Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-12-09

which forms attribute of ma onal soyereientv s
submitted to the discretion of Congress without any Ii
mitaticD Whatever That no limitation necessary
Thought the proceedings of Congress the last three
years fully demonstrated.
He had doubt that at the time of giving this unli
mtee power To Csfgress, to declare &C. the fra
mers OF the conttosR had their attention drawn TO
the colonies bordering the extremity of the u. S.
and wisely concluded not impose any restraints upon
.he government against the occupation of tn IN, when
ever such proceeding should become advisable in the
common progression of human affairs What reason
cotic be asgned fnr limiting restraining the pow
ers OF the u States in asserting and airt aiming all
their nights In the comm intercourse with other ma
ticos, &c In this clause surely no trace of the spirit
OF these timid spectres and visions, &C. is cernabc
he next clause gives in terms equally unlimited the
power to raise and support armies there is no lmta
ton, nor direction to Congress, the species or
mount Of armies be raised. The whole subject is left
TO the discretion of Congress--to raise ant SUPPORT
such armies as BE- required by the national exgen
cies of which Congress is Judge Regular armies
too, are clearly contemplated; because a limitation of
appropriation TOR supporting armies Immediately fol-
The limitation is, that no approximation of money to
that use, shall be for longer term than two wears
This Limitation evidently had reference to the term for
which the members of the House Of Representatives
was made eligible; enable that branch alone to check
any possible sposition the other branches to sup
port armies tor longer PERIOD than might be deemed
necessary by the nation at large whose wishes in that
respect could always be manifested in he choice of the
members of the House of Representatives But this Ii
mtaton is not SO strict that which exists in Great
Britain according fundamental laws Ii is neces,
sary there, that the appropriation for the support
OF tue standing army should be annual; aud the
practice here, has been invariably the same.-
he limitation OF The appropriation for the support of
armies IN the constitution therefore, merely intend
ed as remedy in extreme case, and was not il
tended to debitae nor counteract the ordinary opera
items or the government The next Clause in the Con
sttnuon Tor placing the physical force of the nation in
the hands OF The government, gvesto congress the DO
err to provide for organizing. arnng and dscipiinHg
the militia, &c &C.. and to provide for calling forth
the militia to execute the laws of the union suppress
nsurrectons, and repel invasions' These are the on
~ Two species CT force contemplated by the constitution
not word is there said about an imaginary volunteer
force compounded of regulars and itia whilst there
fore he would deny but that congress may if it cam
constitutonaly raise volunteer force yet he would de-
N.Y. that such force Congenial TO the spirit Of
the constitutions than regular force which there au>
tuorised S res words, II is not = i.ttle remarkable
too, that this new fashioned force is only mel
toned IN the constitution but thatit never was relied ON
forming any part Of the actual system of defence du>
ring the whole revolutionary war-w.s never recom-
mended by general Washington to congress even for
the purposes Of defence, although it is to form part
OF system TOR offence do you find the smallest
trace o such force during the whole of Gen WASH
ngtons administration. During the winter of l777 and
77S, whilst the American army lay Valley Forge
committee of congress attended Gen. Washington in
his camp. principally for the purpose of devisin sys
TEN OF Defence and recruiting the army for Tie next
campaign every possible consideration aiiSously
bestowed upon that subject rendered douhy nteres ting
by the embarrassnents of the army and the alarming
prospects before yet the reliance, exclusively
med inefficient and discarded for hurhoses strict
Ly dfenSiUe. Now when fine difficulties of organizing
such force are considerably increased consequence
1.-THE division OF the powers the militia between
the general and state governments, relied on
for c0snsiUe PURPOSES, &c. in the o. actual war
Mr.. Giles said he well knew how mi Gin lac exposed
himself 10 the censures OF certain republican, Newspa
per editors, and others, by Questioning the infaiiy of
the opinions of the favorte parsans the day aItho
the fundamental motto of those same Newspapers has
invariably been, ia Me0rys measures, % but
to has been inverted. 1t is in practice, men, not
measures" For during that time, nothing has been
more common, tsan to applauded, whose mea-
sures are condemned, and men condemned whose mea-
sures are appauded, aud far has this PATRIOTIC zeal
tor this Inverted principle been carried, that it you
point the singer the possible errors of the favrtes
OF the day, becomes offence for which YOU are de
nounced but ii you demonstrate these errors by ar.
gument to the conviction of every mind it then becomes
sin past forgiveness. You may then expect nothing
less thanosracism accompanied with the most ou md
scuriiious reprnaches. Bad motives are applied to
bear down good opinions, when good arguments are
wanted Tor that purpose, &c. Mr. Giles said to Judge
Of measures uninhuenced by their authors reoured the
exeron 81 of the highest attributes Of the human
mind Il Was taking very lofty and independent
stand. 1t required information, reflection, and full
knowledge of the subject &c. it not TO be expect
ed that the great OF mankind would be compe-
tent to the performance Of so difficult task but it re-
ally was hoped, that the Wanting editors Of newsna-
pers, would have adhered their professions or
at least not to have consigned to eproach and inagy
those who attempt follow lessons nculcaed by them
Selves even u the attempts should be humble and
valng. 1t is much easy, and therefore to be ex
pected, that men ii general viii repose confidence in
ihe authors of measures, and this confidence will relieve
them from the trouble and difficulty of judging of the
measures themselves but newspaper editors ought to
l-be Competent to judge of the merits or dement's OF
measures, regardless Of their authors They ought not
AZ least to impose restraints those who would under
take the task, by the absorption Of improper motives
TO their conduct-the most humating & degrading Of
nee that genius can perform, What is 10 be the effect
OF the substitution OF dispersion for argument upon the
4 n g s,rFa
opinion under the most serious restraints is not this
effect seDsioy felt at this moJnentl And is this ope
ration likely TO become beneficial in the develupement
OF truth MIR Giles said lie was not insensibc 90 the
imposing mntives which nnellcd tL1. I.rfnrtr