Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-01-21
POLITICAL.
From che National In,elTgeneer.


measure from his private interest and en-
ploy part OF his time Cor the general well
fare. National conduct ought to be the re-
suit ofnational wisdom, plan formed by ma.
ture consideration and diiigent selection out
Of all schemes which may be offered and all
the information that can be procured. In bat.
tie every man should fight as If he was the
single champion in preparations for war e.
yer, man should think as if the last event de
pended on his counsel None can tell what
discoveries are in his reach or how much he
can contribute to the public safety"
Idler No. 8.
Such were the sentiments Of man whose
intellect was to his contemporaries, and Will
be to all future generations, an Atlas.
Without epquiring into the perfec,ions or
into the defects of the military plans which
have been adopted or Of those which have
Of late been proposed, will suggest sys.
tenn. which / think, will be saiutary in its
effects, will be in accordance with state
rights and state wishes, yet preserving the
rightful supremacy of the national govern.
lnent. Let each state in proportion to it's
Congressional representation be authorised
by Congress to raise an army for its own
defence and to be office-ed by the Execu-
tive of the state, except the Inspect or Ge>
neral, who should be appointed by the Pre-.
sident. This army, when raised, to be
paid by the u. States. The duty of the
Inspector General to attend to the discipline
OF the army, to see that it is well cloathed,
fed and armed, and at all times in conditi>
on to meet the enemy, when ordered out BY
the President, and never to he ordered out of
the state except into an adjoining state, and
then only with the Consent of the Executive
of the state nor will it be improper that
the medical staff should be under the suner-
attendance of surgeon appointed by the
President, furnished with medicine and in,
struments by the United States, Court
msrtiais to be according to the rule. of the
United States, and should the commander
OF the army or any of the com missioned of.
hcers be dismissed service by the iudqmen,
of court martial, or should resign. the Fx.
ecutive of the state shall appoint success
SCR. The President to have the sole right
to disband this army, when he shall deem il
to be the interests of the United States TO do
So Such plan will give to each state the
means OF selfdefence against any sudden in.
vasion the adjoining states will be pre- par
ed with well equipped army to give effec,
tive aid to the invaded state. The ofH
Ger commanding in the state invaded to be
the commander in chief of all the trooos
sent to the assistance of the state. The
militia to be organized and classed and the
young men So well trained as to be usefu,
auxiliaries when called into service, which
ought to be as seldom as possible, The con.
sequences Of this system, brought to tina,
perfection the wsdors of Congress can
bring it to, will be, tina. every state would
possess within itself a force appropriated
to its protection by the national authority,
afTnr1ing TO the different sections of our
extenSire country, from an union of the ar
mics of the neighboring and adjoining states,
& capacity willing and able TO resist any
army the enemy should attempt an inyasi.
on with, until the u States, Could send any
assistance the occasion should need. Thus
the eastern section will be able to protect
itself from the inroads of the enemy, The
middle and southern sections will have the
like effectual ability. The western section
will with pleasure protect its rights by de-
Tending New Orleans :: by doing so it will
do most for itself and most for the nation,
and will also keep tbs indians in awe, pre-
serving our infant territories.
This scheme riyes to the states safety, |
and yet they remain dependent on the gen,
eral government.
The national revenue being the product
OF all parts of the nation, by such militia
ry system will be distributed according to
a constitutional proportion, circcmstance
hhet VIII w tbC ibCui VI HiuCl COnNCHiCuIS
and satisfaction to every portion and con-
5ition of our citizens, who will thus know
that taxes paid by them are for their pro-
lection, and feeling so sensibIy the benefits
of the national government, will understand
how essential it is to their preservation.
Having by some such measure relieved
the states from their approximations, Con
gress can turn its attention to foreign OBJ
jects and If peace, honorable and safe,
can Only be obtained by the invasion or by
the conquest of Canada, the attempt may
then be made, with an army equal to the
design, completely disciplined, abundantly
supplied with every requisite to procure
success commanded by intelligent and active
officers, commencing operations so early
in the season as to warrant favorable re
suit
To invade country willing to defend IL
self wiib deficient means, will Certainly he
the source Of disappointment. II again we
enter Canada, let us go with force so strong
as TO hold what, by hard fighting, we shall
Conquer. This can best be effected by re.
gular army, formed by voluntary enlist
ments. Such an army, military men say,
can be had, provided the recruiting officers
are kept supplied with money. Until we
have an army strong enough to sustain the
expectations Of our citizens, for defence and
tor conquest we ought to proerastinate, and,
not by impatient move nents, render abor
tive cur exertiunS. To be victorieus ,ve