Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-02-05

only for conquest, Du' 20 SUPP az
surrection and enforce the laws Inc
militia being thus overawed ano con
trolled by regular troops will OWN
die into iasigniGeanee. unless from
n nr;ae;nle Of se;s-dc;ence, they should
he reused into action. But, SIT, the
bill is Objectionable on another
ground, perhaps more serious ana So
I'd: we arc about to increase the ar
nv to i;fty-five thousand men. Is it
safe to raise so large an army ia this
country? May there not be even
more difficulty in disbnnding them
than there is in raising them9 The
whole world appears at this moment
to be actuated by military mania
all civil governments, except our
own, seem to be FRUSTRATED. and Eu.
rope is now grooming under martial
law. Military power naturally &C.
neratcs ambition it is the pabul,tm
on which it thrives-it is the eie-
ment in which it !ives-a large army
raised At first for defence, naturally
s;eas fer conquest. Have we any
security against these effects? We
have no Washington, who by has ma
tive majesty could control an army
and restrain their ardor to patriotic
pursuits. But, sir, should a militia
nv chiaftain rise up in these turbu,
lent times, Of less Virtue and more
sel6shness than that immortal patri-,
OF. aud he prompted to use this army
for purposes not now contemplated;
and sh ould this host find themselves
disappointed in their Pay. an event by
no means impossible from the pre-
sent aspect of affairs, may we not,
when it is too late, find ourselves
conquered instead Of Canada. Un-
der the apprehension Of these posi-
bic dangers, he said he must with.
hold his assent to the bill, and trust
to his constituents to JUSTLY his con
duet. If he really believed the bill
necessary for the safety and K wei
fare of the country, he would give
it his warmest support.
Sir. it has been suggested that
certain steps were ABOUT to be taken
to bring on n peace. He said ne
wou'd with great pleasure join in
;ihat object. But j: is intimatcd tina,
il will be necessary 10 pursue the pro
iect connected with the bill. in the
event those propositions should fail.
His answer TO this was. first : 1.-THE
propositions were such as they ought
to be, they could not fail, and the ar
my would he unnecessary secondly,
he doubted whether this was tie best
inou- to induce the acceptanre Of
pacific propositions. 1t seems to i'm
ply insincerity on the face Of it. II
looks as if we ourselves did not be-
licvc they would be accepted nor
was it the most conciliatory attitude
'ot pdSiSS uCs,oClhtlob'
Sir, said he. it will be reeollected
when this proposition for this nation.
al tournament first came out. it Was
stated by a distinguished gentlemar.
among other reasons. why this nation
should go to war. that it was acces.
sary TO establish its character, and
convince other nations that we were
4 valiant and courageous peo-
ole. 1t WAS said. they would re.
spect us and be more cautious how
they provoked our ire-there was
something novel and ingenious in the
idea. But he confessed it had little
weight with him. as reason for the
var He believed The evidence Of
national valor was already engraved
on the tombs o:Leparted heroes. anil |
recorded in the history Of the rsun. |
try. Another idea had been sup-
gestcd. which if not of less weigh, |
asa reason. was It least more sub
lime. He said, he meant the idea |
OF fighting for glory. He could not, |
he said. consent to iayoIye the conn.
Try in carnage. distress and ruin, for
thai phantom. But ne thought even
on this point We might be satisfied
II IS said by poet Of some celebri-
ty-
In extremes of glory and of shame.
Like east and west, become the SINE"
We have arrived at the acme of
trne glory on the water. & he would |
leave the house to Judge how far We
were removed from the other ex.
freme On land. He concluded by
Sayinr Lo .ua. /