Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-12-06

wecan apply ourtlourishing finances. We
may build uew forts, or strengthen our
oil ones an lie best manner-lay IN sea-
soned llGihcr, Tor our navy, and gradually
extend tive nlay add 10 our artillery.
and place \ n,usAct in TN, hands Of ever,
ycoman. We iiius realize the problem OF
all armed nation. We prnsem, an altitude
io inreiga countries, which is calculated
10 command their respect, and To main
tam our own confidence in ourselves
We are not only rich now-hut what is
more, we feel that we have the means of
paying ANY debt, and mourning any risk
that may be requisite in The defence of
our rights. We prefer peace; but we will
mol shrink from lust amt necessary war
we VIII not bedlscouraged from It's prose
cution by the prospect of a public debt
because wesee with what case we canpay
of III 4 time of peace, all The debts which
we may contract during Il period of hos
tilily. Sach Is the growth OF this coun-
try, so rapid M It's advancement So wealth,
so elastic is the industry OF lis . oplr on
the return OF peace, thai we shall be de-
TERED by no apprehension of Il war debt,
from resisting any invader. In state of
war, we may be poOr-but the next year,
ii peace returns, Il flood of plenty pourS
into our lap. WIro that contemplalcs the
picture which The President sketches az
our finances, does not remember with as
tonisiImeni the dark and disconraging
torebOdings that were thrown ont in lSi4t
The storm war has but JUS, gone by;
and already we see our treasury overflow
ing. This was what the republicans pre-
dictcd; aud II has now come 10 pass
The enemies of The war drew the dark EST
pictures of ruin. They begged us Ia
bend oar neck to AN arrogant enemy TO
sioop TO indlgniy to submit 10 the or
ders in council; TO suffer our gallant sea-
men to be impressed into capiivi.y-A-
mong other arguments, one was urged
which always has its weight with the pena-
vious, aud the faint hearted; that we were
poor; that our treasury would he exhaust
eel, our credit gone, Il heavy load of debt
would be thrown upon our posterity and
that ii was better 10 fold our arms in pail
ence. They did not end here. Some ofthem
tried TO realize their own predictions to
run down the credit of tic treasury 10
arrest the loans that were going To repien-
ish it 4; 10 dissuade their friends from Civ
ing any relief; and, III fact, -" TO stop The
wheels oithe government" One ofthem
went so far, I've speak of the fact with
regret, because with all his political sins,
he has the credit of retiring TO the shades
of private life poor and honest one OF
them, a laader in their ranks, publicly de
clared, t6at he should not conceive him
self bound TO return any loan that might
then be made by The government But
the war has passed away-our rights de
Tended" our brows crowned with victo-
rions wrcaiis'-and so light is The pres
sure of the war debt, so great the return
OF our prosperity, that our treasury is o.
verilowing with wealth; lis credit greater
than ever it was The 6 per cents. which
were taken al so or 50, are above par
and all the gloomy predictions of distem
pered faction, havevanlshed into Thin air.
The Message further states, that 40 ur
preparations for defence, in case of future
wars, from which, by the experience of
all nations, we ought not 10 expect TO be
exempted, are advancing, under we'll
digested system, with all the dispatch
which so important work will admit. :"
And We nave this striking and encourage
ing fact subsequently disclosed 10 us.
that by The last returns 10 the Depart
| ment of War, the mihtia force of the Sc
veral states may be estimated at EIGHT
HUNDRED THOUSAND MEN, infantry,
artillery and cavalry. Great part of this
force is armed, and measures are taken
TO arm tie aChOie." What confidence i'm
our strength do we derive from Tin, stale
ment! We are eight hundred thousand
strong, and in tew years we shall all be
armed Compare it with The numbers al
which Sir Robert Wilson has lately stated
the military force oftbe Russian Empire
What appTehensions should we enter
tain of a rencontre with that immense
region But very diiferentis the destiua-
81, L
shall not abuse that power We shall
moi exiend our territory by the force of
arms. We shall strike no unfortunate Po-
land from the map of nations. But we
shall employ il to defend our rights and
liberties against every invader. lie, us
feel orr strength then moi abuse it. Let
IT'S dare 10 do what is rigIIt--and act up
OH those principles, in our relations with
foreign states, which are prescribed by
our duties or their rights. Let us do our
duty, leaving the consequences 10 God
Let us dcsplse that coward policy,
which would whisper rs TO avoid the
recognition OF any Of the South AmerI-
can states, for fear of giving oiInce 10
the LegitImates Of Europe.
But 10 give orr militia all the force of
which il is susceptible, we must attend
10 the Presidents suggestion" An i'm
provcmeih IN the organization and dis
cipline Of file militia is one of the great
objects which oIams the unremtted at
tentiou OF Congress" One of the strongest
features OF such an organization is TO
give the u. States the direct jursdi ton
over them--not TO make acquisitions upon
the states, and trust 10 the disposition of
their Governors 20 enforce iiiem-b but TO
learn wisdom from tic disatlecled niagis-
traies of Massachusetts and Connecticut
and to place The nntiOaatagm underline
control OF theaaioaai ,o,H II is thus we
shall enforce. not violate the constitution