Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-03-05

pinion, mast support il by 4 very scandalous ar
| Sumelt: They must contend that an individu
al may lawfully do that for sortlid considers
ton, which it would be illegal for him to do fol
anobcr mduccment Love of country aud love
| OF glory arc both more praseworthy motives OF
| ACTON than love OF money!. He who volunteers
! military services virtually cnlsts. The value
OF the consideration is to be adjusted by him
self II he chooses to barter his militia rights
for the obligations of regular soldier, he
may do 1t, for money, or for nothing; because
militia rights were established for his benefit.
Ii one man may do 1t, SO may whole regi-
ment. It would be no proper objection to
body OF recruits that the sergeant had enroll
led them all at once, and not enlisted them
one after the other.
Am I, then, unfri endly TO the militia! Not at
all. am their advocate. They are the bull
wark of social order; the staff ofdomestic free
dom. They are, also, the elements of which
regular armies composed | wish TO see
them organized and moderately disciplined.
Lord Bathurst, nearly century ago, pronoun
ced the only eulogium that is suitable to the
militia believe with him, that if they were
put on a proper footing, they would answer
all the purposes OF standing army in time of
peace, and be useful auxiliaries in time OF war
But, generally speaking, he present mode of
drawing them out to exercise only serves to fill
The country with nominal captains, ma jors, col
oncls, and generals we my ridicue the Ell
ropcans as much as we will for the lazy vanity
OF their dukes aud their rnarquisses, but it is
glaring truth, that the American people
themselves are too fond ofempty titles.
The hurtful effect of armies improperly di-
rccted, is not peculiar to forces raised by en-
listment. The armies Of modern France were
primarily militia; and this fact proves that the
vice of military treason against free govern
ments, is not only applicable to regular troops,
lt lee
man nature. The same spirit that makes party
at elections, makes party in camps. The chief:
tain who, in civil liie, might. be contented to
work his way up to supreme power through the
various involutions of election and intrigue
would, at the head of body ofvitiated troops,
prefer cutting his way up to Office xith Che
sword. Some would follow his fertanes Srbm the
assurance of reward and Jr,psDotion some
from the hope oft; and atnajorit of an army
might follow the setting current The proven
ton of the evil is not to be sought in denonii-
nations to be given to military corps; since,
whether militia or regulars, they still men
1t can only be found in the sagaciou3 foresight
of the civil authorities, who are competent to
enlist, 10 employ, and to disband the armies Of
the nation 1t IS no answer to this remark TO
saw that these authorities may be hoodwinked
or bribed; because that would go to prove that
the people are incompetent to preserve their
freedom, which would be yielding the question of
freedom altogether. Men cannot enjoy that
which, depending on human means, they are
incompetent TO preserve.
These points being settled; viii next pro-
coed to enquire, whether war with Great
Britain, at this time, would have a proper OBJ
ject? And this will carry me, in the sequel, to
serious consideration of MIR. Secretary Gala
tins scheme OF ways and means, and of tile sub
ject of taxation in general.
February 9th, 1912.