come. That it was of
great Importance in every govern
ment, but above all that it was in
fnitely so in ours. where the people
were the real sovereigns. and where
the government would be i'll or well
administered according as the youths
were bred ia temperance. virtue and
obedience. The section OF this bill
goes TO cut up those qualities by tie
roots. II says to the uneasy boy in
his teens. you may enlist and throw
off all parenta, authority; you may
enlist ard dcfraud the parent or
master. who has maintained you in
your helpless state, of his just re-
ward. The strongest ties of affec-
ton and gratitude you may. by en-
listing, dissolve in a moment. Nay
mere, we say deliberately and So
lemnly-we will pay this premature
william 500 dollars for his iniquity
For such is the amount Of the boun-
ty and wages Cor syears. Who, sir,
will be most likely to avail himself
of this privilege. or rather of this
curse? Not the sober. faithful mi
nor, who might be trusted in camp
with some degree of safety, but the
tickle. turbulent, restless youth, the
one Of ali others who wants the sa-
lulary restraint Of 4 parent or guar
dian. This is the person whom you
are about to allow to plunge himself
iato all the designations, into all the
seductions, and into all the vices Ola
camp!
But sir. said he, it is inhumane, as
we'll as immoral. Humanity calls
upon you to take care Of and educate
the miserable offspring of the poor.
Who will take them--who will pro-
vide for their infancy, if at the me-
mcnt they are able TO make any re-
muncration for this humane. this ten
der care, you offer them 500 dollars
to turn migrate I?
But sir, not only the public morals
but the public economy require that
you should not enlist minors without
the consent of their parents, guar