The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1813-02-18
MIR ARCHER'S SPEI.CH,
On the Bill for raising 10000 additional roops.

Nhl. -hR1AiSh caio, ID bieal Was tuc Iea
pcct which he had for The House, SO deep Wa
me consciousness which he entertained Of hi
inability TO do justice TO Cause, especan
one OF SO much magnitude and importance, O
which he might be The advocate, that he wsul
be doing injustice 10 his feelings were he not 1,
express the weight OF the embarrassment
which oppressed him. But the wide rang,
which the present discussion had taken, in
solving considerations OF great national inter
est, and calling forth the cruel asperi;ies O
political intolerance, seemed 10 leave him ~
anernative in the discharge Qf his duiy, but Il
rcpel the unlourded insinuations which hat
ilown in so eopiousa stream from the other sid,
Of the House. Were geu,iemen 10 oon6n.
themselves to atemperatc investigation OF ths
proprieiy OF adopting measures either recon
men.ed by the Executive, or proposed by The
majority, who is there that would not Iis,cr
with pleasure and satisfaction But when thu
liberty OF debate was prostitutcd in dissent
mating the most unsounaed charges, in the ia>
discriminate abuse OF the constituted author
itics oil the nation, he confessed, he could lot
s. aiseays be hearer and never reilly" The
few observations be had TO make would be
without either system or arrangement, having
subject, and should be confined not SO mich
10 The bill for raising an additional army, 10
the remarksa and arguments Of those gentlcnen
who had proceeded him on the ~other sid Of
The House.
Aid here (he said) he hoped to be pcroit-
ed first 10 notice the charge which had ben
confidently made by a gentleman from New
York (Nlr Gold) against the majority OF he
House. lie hsc asserted land he seemed TO
dwell upon the assertion with peculiar sais-
iaction) that war had been declared by Csn-
grcss Iremafurrly and without o due pre- par.
aiIon that 10 embark in a war with "a power.
IL! nation, without large standing arm y, was
Impoitic IN the extreme. This princiPI,
(said Mr.. k.) III the general might be tue,
hnt j, had certainly no applicability TO this
country. Our government WAS touned on the
broad basis OF popular opinion, liable 10 tuet-
uatioD upon the first appearance OF any sys-
,cn which nigh, be calculated TO destroy the
liberties OF the people. A iaudable jealousy
of their rulers throbbcd in the heart of every
man in the country, who would seize the ils,
opportunity 10 change an administration tha,
would raise standing army in time OF peace,
Whatever might be the professcd objects oI
such an administration. From this Jealousy
the natural result would be, tirat the men who
raised the army would never declare the war
which it was intended to wage, lie would
fcier TO the administration OF Mr.. Adams.An
puy "a. .~ n, d To b<.
raised,to defend the country against an antici-
psted French invasion. The nrefrssed object
was disbelieved, and the people apprehending
an invasion OF their rights, removed from
power the men who had voted for The army.
All our institutions were repugnant 10 stand.
ing army in time Of peace. Anticipated in
,asion would seldom justify it, because il
nigh, be made prctext Tor the purpose ut
all times, and with the most dangerous views.
What had been sand by the gentleman from
Massachusetts (Mr. QUINCY seemed 10 con.
firm this position, tor he had expressed his
fears Of the army, even IN state Of declared
war, when that army was to be employed out
of the limits Of the country and il u jealousy
existed at such time, the conclusion would
naiu, ally follow,that it would exist 70 great
er degree in time ofpeace. The argument
then Of the gentleman, If it proved any thing
proved too much, because its effect would al.
weys be TO frustrate the views oil the govern.
ment and prevent it from going to war to
even its most indisputable rights. But an
appeal had been made with much confidence
to the history Of all Europe, to bear him out
in the charge he had made, and it had been
said, that no instance of nations engaging in
a war without having well regulated anu
disciplined army, could Le adduced. This
(said Mr.. A. will be admitted, but he pre-
sumed IL was incumbent upon the gentleman
10 shew that some analogy existed between
governments of Europe and that Of the U.
States, before his argument could have any
application to the subject. There the people
had no voice in the selection OF their rulers.
There the arbitrary will OF the monarch was
the law of The land, aud his deciees, howeser
or obnoxious, were enforced by
the hand Of power without a murmur or COM
plaint. There each government is surround.
ed by kingdoms powerful and strong, the am
bition of whose rulers prompts them TO seize