The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-02-08
ORIGINAL.
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
TIE DEFENCE BILL


Glasses OF the community, beg leave to Offer, TO the
public "A few remarks upon it. THIS NAV be the rnor.
necessary there seemsto exist much contrarety of
opinos in relation to the p0L GU of the law under ex
isng circu stances the proper CONSTRUCTORS OF its
dfereut provisions and the prGcticl6ty of carr, iny
them into effect These three points so intimately
ennReeted that it appears scarcely necessary m seus
rate them in the view shall take of the subject,
He Who puts himselfto the trouble of exau.inng at
teutively into the operations o. the old militia
upon the people, and into its ececy when considered
as system oil maternal defence mus, need but little
argument ON others to convince him the absolute
necessity of substituting in It's place. less srodeal of
ife, and of public and private Treasure. UEaer that
system the hardy yeonanry al the country are unex-
pectedlv summoned from the peaceful eninyments of
domestic lite, to az the ten'ed'held," where from the
necessary restraints OF military discipline, they are re-
CURED perform duties, TO endure harsisiips and pr
vations. which they are entirely unaccusomed Ush-
cred into life exposed 20 the inclern eueies f the
weather, added to the mortality of an insalubr;os
loathsome cline, their health vizor and spirits begin To
fail they pine after the genial atmosphere OF their
native hills and the fond endearnents other homes
snd families; many OF them, particularly of the poor
classes withaut suitable clothing; and oil are
exposed TO the bad effects Of miserable boGce rnder
these circumstances, and wearing, perhaps the same
dirty tatterei garments throughout the tou, os rvce
IS be wondered 1t that many Of them sick en- Il
die An union 81 these c:,,ises has produced the
death OF least Thousand Of countryuen at
-Wotfolk, during the past year Many of those who
artunste enough 10 escape from that place car
ried home with them the seeds OF death; few have re-
turned with sound constitutions. In coafrmaton Of
Whist IS here asserted refer the iucredulons to the
graves which yet redden the fields the vicinity of Nor
folk refer them also 70 the distress,s OF private
families throughout the whole Of the upper country
70 niner sections OF Virginia where has been neces-
sary employ the militia the gloomy picture is not
less melancholy IN the NorihtrG Neck and that Soc
ton of country between Petersburg and Norfolk l,rye
masses Of the local militia have been kept in service d.
ring the summer and fall. From 3 combination ofcau-
SEES peculiar TO encampments OF hasy levies of militia
iatA IaAdy engesdersd. which has almost desc
md a
that this dreadful epidemic bad its origin in oanp and
ransp,anted into the bosons Of private families
upon the discharge OF the IDiiia. ask him to read
Tor lis satisfaction, the histories of past times AZ.
will find that to has often succeeded rpsi.nct Z,
so pesence famine. These Consequences have usual
" follow cd the employment Of raw troons who have
been uncsd by the public and in whose eampsa proner
police been observed But irregular srnes the
police is geoi the men furnished with cloa,hs
and every other necessary BY the Government the
officers vigilsnt and acquainted with their duties
vill not tresspass upon the patience OF the publick
by Offering of my sei0g the continuance
odious, ruinous militia system, when can refer TO
ehe experience and testimony ofthe immortal F4ther
of his Country - the beloved veuerated w ASA
1SGToN Here would IpsUse and pqv tribute. ~ the
memory OF this i1isttous Bu, praise of mine
eaa DO hun Justice. Let the mute eioluence OF weep
ing NATION speak !s euoey. Lit tine RESPECT we nav
to hs councils and the fond recollection we cherish
9th virtues and greatness, shew veneration or
his character.
During the long * ariuous struggle foronr Indepen-
dence, Washington n en- rcprobaed the raitia system
prodigsl and inefficient. In letter to Congress il,
1870 used the following pr, ssieus: To paceanv
dependence npoe miits, Is, assuredlv, resting upon
broken sttf. Men, Just dragged from the tender
scenes OF domestic life, unaccustored TO he din ara
totally unscqusinted with every kind Of military skill
which, being ioswed by want of confidence in them
selves when opposed troops regularly trained dis
cpined and appointed, superior IN Knowledge and s-
perior IT, srrsS, makes them t,niI and really to hv
icom their ow,f shadows. Besides the sudden change
in their manner ptlvug, (particulary in tbe lodging
D, .Tlf
an uneUnqueT ibie desire Of turning to q cir r,ecti,
homes, that Only produces slsmefl and seanfa
Ious deserobs among themselves bat inuses the like
.prit into others"
.. gain, men accustomed to ,lubouAded freeaorn
ard confront, cannon brook the restraint which is IN
jspensy necessary the good order aud government
0i au army without which iceutjousness and every.
kmd o disorder trumphanty reign To bring men 10
proper degree OF subordiuston is not the work o.
slsy, month, or even year aud, unhapp!y for Us
aM thc csus- in which we are eCgged, the ldle dis
cpline have been iabOrinS 10 establish in tie aruv
uner my immediate command, Is in a manner done
away, bv having surh mixture Of troops rs have bon
allied together within these few rontis -" Besia.,
,ns, soch repeated changes take place, thar a 1,s,r,,
10 nough, sud the constant auc'n ,tin or
tu,ngs, dersng, every plan rs fast adopted"
" hcst, sir, Congress may b. aesu,ed sre bat
pnaii paTt OF u Inconvenience cl night b. emu
'nersied, and attributed to the ~ i0bt there ia one,
that merits particular atieutof end hat IS the erh,re
Certain am tii 1t would BE- CHE PPR 70 keen fftv ar
hundred thousand on constant paw than 20 depc,d
upon tii ult huUlDcFs avn supply the other halt
sosoualy, by militia The tin,e the Iatfer arr. !, ,x
before and after they IN camp, assemble add
marching the waste Of samnuitiou, the eonsurton ,r
stores, which, IN spite OF every resolution o.. eqiUso,
Of Congress they he furnished wth or So, home
sdded % Otber incidental expences consequent uuoo
their coming, and conduct in ean s,rpas,.s at idea,
and destroys every kind Of regularity and economv
which you co ld establish among hxci &, settled tr,o
aud will, ny opinion, prov (f the sche me is ibcr
TOY tic ruin oi0ir use" " I7ccre e1lL,I ,o y, d.
ciaye ,boi oath, roLcther hs rakHa hlps 5-s1 mas,
SerwCeabe hVrfti2 UPON the zshoe I sdoteld mn
sc17be 10 the iafter" ESpcrienec which is ths bt
criterion work by, fully clearly and deciFy.1
reprobstes the practice Of trusting to mil tia tR no
man who regards order, regularity and eeonon,v or
Who hes euy regard for IBIS own honor charaot., NJ
peace OF mind, viii risk them uDon ttsissue"
In another letter. he says, " clear in opinioo
That forty Thousand msn had been kept in constant
pay since the fret commencement of hostides and
the militia hsd been excused doing duty during that
Yeriod the continent would have saved money When
rehect on the losses have sustained for he want of
good troops the certainty Of this isplsOed beyond
doubt IN my mind In such case the militis who have
been hsrrsssed ard tired by repeated calls upon them
fand farming and manufactures in measure SUSPEND
cd,) would, upon any pressing emergency, have ran /
with alscrity 10 whereas, the cry now is they
may be As well ruined way as another and with
difficulty they obtained"
These are the deliberate opinions Of GrNePA1 |
WAsmNeroS, frankly expressed to Congress in awful
snt critical fraer