Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-11-14

numerous and effective force than they
bad ever brought into the field; TO con-
centrate our own, was impossible, from
the want of means 10 transport them hun
dreds of leagues, and from their already |
occupying posts from which they could |
not be spared. expert need |
the most painful embarrass ment oi mind, |
when compelled to choose between two |
extremes equally perilous; 10 abandon |
the districts of the interior, ana the army
which covered them, 10 the utmost ha-
Yard or tn desist from the attempt To re-
conquer Chil., expOsIn, the province of
Cuyo To subiugation. a,,length adopt
ed the conrseinspired by courage, battling
the plans of the enetny's generals, La
Serna, and Marco. The Patriot army,
against which that of Lima was intended
ia operate, WAS rapidly reinforced, The dis
cipllne and subordinatiou, winch had
been lost, during the period OF our reyer-
ses, were III short time restored. Its
present strength, responsibility and ell
cheney IL Known 10 you, III common with
iiie rest OF our fellow citizens and more
would you have seen, il the enemy who
now flies before us, beaten and hunlbled
had not encountered arampari ofroy atty,
and valour in the province of Saita
The army of Cuyo, far from giving
way tofilat ofPeru, maintained its ground
until regiments were marched from that
capital 70 ITS reinforcement new regl-
nents were created with rapidity almost
incrcdible, through the noble devotedness
and generous liberslity oi that province,
In order TO accelerate The final preparaii-
ons, for setting or foot the siupendoasde-
sigus, which had been formed, of scaling
the Andes whose successful issue win
afford to other nations some means of es-
timatiug the responsibility of our power,
as II has struck terror into the minds of
our enemies has kindled gratitude i'm the
hearts Of our brethren of Chill, and erect
power and glory of our country.
The army of this capital was organized
atthe same time with those of the Andes
a. the interior; the regular force has been
nearly doubled; the militia has made
great progress IN military discipline our
slave population has been formed into
battalions, and taught the military art
as faras is consistent with their condition.
The capital is under apprehension that
an army at ten thousand men can shake
its liberties, and should the Peninsulari-
ans send against Us thrice that number
ample provision has been made TO receive
them.
Our navy has been fostered in all its
branches the scarcity of means under
which we laboured until now has not
prevented us from undertaking very
considerable operations, with respect TO
the national vessels; all of them have
been repaired, and Others have beenpur-
chased and armed, tor the defence Ofour
coasts and rivers; provisions have been
made, should necessity require il, for arm
ing many more, SO that the enemy will
NJ frrN ri II Ill
even upon the ocean.
Oar military force, al every point which
IL occupies, seems To be animated by the
same spirit: It's tactics are uniform, and
have undergone rapid Improvement
from the science and experience, which
II has borrowed from warlike nations.
Our arsenals have been replenished with
arms, and sufficient store Of cannon
and munitions of war has been provided
10 MAINTAIN the contest for manv wears
and this, alter having supplied articles of
every description to those districts which
.iaTe not as yet come into The union.
nut whose connection with us has been
only intercepted by reason of our past
misfortunes.
Our legions daily receive considerable
sus'nentations from new Ievies; all our
preparations have been made, as though
we were about to enier upon the contest
anew. Until now, the vastncss of orr
resources were unknown to lis, and our
enemies may contemplate, with deep NOR
fscaiion and despair, the present -four
is!nRg state OF these provinces after so
many devastations.
The Office of Major General, has been
re-establlshed, for the purpose of giving
uniform direction 10 our armies, in order
TO foster the militia in all its details, and
I" regulate the system of military econo-
'ly. The general officers, aud those of
lower grade, occupied, in those duties.
VIII iiShlen the labours of the government,
81 tie same time rendering more prac-
fical the progress and Improvement of
which the military force is susceptible.
thus forming by degrees body of ex-
pert soIdlery, who will al once be an
honor TO their country, and serve as lis
irnest pillars IN times ofdanger.
Whist thu occupied in providing for
Our safety within, and preparing for as
s.auits from without, other objects of solid
Interest have not been neglected, and
which hitherto were thought to oppose
lnsurmOuntable obstacles.
Our system of finance had hitherto
been on a footing entirely inadequate to
The unfailisg supply of our wants. and
snll more TO the liquidation of the
immense debt which had been contract
{ I IN former years. An unremitted appli-
cation to this object has enabled Inc TO
create the means of satisfying the Gre
ntors otthe state, who lad already a
bandoned their debtsaS lost, as well as
to devise a fixed mode, bywbich the tax
IS may be made 70 fall equally and imdi-
fectly, on the whole mass ofour popula-
iion; il is not the least merit of this o.
peration, that II has been effected in des-