Winchester gazette. [volume] (Winchester, Va.) 18??-1826, 1814-02-26
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s. ION. D.qyvYEL " EBSTER,
Delivered in the Houss Of Representa-
tees Of tie u. S. on ste fitk January
S4sff, on & Bin snsI;iitg further pro-
visio,l for. filling tie ranks Of the Re-
gafar -arnsy, eneoaras ing eniistments
end d.ttiior:siagthe eniistngiits- for
logger periods, of men rchose terms Of
ssrciee are about to s.rpise.
Mr.. SpSAxsH-it was not my inten-
ton tpeffer myseifto your, notice on
this question. IIlave changed my pur-
pose only in consequence of the course
which the debate took yesterday on an
meadment, proposed by me, to one of
the subordinate provisions OF this bill.
ihe observations 10 which that occa-
sion gave rise, have induced inc to pre-
fer assigning my own reasons for my
own vote, rather than to trust to the
justice or charity of the times 10.
assign reasons for me.
he design Of this bill is 90 encou-
rage, by means Of a very extraordinary
bounty, enlistments into the regular ar
my. Laws already existing, anu other
bills now in progress before the house.
provide for the Organization af an ar
my OF $4,000 men. For the purpose
OF Milling the ranks Of that army, the
p'ii before us proposes to give to each
recruit bounty Of S12i, and B 20 acres
OF land. 1t offers also a premium of
SO to every person, insor out of the ar
my, citizen or soldier, who shall, pro
cure an able bddicd man to be enlisted.
Before, sir, l can determine for nv.
self, whether SO great military force
should be raised, and at so great an
expence, am bound to enquire into the
object 10 which that force is to be an
piled. If the public exigeney shall, in
ny Judgment, demand tiff any object
connected with the protection of the
country, aal the safety of its citizens.
shall require it; and fl shall see rea-
sonahle ground to bciievA, that the
force, when raised, will be applied to
meet that exisency, and yield that pro-
lection, l shall not be restrained, by
any, cansiderations Of es pence, irons
giving my support to the me asure. I
am aware that the country needs de-
fence, aud am anxious that defence
should be provided for it, to the fullest
extent and in the promptest manner
But what is the object of this bill j?
To what service is this army destined
when its ranks shall be filled ? We
are toid, sir, that the frontier is in
vaded. and that troops are wanted to
repel that invasion. 1t is too true
that the frontieris invaded that the
war, with all its horrors, ordinary and
extraordinary, is brought within our
own territories and that the inha-
hitants, near the country ofthe enemy,
are compelled to Fly, lighted by the
fires ftheir own houses, or to stay and
meet the foe, unprotected by any
adequate aid of government. But
shew, me, that by any vote of mine,
or any effort of mine,I can contribute
TO the relief Of such distress--Shsw
ne, that the purpose of government, IN
this measure, is to provide defence for
the frontiers. aver l see no evidence
OF any such Intention. 1 have no
assurance t!iatihis army Will be APP
piled TO any saeh object. There are,
as was said by my hon. friend from
New York, MIR. Grosvenor) strong
tSaoobo W lhiti tHS CVHtTdTt, from the
fact, that the forces hitherto raised
have not been SO applied, in any suita-
bic or sufficient proportion. The de-
fence of our own territory seems
hitherto to have been regarded as an
object OF secondary Importance,
duty OF a lower order than the invasion
of the enemy. The army raised last
year was competent to defend the
frontier. To that purpose government
did not see fit to apply it. 1t was not
competent, as the event proved, to in
wade with success the provinces
of the enemy. To that purpose,
however. it was applied. The sub
stantial benefit which might have been
obtained, aud ought to be obtained,
was sacrificed to scheme of conquest,
in my opinion wild one, commenced
without means, prosecuted without
Psau or concert, and ending in dis
grace. Nor is il the inland frontier
ouly that has been left defenceIess.
The sea-coast has been in many places
wholly exposed.--Give me leave to
state one instanee.--The moth of one
of the largest rivers in the eastern Sec
ton Of the unioB is defended by fort
mounting IL guns.--Tbis fort, for
great part Of The last season, was
holden by one man and one boy only.
/ state the fact on the authority Of an