Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-01-20

and from a gentleman the most unexpected to
him of all those who represent the western
portion of the United States; because from
the long course of military services honorably
rendered by that gentleman during the reyo-
lutionary war, he must have become we'll ac-s
quainted with the absolute necessity of a due
degree of momentum in military affairs.
Mr. Giles said he did not propose to go IN
to full exposition of our foreign relations
at this time yet the motion furnished most
extensive scope for observation; because If
it should unfortunately succeed, it+would es-
sentially derange, as he conceived, the whole
views of the committee, who had reported
the bill. He would therefore present to the
senate the most prominent and important
considerations, which he presumed had ope-
rated on the committee, and had certainly on
himself, to iIidnce the recommendation of
twenty-five thousand men as the smallest
possible quantum of force demanded by the
crisis; to demonstrate the advantages Of a
force at least to that extent over that which
seemed to be contemplated by the honorable
mover, and still more over that which is said
to consist with the executive project
In Reconsideration of this subject it is
important to turn our attention to the objects
for whicha military force is demanded, to en-
able us the better to apportion the means, to
the objects intended to be effected For this
purpose he begged the most serious attention
of the senate to the presidents message at the
commencement of the session.
6 must now add, observes the president,
that the period is arrived, which clims from
the Legislative guardians ofthe national rights
a system of more ample provisions for uain-
tanning them. Notw hstanding the scrupu-
lous justice, the protracted moderation, and
the multiplied efforts on the part OF the o..
States to substitute for the accommodating dam
gers, TO the peace OF the two countries, All the
mutual advantages otre-estaDllshed friendship
Ind confidence we have seen that the Bril-
fish cabinet perseyereS, not only IN withhold,
ing remedy for other wrongs SO long and so
loudly calling for it; but lii, the eXecR jony
brought home to the threshold 81 our tcHl. To-
~, of measures which, under existing cifcu.n
stances, have the character as wei, as the CT
feet, of Wal or or lawful commerce.
"With this evidence OF hostile intiexibiiity
in trampling on rights which nc independents
nation can rclnquish, congress viii feel tie
duty of putting the United States into an ar.
nor and an attitude demanded by the crisis
and corresponding with the national spirit ald
expectations.
81 recommend accordingly, that adcquat@
provision be made for filling the ranks ana
proionging the enlistments of the regular
troops for an auxiliary force to be engaged
for more limited term; for the acceptance
OF volunteer corps, whose patriotic areor may
cnnrt P~rtiei Pet;on IN urgent aet-~ices, for
detachmeats, as they may be wanted, of o.
ther portions OF the militia, and for sucNa pre-
paraton OF the great body as will proportion
ITS usefulness to its intrinsic capacity
Here we lind, In the first place, the most
solemn and imperious call upon congress IL
the character Of +" the Legislature guardians Of
the national rights, for system of more am
pie provisions for maintaining them The
President th4n very properly and egnphati-
caliy proceeds to tell US why he makes this
solemn call upon the legitimate guardians of
the nation at this time. He tells us in sub
stance, that Notwithstanding the scrupuious
justice, the protracted moderation, and the
multiplied efforts on the prt of the United
States" to induce Great Britain to recede
from her hostile aggressions upon their essen
tial soye; eign rights, SO far from yielding to
these polite and pathetic invitations she had
increased her aggressions, and had adopted
" measures which, under existing circum~
stances, have the character, as we'll as the
effect, of zvar upon our lawful commences"
and these measures are, in their executions
{" brought home to the threshold OF our ter
ritory." Could the President have chosen
language more emphatic to shew the iFaperi
Gus character of the call made upon Congress
to furnish him with adequate physical means
to retrieve the honor and redress the wrongs
Of the nation Lest there might be some pos
sibe mistake on the part of congress, he tells
us explicitly, that the aggressions Of Great
Britain have the character, as zceN as tn ef.