Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-12-13

Il
found, were daily gathering strength from the
disafected. This strength, like snow ball by
rolling, would encreSse, unless some means
could be devised to check eifectiaIly the pro-
gress of their arms. Militia might possibly
do it for a little while; but in little while
also, the militia ot those states which were FIRE.
quently called upon, would not turn out at al, ,
or would turn out with SO much reluctance and
sioth, as TO amount to the same thing.
:" Could any thing he asked, sc be more de-
structiye the recruiting business, than Civ
ing ten dollars for six weeks service in the mi
litis, who come in, you cannot tell Low /; SO you
cannot tell when, and act, you cannot tell
where; who consume your provisions, exhaust
your stores and leave you at last in a critical
situation
"These, SIR" he added, " are the men am
to depend upon ten days hence. This is the
basis upon which your cause will rest, and
must forever dep nd, until you get n large
standing army sufficient Of its II TO oppose the
enem, Nv 2, pa. 537, 53S $50.
lT77--" The problem, whetl ,r nation can
be defended against permanent force, By tenn
porary asmies, by occasional calls of the hus
bandman, from his plough To the field, was al.
ready solved ;and in its demonstrations, the in
dependence of America had nearly persisted in
its oracle. All eyes were now turned on the
army TO be created for the ensuing campaiis' ,
the patriot could rest" Vol ?, pa SIS, $50,
Mr. Giles next observed, that he begged
70 be INDUCED in exhibiting 10 the view OF
the Senate, the character and oceedings
OF the Congress of 1777-at the moment of
the most alarming peril and desponcercy
daring the whole rev, lutionary war, not be
cause 1t has any direct bearing upon the i'm
mediate question undCr discussion, but as
an honorab example highly worthy Of i'm
itation at the present day.
The frmness manifested by Congress
throughout TIVE gloomy and trying period
which interviewed between the loss of forJ
WaAhngton, and the battle of Princeton,
eDtltles the members of tha day TO the adj
miration ofiht world, and the gratitude OF
their te low citizens. Unawed by the dam
gers which threatened them, and regardless
1T personal safety, they. did not fer an in
slant admit the idea, that the indepen-
dence theY bad declared was to be surren
dered and peace t" be purchased by eturn
ing TO their ancient colonial situation" Vol.
2. pa.557.
1873" Torecrut the army for the next
campaign was an effect of which the com
mander in chief felt the importance, and la
bored to impress il on the several states as
we'll as on Congress. Bnt it was an object,
the d thcplty ct accomplishing which con
FINALLY Increased. From the depreciation
ut paper money, and from other causes, no
hope remained OF obtsining any respeet abe
numGerofmeD by voluntary enlistments and
coercive means could only be employed by
the respective states. To persuade them
to apply with the requisite dispatch sufi-
c ent energies to this subject, required all
the ntinence of general Washington, and his
letters u ged them IVY every motive which
could operate on the human mind, to meet
with sufficient means the crisis Of the war,
which he apprehended was now approach
ing.
=" BE eXhorted them 10 piece no conf
dence in foreign aid, but to depend n their
own internal sireng'h and rescu ces for the
maintenance Of their Independence: He
did not doubt but that Britain would, if not
preve ted b. war in Europe, make great
exericns to reinforce her armesin Ameri>
ca, and eff CT the pbjec of the war. Only
correspondent eXertions to keep in the field
= ,contRental army AZ least equal to that OF
tbeepemy, could prevent their success.
=" He enclosed 10 each state return Of
is troops on the continental establishment /;
thereby exhibiting TO each its own de6cien-
CIV, which each was strongly urged to SUP
ply" Vol. 8.
Nov. l7F9.-" In the more early stage
OF the contest" said the commander IN ch ef
TO congress in his letter of the 18Th Novem
Der. when men NIGH have been enlisted
Tor the war, no man, as my whole conduct
and the uniform tenor of my letters will
eyince, was ever more opposed to short err
listments thauI was ard while there re
maihed prospect of obtaining recruits up
OH permanent footing in the first instance,
as far rs duty and regard to nv station
would permit, urged my sentiments in ia
yor Of 1t. But the prospect of keeping up
an army by voluntary eDlistments being
changed, or at least standing on too preca
riouS and uncertain footing to depend on,
for the exigency of cur affairs, took the Ii
herty 10 FEBRUARY l778, in particular man,
ner to lay before the committee OF arrange
ment then with the army at Valley Forge,
plan for the annual draught as the surest
and mast Ger ain, IL not the only means lef.
us, OF maintaining the army on a proper and
re peclable ground. And more and more
confirmed IN the propriety of this opinion,
by the Intervention of variety Of Circum-
siances, unnecessary to detail, ! again took
the freedom of urging the plan to the COM
mittee OF conference in January last and
having reviewed it IN every point of light,
and found It right, NJ least the best that has
occurred to NE, hope shall be excused
by congress in offering il to them. and in time
tor carrying it into execution for the next
year; u they should conceive it necessary
for the states to complete their quotas of
troops.
(Sheech 10 be continued
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