Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-02-06

Our arrlJ b. composed D. officers and men
VINO were born and raised ~ TIE love * liberty
--but supposing they should turn taci- arms g.
scainst their country, could gentlemen seriously
apprehend so much danger, when the u. States
had a militia force OF 60G,C3G men with arms IN
their hands Was this the case with the states
of Greece; or w:sh France, when Bonapartc u
surped the government Certainly not. The
body OF the people in Greece were slaves. The
people OF France did not understand what lib
orty was they had, besides, seen blood stream
from the beginning To The end of the revolution
they therefore made no resistance to usurpl-
ton and a change of government they had no
arms i'll their hands the parisiaa mob were on
j. to be gained over to the usurper, and things
were settled.
Mr.. BiBB supported the utility OF volunteers
lie said, they would be composed of the best
blood Of the nation. lie was opposed to drafts
cfmiitia. lie said, amendments might be made
To this bill, which would obviate some OF the
objections of the hon. gentleman from yirgniN
(Nr. Giles.) AS to short e.listments, he had
been informed by many experienced rcvoluti-
onary officers, ti,tt troops dice enlisted for q
short period might easily be re-enlisted lie
had been slrPrized that the gentleman should
Nave reflected so much upon popular opinion
He said, the people were not rs variable ia their
opinions as members o! congress. He express
sod his confidence in tue Secretary of State
and he accounted for the delay in his reply to
Mr.. Fosters letter ofDec. II, bv sdverting TO
the great press of business which he had to
transact. He ccnsured the hon gentleman from
virginia for having introduced the Secretary in
the manner IN which lie had done it. He did
suppose, from the unanmty with which MIR
Gtonroes nomination had been confirmed, that
the gentleman, whatever private chickering's
might hsve taken place, would have refrained
from showing his displcasure towards the Sec.
rotary OF State on public affairs. Mr.. q. said,
although he respected the hon. gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Giles) he would place more con.
fdence IN has fidelity, if he did not 50 frequent
iy shew has personal hostility 20 men 1T whom
he might have been displeased for some person.
~ cause.
Gen. s. SMITH said, the committee of the
senate had proposed To reduce the number of
volunteers, because it would lessen the expen-
ses OF the preparations which were makng-a
consideration which was entitled To GREAT at
tcntion at this time. He did not believe that
5000 volunteers would be engaged by this bill
he hoped 1000 might. He expressed more
confidence in drafted militia than in the propo-
sed volunteers. If he believed that these vol
'nteers would be sent to Canada, where they
would certainlybe cut up, he would not vote for
the biii-5ut he did not believe they would be
sent there. Cen ). recited several facts from
his own history and experience, to prove the
lnutilty of short calistrnents. He said, expo
riencc had taught him that men enlisted for a
short tirus, would hardly ever rc-enlist He
should not hesitate 20 vote for the volunteer-bill
II twerc rot that it contained an appropriation
If it produced no Benefit, it would do no harm.
An adequate regular force had already been
provided for. lie said, the volunteers, who
would have officers not of their own choice,
might serve them IS the French duke was serv-
cd by his volunteers, when he commanded them
to "present-fre % They told him he must
say, Be so good, gentlemen, as to present %
g be so good, gentlemen, az to firc!'' lie said,
he should vote on every measure according to
his Judgment Of its Terits, without iaquiring
whether it came from this or from that qusrter.
On Notion OF Mr.. Bradley, the senate then ad-
journcd.