Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-03-08
CONGRESS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
SATURDAY, Feb. IS.
MILITARY PEACE ESTABLISHMENT.

ment and the first section of the bill having
been read, which proposes to fix it at ten thou
sand men
Dir Troup said the Military Establishment
had Just been perfected--the army had lust been
made one Of the finest in the world, when it
became necessary TO reduce il. II was the less
to be regretted, however as the canse OF 1t was
SUBJ, CT of sincere and universal congratula-
tion--it was proper To reduce the army. The
only questions tor the house were, 1st.a Tie
s*tent OF the reduoocn. 2ndly. The mode Of
reduction.
With respect to the first, (the extent Of re-
duction) he presumed that three objects ought
to claim the attention Of the House. 1st The
security OF the country-2udy. The interest OF
the country, and Silly. The just ciainss OF the
army.
In considering the security Of the country, it
was only necessary TO advert to The actual state
OF the country. The war had this moment ter.
mIlated and left MS surrounded with the fleets
and armies--the formidable fleets and armies
OF our late enemy--What security had we that
those feet and armies would BE- Withdrawn -
At least VIC had no other security than the good
faith OF the nation with whom we had concls-
d the peace. Admitting that faith to be what
thought to be, he submitted With much defer
.nce to the House whether the security Of any
country ought to be made to depend upon The
good faith OF any other country. He presumed
that respectable military force would bes much
safer dependence. So said the policy aud prsc..
ticc Of all civilized natious--so said the policy
and practice of all the nations of Europe -
There the practice was to aiSbang or uithdyalv
pdri pa5sH--the one power withdrawing as the
other wlthdrew--the one power reducing as
the other reduced He did pot know an in
steuce in European History OF two nations ter.
minating war by an hoGorsbie peace, where
the one instantaneously reduced its military
h
~ o maintain its force on war establishment
upon It's frontier. Such, however would be pre-.
cisely our case if we determined on sudden
and great reduction OF the srmy.
The treaty OF peace had stipulated the sur
render OF posts and the restoration OF certain
Proper,y-both were nportsnt, and yet what
security had we that either stipulation would
be fulfilled five suddenly stripped ourselves
OF our military poweFi We would have no
RELIANCE left bet on the good faith of our late
enemy. II the post were not surrendered or
the property restored, he presumed we, would
begin TO reorganize and restore our army-he
thought it therefore more wise and more pru-
dent on the ground of security, to make our re-
duction moderate, limited and gradual.
But 2ndly, the interest of the country. The
interest ofthe country in one sense ofthe word
required not merely the reduction but the an
utilization of the army it was the interest of
the country to r. lieye the government and coun.
try from the burden Of the whole military ex-
pence : hut this could only be done by the en-
tire obstruction of the m litary force. Why,
therefore, was ii not proposed to put down the
army altogether Only because the security
Of the country forbid it. Here, then was a con-
bideration efinterest connected with the consi-
Iteration of security. But there was an interest
distinct and independently was that which,
would look with steady eye TO what were con
sidered great and important rights and princis
pies, not settled by the treaty of peace. The
treaty of peace was treaty of peace merely
it was properly such--it proposed little more
than to put an end to the war. Much more re-
remained to be settled-rights, principles and
interests considered essential 10 the prosperity
ofccmmerce, navigation and fisheries remained
yet to be settled This was 10 be done in tie
only way in which it ought to be done---by q |
treaty OF commerce. Nations negotiate with |
more weight and influence with arms in their |
hands than without them, aud large army |
would carry into negotiation more weight |
and influence than small one--he submitted |
therefore to the House, whether great and |
sudden reduction of the army would not pref |
dice those rights and interests, and whether |
the interest of tn U. States did not, on this ac-
account require for the present, the exhibition |
oil a respectable military force.
But SdIy. The Just claims of the army
Whether the reduction we're great or smAA. |
instantaneous or eventual, the Just claims of |
the army could not fail to be subject OF con-
sideratisn with the House BY the Just claims
OF lie army he did not mean TO be unGerstCod
as,spcaking Of absolute right on the one sids
si.d correspondent absolute obligation on the
other-a he meant was, a Just and equitable
claim to liberal provision from the generosity
OF the Legislature. The officers and soldiers to
be disbanded were entitled 20 liberal provi-
sion, not because they had embarked in the re
gular servce-not because they had exposed
their lives in defence of their country--not be-
cause very many of them had been wounded
and dJsablsd--not because very many Of them
had lailen, leaving their wives and children de-
pendent on the charities Of the word--Eot be-
cause these brave men were still wiling furs
ther to expose their lives---not because their
skill aud valor had greatly crontributed to the
restoration Of the blessings of peace--nor for
Ill these-but because they had entered into
thS service FOR years;p perhaps ioreyer--aban6on-
ing the pursuits Of civil life by which they sub
sisted and betsking themselves TO arms IS ;
profession. This profession was not by their
own act. but the government suddenly and UNI
eXpectedy taken from them, and they were
turned upon the world withou ut occupation
many Of them penny less and in debt. 1t was
eight, ii was just, that q provision should be
made which would enable the TO subsist until
Trey could 6ud employrnent--it was the more
SO in country where there was 70 pension list
10 hotel OF mvalids--it was on this principle
that all governments bad made liberal and ge-
neroHs provision for disbanded officers--.it was
this principle that the old Congress had made
provision for the disbsnded officers Of the re
yoiution. The provision proposed was far from
liberal provision, but IT was better than no
thing-it was provision in land and not in mo.
ney--because it was believed to be more cons
yenIent to The government to give land than
money, lie hoped that the TIouse would never
think Of disbanding the army without making