Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-03-22
PUBLISHED BY
PHILIP DU-VAL & Co.
d E B A TIE
ON TUE
L q IT, ~ DT 70 ~ \


Peace Establishment, the house were ra :
ther acting in the dark. having before them
neither the estimates nor the fac on which
they were founded. In determining the a /
mount of the Military Establishment, he
said, the house OUGHT to take into view three
objects, and graduate the force to be retain
ed accordingly: The proper maintenance
and garrison of our military posts and for
tresses the retention of so large force as
would keep alive military science and serve
as seminary for that purpose and the
adaptation of our military force TO the Doll.
cy ef the enerny in regard to this country
As regarded either Of these objects, it ap.
peared to him the house was not in posses
sion of inform ation to enable it to act under
standingly. What force would be neccssa
~ to guard cur seaDorts, to protect our
Northwestern & Western frontier from IN :.
dian hostility OF this there was no esti.
mate. but every thing was left TO conjecture
As to the second point, practical military
men ought TO b. consulted whether it
would be proper to keep up a military
force to maintain military science
The next question was the most impor>
tant: Have we a sufficient knowledge
of the force and policy { the enemy to au
thcrize reduCt on of cur military force
He conteaded We: had not. What would be
the feelings of England on receiving intelli
gence of the late events, he did know
Whether the soreness of her recen, defeat
would produce disposition to remain at
peace or to retaliate, no gentleman could
say, If there was any doubt on the subject,
we ought to act with caution in reducing our
military establishment. What course the
enemy will pursue we Cannot determine
whether he will keep up small peace es-
tabshmeGt or large military force, we do
not know. 1t ought TO be reCollecsed, that
he has abundance of military means, and
that living is as cheap in Canada as in Eng
land. If the enemy should keep up force
on orr borders Of SO or 80 thousand men,
instead of reducing it to four or FIVE thou
sand, would it be wise for US wholly to dis
arm it would not. Mr., e. said he depre-
Gated such a state of things; but, if the
enemy should retain large force in service
in our vicinity, il would be highly impo!itic
for us to reduce ours as low rs is proposed
The gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Jack.
sony had on former day, remarked that
our situation was particularly felici:ous in
having no enemy name diately in our neigh
borEood. But, it ought to be borne in mind
that the most powerful nation in Europe
possessed provinces adjoining our terrific
nv, into which she could readily pour an
armed force. He hoped that nation never
would, but it might do so. Suppose. with
forty thousand men, he chose, without
notice, to make hostile movement against
our territory every strong position on the
NIAGARA frontier would fall at once INTO his
hands, * the gery expence we wish 70 avoid
must be quadrupled to enable US to regain
them Having neither estimates nor facts
as he had before remarked, the house ought
On rant;nnelu 10 eaS ., kaa e,l
diers than IN get them to have officers of
skill and rerown III yoor po.session, than TO
make them. Let us wait a while before
we reduce our army to mere Peace Esta-
blishment.
MI. GOLDSBOROUGH said that one
argument which had been urged in favor of
a large military establishment appea, ed to
him TO cot both ways. II was commended
that it was our duty TO keel up q large mir
litary force until our late enemy reduces
his. SUPPOSE cur late enemy in the same
wag should keep up his force because we
keep " ours? We shall maintain our pre-
sent military for ever: and this argument
there fore, goes too far, 1t appeared to
him Mr.. @. said, that gentlemen holding
the affirmative of the question of reduction
of the srmyto 5000 men, need resort for its
suptor, only TO the general policy Of the
country, TO the duty Of every member of
tie house to relieve his constituents from
the heavy burthens which mu be imposed
on them for its support. This argument is
sufficiently solid to repel all the Arguments
he had heard in favor OF a larger military
establishment than six thousand men. The
advocates Of larger force had dwelt On the
apprehension of war with Spain, and of
a rem, y nj Of the war with Britain. Were
gentlemen SeriCusS Did they mean to a
farm the country by such language Did
they mean TO express wish for Sparish
war lie hoped not. Our complaint a.
gainst Spain. it any, is that she has been &C.
oessary TO the acts of principal aggressor
on our rights. Having released The princi.
pal (Frarce) he hoped we should not make
war upon a secondary power AS to Wet
Florida, we have possessi n and it mas be
a good reason to raise an army 10 def, nd it
whenever we shall have reason to believe
1t will be attacked, bot not before As to
the renewal cf war with Great Britain, he
had no sort If fear of it. The difficuI'ies
which arose in carrying into eject the trea
~ Of 1888, afforded no argument in favor
Of the expectation Of a SIMILAR course now.
Britain then complained that we had not
complied with some Of the stipulstions in
that treaty, ard parucu srly that which
secured to British ci.izens the debts due
to them before the war, and we complained
that she did not deliver MP some Of the vests
ern posts pud both parties we're uuques-
Uonably TO blame 1t had been said, that