Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-01-22
REBATE,

DEBATE,
On the bit for raising. an army q
Tscenty thousand msn for one
Mr.: GOLD-In the annals OF this
government, the last six months. COM
,nencing with the declaration OF war
swill be found the most interesting
The most deplorabie.
Tn that period. we have seen q var
declared precipifately ind premature
IN; for Notwithstanding all the ar
garments urged on that occasion WITH
so much zeal and eloquenee. times
has dissipate'l all the illusions have
vanished your army, $" eonhde7n'
expected, did not. under tue maglt
Of that declarations spring into ex-
istcnce /; The condition of your en-
listmsnfs would not, 1 apprehend. at
this hour. justify the declaration OF
war. We have seen. sir, that war
conducted in manner we'll TO con.
port With the spirit in whish it was
declared disaster upon disaster IN
rapid succession have followed; the
toDeand heart Of the country broken;
universal disgust at the past, md
deep coaceru aud anxiety for the fu-
lure. prevail every where.
Aud what, Mr.. Speaker. is now
proposed for the future; what is to
eetrie,e our Affairs, on what arc our
hopes TO rest : An army of izrsloe
months men! A broken reed An
army and term Of service which well
aish lost the country in the revoiu-
ion Try war; an army which in eve
~ step ard stage Of that war re-
rei,ed the uniform and reiterated
,ea.ure and condemnation OF Wash
iagton. and every Intelligent officer
OF that period: AN army that stands
recorded by every historian OF that
war with deco reproacl, and repro
ha;iou. Such is the foundation OF
our future hopes shutting our eyes
uaon The lessons Of experience, We
i've but to repeat former errors and
renew our sntf,rings. Shall we ne
var learn that a soldier is not the
creature Of an hoAr; that he mast
be seasoned to the hardships of war;
taat TO remove your recruit from MS
fire side. from his plentiful board,
and ali the comforts with which he
is sur,ouaded. to the theatre Of ser
vice. there TO sleep on the ground
or in teats. with two or three arti-
e!es Of subsistence oni.. is to give
h;m up victim TO disease, to chnsiSa
him to the grave. This precise re-
suit 10 presented to ,he mind by the
melancholy review of the las, tam
Daign disease and death have walk
ed abroad in uur armies on the from
tier; they have heea SWEET to the
grave as by the Bosom q des'rGc
ten. 1t has not stopped with your
army: the frontier inhabitants III
!'ect-d by the disease Of the camp,
iiy from the deadly theatre, as from
DESTROYING angel! shall we never
!rara ,he difference between our ST.
tuatiaa and that of nations who have
a competent military establishment,
su ttivient al all times for both 0tiel.
sive and defensive operations:
The slender military establish
meat OF Tie tai:ed states. while 1t
con>uits econ my and fav0rs the &C.
MUS Of the government. forb!as a
hastv rasnrt to war. especially extra
territorial and offensive war; time
for preparation. af,er the measure
is resolved on. is Indispensable. and
disregard Of csr situation in this re-
sreet cannot fail to prcfuce defeat
and disaster-.o produce such cam
,,ai.n as has just HON closed.
But, Dr.. speaker. wherefore
change the term Of enlistment from
fee gears. or during the nar, to
one year? The sole avo"ed object
OF Tie war by land was the conquest
Of The Canadas. Are you at this
hour nearer your object than on the
day YOU declared war. or has that
object. with a steady and sure pace,
recedetl from you as you
have advanced in the war; Is Cana
da so far conquered that YOU can now
reduce the term Of enlistment 1t
is impossible TO shut our eyes on the
past; while all is disgust and des-
r6udency with Or own citizens
sick of the past. and concerned for
the future-while every post brings
To the caainet fearful and alarming
changes in the sentiments of the peo-
.,Ie under this iil-fStpd war-yaur