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

an acknowledged right The same might |
he said o. blockades and the rest of our ma
rtime pretensions. The treaty was silent
the enemy would not suffer them to be
named-they are all given up-we have
ourselves abandoned the new doctrine Of
2" Free Trade and Sailors Rights" and can
never again rightfullv draw the sword on
those pre,ensions. Mr. S said that he did
not state this by way OF reproach against
the government, for Concluding such
peace-he had predicted aud rejofced at the
epen. IL had saved the country, which was
enough for him. He should not venture e.
ven 70 give q character TO the peace, nor in.
snuase that It was not such as it ought to
have been. He only wished that the PEG
pie might understand it--that it. might pass
for what it was worth. and no more. Mr.
5 said. that the general principle of public
law which he had laid down, was not only
just in itself, but its application to our case
had been anticipated and recognized by the
administration /; were itnot for such prin-
ciple, war would b. intcrminable Peace
would indeed be nothing more than trace.
What nation would make peace with its
enemy merely to afford time for better pre-
paration, if the war might DC re commenc
ed on the old grounds when ne was incl,u-
ed so TO do When he said that the admi-
nistration had recognized this principle OF
public law, he referred to the pu5lc docu>
ments, the instructions TO our ministers,
which, he said, proved the correctness of his
position by requiring "A reservation of our
rights, if treaty was concluded without ey-
pressly recognizing them and the treaty
contained no such reservation. MIR ) went
on to say he was opposed to keeping Up
large military force. Our safety lies i'm the
spirit, bravery, and patriotism of the peo-
PIE. Did we want proof of this ? Let us
cast cur eyes to Sackett's Harbor, PIatts-
burg, and particularly to New Orleans
where the brave militia of the country, aid
ed by their western brethreu, with no Other
aid than two skeleton regiments, had re
pulsed the enemy with signal slaughter
This had taught the world a lesson how
freemen would defend their homes. Why,
then, Mr.. 5. asked, should we keep up this
army at the expcnce of many millions of
dollars ?--For one, he wou!d not consent to
it. The taxes imposed on the people were
enormous they could aot be dispensed with
until our finances and credit were restored.
We should retrench as much as possible,
Top of every unnecessary article of expense,
and commence system of rigid economy.
On the whole, he trusted that the amend
ment, made in committee, would be confirm.
ed in the house by 4 decided majority.
Mr., MACON said he would not take I'D
the Treaty or it's merits, not discuss the
subject OF Executive recommendations :.
but he should continc himself to the auesti-
ON Of what 1t would be proper for the Uni
ted States TO Go In the preseut. IF the Trea,
y was only truce, we ought not TO stop
at ten thousand men instead OF disbantlinp
our forces, we ought to ga on recruitine,
,nem, to be prepared for the state OF thipps
which VIII lake place when the truce eX-
pircs. But. Mr. M sad, ne took the Trea.
y Tor covenant of peace, and he was
wiling In good aiSh carry it into effect
here was mistake on the part Of some
gentlemen in regard 20 what had been The
original Peace Establishment During all
the trouble between this country ard Spain
and Britain. no addition had been authoriz-
ed 10 tile old Peace T., Adjustment, until af.
ter the attack upon the Chesapeake, aed
when me law then passed there was great
dispute ABOUT the title of it, that the addi-
tionai iorCe might not be considered part
Q, tne !Miiltlary Peace Establishment The
old Peace Establishment consisted rs INC
brigade only. With that force we had IN.
ken possession CT Louisiana, with ,hat force
we haa mairtanedit. besides keepina ear>
ifs1ns in most of our present forts The In
diahs he thought might be safely left IN
themselves i; our forts would not now be
encteased, aud all the force that appeared
10 nm LeCessarv, was SO much as should be
suihclsnt To keep our works in repair. The
'ae way 20 make our Militia efficient. is n
ict 'hcn Know that The safety of the nation
de, eHas on hem. and to take nothing more
irdh >he products OF their labor 70 supnort
'esui"r soldiers, than is absolutely necessa-
J. III proportion as men live easily and
sofnfor aoiy' IN proportion as they are free
ron ne burthens OF taxation, they will he
at'ached 70 the government in which thew
We. For bis part Mr. NJ. said, he should
be wiling TO reduce the army TO the old
Pe@ce establishment of Three Thousand
men 10 the Indian hostilities. Mr.
MACON pretended we should now
e y it,le of them. The Nctb.
JvNost = { tnpany had been at the botto,
vi the Lon vars and it was now their
~ yes G. 80 them. So long as the Bri,
80 vi Aistry we're on an amicable footing
WIN IN B"rei nment, so long the Indians
.iire cam t peace. 1t was no matter
IN { ~ u COMP ID The British Mini try.
2na tnere'~re i'm IA cria in this debate
III hcf hel are the Cannings, Castle.
'eag" or NNel,e re, 5, it is our duty 10 con-
>ider them Al - deeo ed TO the British m
tercsts' As 20 Span, Mr.. M. said he con-
oiderrd the q,ss iOn rttled as 10 the terri.
tory West ct ne Pr5(ido, The people of