The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-02-10
a CONTR-qSTTO TIE .4BOYE.
BY Senator Of the o. S.
PITHY SPEECH

- PITHY SPEECH.
We have been favored with a copy of the
subjoned speech of General SMITH, for
publication. We rega d it as a salutary
evidence Of that patriotic harmony and in
teliigence which have governed the repub
lican senator's in congress during the present
session I; and we do not hesitate to express
the high satisfaction We have derived from
a perusal of Ihe pithy and orthodox remarks
OF the general. Bar. DVhig.
Sheech ofGEwERAL SMITH, in the Ameri
can Senate on me bill for inc, casing TIE
bounty 10 men qoho enhst into the army.
General SM1TH.-"I was aud still am of
opinion, that the war was honorable. lust
and necessary. I hesitated at giving nv
vote on its declaration, because we were not
prepared to the extent thought we ought
TO have been. | however voted for the war.
and have given, aud shall continue to give,
my support to such measures as will conduct
TO spee dy, and hope. honorable termina-
nation hereof To fleet a peace, no means
appear tn me so conducive as that of being
at all points prepared to make the war eff
tectual. The mode now proposed TO fill oar
army, is that which have always advocat.
ed: ! mean liberal bounties in money.
And had that mode been adopted when we
bsy an to prepare for war, ard no men for 10
AID l8 months been enlisted, your ranks
would have been full. I hope it is not now
ate. 1t will answer TO good purpose to
shew the ceuecs why th- recruiting service
has not been as successful as those who pre-
ed other measures had expected. 1t is
our duty to correct the error bv supplying
better means. hope the plan proposed by
the bill will answer. / cannot concur with
the gentleman from Delaware (Mr ITorsey)
in his plan Of q defensive war. What an
tupul1
war to punish the enemy for his aggressions.
and in the second year put ourselves on the
defensive! The gen lemaD wants our own
shor TO be defended by regular roors.
4 that be done unless you fill the regi-
ments? 1t will require twenty thousand
men to prepare us at all points to meet The
enemy on the shores Of the Atlantic. If you
make no demonstration on Canada, the enc
my will be enabled TO spare men sc,'om thence,
to annoy tue coast, burn your towns and 81 OK
your cities. The shores Of the Delaware
nd the Chesapeake were equally insulted
the last summer. Regular troops could not
be spared to aid in their defeuce. Did not
the gentleman complsini May we not ex.
pect that the enemy will return with more
efficient means the next summer, drawn
from the army of the Peninsula, whence
they may now be spared IF they should,
will not the gentleman regret that he had
not Contributed his aid to I'll up the army,
and thereby have enabled the government
to sp>Fc part of it's force foe the defence
y the Delawart? Besides if we refuse 70
fl d thu means necessary to ell the army.
we shall inv te the enemy to exact terms OF
peace, which we ought not to accept. In
fine, my opinion is. that 10 ensure an honora.
be peace, we ought to be prepared BY land
and sea 70 carry on the war with effect
Fill your army, garrison your large cities
ard in addition to your ships of war, pur.
chase and put to sea thirty fast sailing schoo.
ners 20 dspredate IN the commerce Of your
enemy; then your Enuoys will be resttect.