Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-02-17

IL. the force cOnteMpiateu W NV
committee on military affairs! urine
smont ofourprrsent foree.as it seems
tn he considered incorrect to speak
Gift, Twill say nothing. 1t is pro-
brble, however. that 1t Will aecre"se :
as much during the winter. by dea'h
and otherwise, as it will increase by
enlistments. But, sir. can we raise
the force contemplated? The honor
able chairman Of the committee on
military affairs (sir. "ii!iams) te.'s
rs that the patriotism OF the coEn-
try is commensurate with its popn,,
lation. But let me tell him sir. and
! do not mean to say any thing cflen-
sive. that it dces not become men
who manage the affairs Of a nation
to talk in this manner of raising ar
mics from The patriotism OF the
country. Patriotism; IS net the in
ducemeEt to enlistment. Patriots
ds not become soldiers. Armies in
all countries. except under very ex-
traordinary circumstances, are com
posed of certain description of po-
pula,n ofmen who have no regu,
lar occupation !; the idle. the disso-
Lutte, the vasrant and prcfigate. Or
this, sort Of population there is a GER
tain amount in every country-ln
this. there is less than in any other.
We have heard much of the opposi.
ton 10 the war; but that has not
been the cause Of our failures and
disasters. 1t is not because the go
vernoIs of Massachusetts,. Connecti-
cut and Rhode Island refused 10 call
out their militia that the war has
hitherto been unsuccessful-nor is
it because the war is unpopular.
or because tile people are divided
on shat subject, that the ranks OF
the army have not been filed up
Men who enlist. do pot enquire in
TO the causes and expedieacy Of the
war-they take no cegn;zance Of
such matters. II is owing TO that
for ~hich our boscms ought 20 swell
with gratitude TO hcavcH-the hap
py state of our country, the com
Portable CONDITION Of the people, the
faci'it! Of procuring subsistence. It
seems to me. sir, iha: If patriotism
alone would make soldiers, several
members OF this house ought to have
enlisted. for there has been a greater
display CT patriotism in this hcnse in
relation TO the war, than in all the
rest Of Tie ration, from one end Of
the country TO the ether. But, Sir.
il is more agreeable and convenient
10 gentlemen to be here. than 10 lie
in the arrny as common soldiers
Just so. The people oi tue country
who arc comfortable 1t home, think
il more agreeable and convenient TO
stay there. | know. sir, that some
koacrahIe gentlemen have shoulder
cd tI,ei: mnskcis and gone into The
militia. This. sir. as an evidence
o'Hhcir zeal vas !au;IabIe. q do not
meHn td speak 'lisparagingI, ortbese
grnt'cmcn) but in reference to any
c!Er'ent service. il was verse than
useless: fer assrnhlages Of militia
men Will do no essential service
ihcy are no better. think use the
language vi The father Of his coun-
try. than armed MODS" And the
war has served to destroy tie illu-
sion which has SO long been ker, ~
in The country by the many strange
and absurd things which have been
SID of'he Importance and efficiency
o! the militia. Sir. II is all idle
The militia man is best employed at
his plough, and in the other orcupa.
lions of life in which industry can
he successfully eXerted. For the
real strength of the coantry, its
wealth, the sinews Of war. arise from
the produce Of The various branches
Of industry. This furnishes the
means of supporting an army: hut
the army itself must be composed Of
idle. diss"Iu'c and disorderly persons.
Ard il !hc country and state Of soci-
ely are so happy as not 10 afford a
sufficient number of these, YOU cam
not get an army ; and if you cannot
get IN army. you cannot 60 to~ar.
In considering the probable issue
Of the contest in which we have en-.
harked, it is well TO compare our
power with that Of :he eHemy. to en-
quire whether our population. our
wea'th. our resources, cur aiiIay 10
endure the prifa,ions, losses ard ca.