Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-03-22

70 bua'QSu DIT al points lie WOitlU
rely on established maxims of policy, instead
of relying on the faith of any nation. We
nave tried great number of experiments !;
but there yet another, it appears. Was
it ever before heard of. that OH the bare sig
nature OF peace. its late antagonist re :.
naming on its soil and borders, that q ma.
ton disarmed itself altogcther? To be sure,
IL VIII occasion some additional expense, to
retain our force IN existence: but to dis ,
oanu our torces at once and entirely. would
nave bad influence, and the world would
nave right TO say, we had escaped from
me contest so completely vorn down by its
pressure, that we could not even act up to
the ordinary rules of'prudence. II this force
should be disbanded, AID an unfortunate
Collision should again arise, what expenses
ana losses may we have to encounter here.
after, IN order to save comparatively tri
Hing expense now What would be The ex>
pense OF supporting four or FIVE Thousand
men Tor few months, when put inio the
oaiance against those evils which may grow
OUT .: different course? In all these mat /.
tiers, Mr.. G.. said, it appeared 10 him that
a nation acts wisely when it. acts according
TO maXims established by prudence and
sanctioned by experince. The history of the
world, he boldly pronounced, did no, afford
an instance in which any ration had CON
rietsly disarned itself in the circumstances
IN which this nation was placed.
Mr.. GaOLSON said, that, for his part,
he should not act on the presumption of the
ineXecution of the Treaty of Peace. If he
did. he should feel himself bound to retain
the Military Establishment, on its present
footing. On the Contrary. however. he
should act on the principles Of the Presi.
dents message; on the hope that Great
britain would carry the Treaty into effect !;
because, from the events OF the war lust
terminated, he believed it to be as little her
interest as ours TO renew the war But,
while freely and frankly avowing this senti
ment, he could not, under other views of
the subject, agree 20 the rapid reduction of
the army, which was proposed. Was there
any thing IN the pre ent situation of the
country, which required 2 smaller fore
than we had had for several years before
the declaration os war? We have an ex.
tent OF three or four thousand miles of from
tier. on which are a number of points re-
curing garrisons we are in hostility with
a great many Indian tribes, and oar affairs
with Span are yet settled. Every thing
considered, he thought the army ought II 1t
to be reduced below ten thousand men,
no man III the house was more s0licltOus
lures; and he entertained strong hone,
that they would be so reduced by the reduc-
ton of the army, &c. that the next Con-
gress might repeal nearly all the taxes that
have been laid.
Mr.. DESIA said that he did not regret
that he had brought this subject forward,
for 1t was necessary for tha nation to know,
whether they were to be saddled with
larPt. Standinor in "
moderate Peace Establishment. But he re-
greeted that the question should take ap so
much time in debut ut this late period OF
the session, notwithstanding there has been
so much eloquence displayed. The question
on tins amendment was, on Saturday, car"
RED IN the committee of the whole house,
by majority OF nineteen votes, where | did
hope it was sufficiently discussed, and where
l did believe it was sufficiently understood
but gentlemen have come forward with
ne" string OF arguments against the propo
sItion. Do they suppose that the house did
not understand this subject, or do they sup.
pose that by this great how of eloGaence
they can make the substantial part of the
house change their opinions in so short a
time When 1 speak of the substantial
part OF the house. L mean those who think
much and speak but little-who make com
mon sense their guide, and not theoretical
or visionary process. Mr. ID. said he should
not have arisen to trouble the house with a
single remark, but tor that positive state
ment made blythe gentleman from Georgia
(Nr. Forsyth who stated in a very positive
manner, that six thousand men were not
sufficient to garrison the out.posts. How
does the gentleman know thisl What data
does he judge from. If ne has any correct
data, on which he bottoms his calculations
he ought to give them to the house But
shall take for granted that he has none
that It is mere guess. notwithstanding the
positive manner in which it has been assert
ed have made some calculations, and,
as observed on Yesterday, there is not more
than twenty FIVE or thirty forts in all, which
1t is presumed, are not all necessary 20 be
kept up in q time OF peace. 1 much ques-
ton fit is necessary to keep up more than
twenty. VIII not one hundred men on an
average be sufticieat to man each fort IL
rs true, some nay, perhaps, require Jwo hun
dred, but others will not require more thau
twenty-five or thirty men. Then, sir, you
viii have upwards of one half Of the 5000, as
contemplated by The amendment, for other
purposes. Bat some gentlemen advocate
10 COCO, and others 10000 of a standing ar
my. The policy is easy TO be seen through
the advocates OF a perpetual system OF
taxation discover that if they cannot retain
a consideration standing army, they will
have no good plea tor riveting the present
taxes on the people. I was an advocate for