Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-01-20

and its commanders, that thc Roman soid;-
cry was as well versed in the use of tho pick
axe and the spade as the hre-lock and SO
essential was it deemed by that wise and MI
httry people that the soldicry should not on
ly be able toperform their military duty, but
be useful as iaboreis, that their military lc-
vies were always made from the country,
from men engaged il, tho employment ofhus-
bandry, in preference to the dissoute and
| prohigate loungers OF the town. He, for
one, had been, for long time, surprised,
| that the government should he paving i'm
mcnse sums ): al, parts of the United States
| Tor labor, whilst the soldiery, which annual
| ly draw millions from our Treasury, are KEEP,
IN 4 $ ate uf pcr!cct idleness, leading to deprS-
witty and disturbances OF manners. He be-
| iieved that regular and wholesome labn,
would not ohly have good effect in prcserv-
ing the hcalih of our soldiers, but il wouid
render the load Of life which they arc ut pre-
sent compelled to bear, less burdensome, ard
prevent them from having recourse to intoxi-
Cation. IT they were to be employed in Dig
| giHg the Presidents housc or the war Office
from under ground, it would not only give
them an appetite for their regular meals, bu,
| some appetite for their existence.
At this moment it is contemplated bv the
government to perform some works of great
! utility. We have already decided that Il
| these men shall be raised, and the public
| service tloas not require them tn be employ
| ed, thc Presidcn. shall not have the power OF
! disban'iinS them; but before the bill can be
| carried into operation, a considerable time
| must elapse; and If there he no war, our
large peace establishment will be entirely on,
OF employ, except that they may shoulder
their muskets OH the south side of some range
ofblildings.
Believing, therefore, that the employment
OF these men would not only be useful in for
wartlinS works of public utility, but tend to
| their own comfort and happiness-if there
can be such thing as a happy mercenarv
slavc--and in some measure. supply that loss
| OF labor which is taken out OF the market by
their enlistment; he wished some measure
10 be adopted for this purpose. He also be-
heved that II the officers had something like
| employment, BY overlooking their men, and
seeing that they performed their work pro-
perry, they would be thereby materially be
| ncfitted; for he could conceive of nothing sn
| injurious to the comfort of a man as leading
the life OF a drone without business. The
greatest geniuseS of the age, spending their
time In this way, would become droncs and
| dead weights on society. He, therefore, NOV
ed the following resolution:
l ~'t"NfpeN, CeSltlCnI Ol Tue u
| nited States be authorised to employ the re-
| Suiar army of the United States, when en-
gagged III actual service, and when in his
judgement the public interest will not there
by be injured, in the construction of roads,
| canals, or other works of public utility"
Mr.. K. wished this resolution to lie on the
| table; but this was objected to, and a debate
arose. In the course of which, the resolution
was amended, by adding the word "forti6-
| cation, before the words, "roads and canals
| and instead of taking question on the rcso-
| lution's lying on the table, it was taken on its
passage, and Regatiyed 102 To 10. The ne
gatives were Messrs. Blocker, Brigham,
Ely, Emott, Fitch, Jackson, Law, Lewis,
Nelson, Pitkin, Potter, Randolph, Stanford,
Wheaton and White
The House went into = committee on the
bill authorizing the President to accept OF the
service OF volunteer corps; but rose with
| out taking any question, and had leave to sit
again.
The Senate informed the House, by mes
sage, that they had recedcd from their disa
greement tn tic amendment which this House
had insisted upon, to the bill for raising a
military force. SO that this bill now wants
only the signature Of the President to become
law.
Adjourned.