Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-01-23

/ o.>"o oi a'shSInS the wrongs so deeply in.
n'0tei upon our country, they are to he CON
siShad 10 work upon the roads-to be asso-
Grated IN employment with criminals, who
ny tic laws OF some of the states, are SEN
fenced by way Of punishment to hard labor
on the roads. The gentleman, from Virginia
speaks OF the iesions of Roma had such a
resolution been adopted by the Roman Sc
nate, 1t would have converted their brave
| isaions into worse than a band of singers.
! &c would have bent their lofty minds, from
she greatest bravery, from the loftiest vr-
tue, to debasemcnt beneath ejaculation.
hope the House will reject the resolution
with that promptness, with that decision,
which becomes Us.
| Mar. Handolph had = wish TO accommodase
the gentleman from Tennessee. lie would
| therefore, Withdraw ms motion for laying the
! proposition on the table, and have the cues
ton on the adoption of the resolution.
| Mr.. Smile observed, that # such a oyopo
sitien would at any time be proner, i. is cx-
| tremc!yimpropcr at this time. The less said
on the subject the better
! Mr.. Key had always considered Il 70 be
| the duty of the soldiery TO build Notifications;
| they had to obey the commands of their of
f1cers in executing work of this kind. The
| gentleman from n. Carolina (Mr. Stanford)
had stated correctly that the soldiers had
been employed in making the road which
he had mentioned; and he believed, at this
time some troops are engaged in cutting a
read through the lands of the Choctaw ma
'ion OF Indians. But he was opposed to the
! resolution as unnecessary; it being already
the duty of soldiers to execute works of this
Kind, under the direction of their officers.
Mr.. Widgery wished to know if the mott
on could not be divided. The working on
fortitcations was certainly part of the du-
ty OF soldiers; but he considered this DOW
er already in the hands of the commander
or every army, and it would not be taken
from him by any vote we may give, so he
| should vote against the resolution. Astowor-
king on roads and canals, he did not expect
the soldiers to be employed in this manner.
| Mr.. Randolph would suppose the case to
happen, to which the attention of the House
was called yesterday, on one of the amend
ments to the bill for raising an additional mi
iitary force, that our affairs are adjusted
with England & the troops are not wanted to
| Fight. You have put it out of the power of
the President to diSband them. Would it
| not, then, be desirable that they should be
employed in some useful work, while they
are receiving their pay from the public?
The gentleman from Maryland Mr. Wriuht)
| had talked about these men being associated
with felons. He did expect accuracy from
that gentleman. Is there any such PROPOSE
ton in chat resnlutions l. is a simple "a
ked proposition, rational and reasonable
one and one which nothing but the pa
mic of the moment could have raised into
the consequence which had been given to
1t. The question is simply this-whether
a large body of troops, engaged in the SER
wee OF the u. States not having employment,
VINO the nation are compelled 20 pay, shall
DC employed on works ofpublic utility And
his friend from North Carolina had refresh
ed his memory in mentioning the fact of the
late president having thus employed q part
OF the soldiery formerly. There is nothing
in the resolution TO damp the ardor of the pa
triotIsm OF any man inclined TO enter the
! service. If It be patriotism which leads
man to enter into the army, he will calcu-
iate upon leaving It as soon as the army shall
| have effected its object; and if at any time.
during his service, he'should not be wanted
| topertorm military duty ne would prefer be-
'ng eynplUycd in honest labor, inthc open,
| cheeftui air, to being shut up in a barraek
Mr.. X. would venture to say, that if at the
| end OF this Congress, or at the commence
| ment OF the next, a resolution to this effect
| were to be laid upon the table, when the
! present war fever had somewhat abated. If
it shall not be wholly removed, nothing of
the sensation which we have now seen would
be produced. He could readily believe that
the common soldiers, already enervated by
idleness and inebriety, would have objections
| TO this proposition but their objections would
be, with him, the highest recommendation
| In no remarks, Mr.. X. said which he had
ever applied to an army, had he any refer
encc to that army to which we owe our indie
PeRdence. lie thought oft with far more re-
vereBee. Let not gentlemen deceive them
selves, the army Of the present day, is not
the Amy OF therevolution- General WiIkin-
son is not Gen. Washington. A more cor
! rrpt military body never existed than the
Pretori II Band
Mr.. Wright enquired Of the Speaker if
| IT were IN order thus 10 abuse the army of
The country9 To-
The Speaker said the gentleman had
! right TO express his cr!nion CT any public es-
| tnSlishmcnt: the great object in debate is 70
respect ourselves. not to exhibit ex,raor6i-
Any heat, but 70 dsctiss every question which
came before tfe house in cool and orderly
manner. and treat each other as gentlemen
ought to be treated
Mr. Randolph rose and asked if another
CrCmwcii was at TIC door-ur, if not at the
door, IN tuil march 20 subvcrt the liberties of
the na.iCn-anA slew NE nation, said he.
Wiich has .Ost its liberty in any other wav ?
\ member ~ not ~ rise and announce the
danger. lest he shou!d hurt TIC feelings of
some gallant and honorable man--because
he may wound tie feelings Of the Pretor 70
the FIRST CcgsrL The opinion which he had
expressed OF our army, was the deliberate
conviction O.! his Judgement, from which he
never should be driven. ithad been made his
duty to examine Tic testimony of n claud Of
Witnesses, many OF thcin members Of that5o-
dy, and his soul sickened with loatl,irc and
disgust at thc examination. lie would not be