Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-02-11


Although il may be considered, that bv pre-
Senting bill for the" organization and ciassisi-
cation OF the militia, and the exposition of their
motives which acccrl any II, the committee
nave performed tile task assigned them by the
resolution under which they .-.ed they have
nevertheless believed IL to be their duty TO
submit some further views, the result of
their deliberations upon this important sub
ject.
!. This course may he more excusab,c. as the
Committee have no hesitation in acknowledge
my, that the plan embraced bv the bill, is A
mere eNpedient-a choice OF t,itiruitics-asys-
ten which although il will place the militia
upon much better tontin.. than they have
before stood on, yet is rot likely to produce
that great desideratum-that Indispensable
requisite m government constituted like
ours.-the diffusion ola military spirit and mill
t"y Information throughout the great mass of
the people.
The part Of the subject which still remains 10
be discussed, will be best understood by divi-
ding II into two neutrality-suspicious.:
Ist. Is IT desirable that the whole male pop
iliation of the United States, OF the pro-
per age, should be trained 10 the use of
arms, so rs to superscde under any cir
cumstances, the necessity of Il standing
amy
2t. Is it practicable
The so!icitude which has been manifested
by the great men who have successivelv fill
ed the office IT Chief Magistrate ofthe United
states, tor the adoption of system of militia
~ uisCtptlile LOT the Nflttia, Witch would pro-
duce the effect contemplated by the first pro-
position, sufficiently manieSts their sense Of
its Importance. The subject was often and
warmly recommended by the father Of his
country, and, at an early period of his admi-
nistraton, plan tor the purpose was pro-
posed by the Secretary of War. and, be;ar
corrected agrceably to his suggestions, was
submitted TO the rational legislature. Its be.
heNed, that objections to The expence and
supposed difficult, OF executing this plan and
not to its object was the cause of It's being
rejected. is the opinion, which prevailed at
that period, that an energetic national militia
was to be regarded as the capital security of
free republic, less apparent mt the present;
Has amy thing since occurred, either in the his
tory of onr own or of any other country. to
show, that standing "army forming distinct
class IN the community" is the proper ,efence
OF a government constructed like ours2 Do
The events of the late war show that discipline
is not necessary for the militia: or docs the
present aspect OF the political world afford so
much security as to justify the indifference
which prevails in providing an efiectual natl
onal defence.
It's impossible that any American can recur
to many of the events, and particularly to the
concluding scenes of the late war, without
feeling that elevation of mind which re-
CORRECTION OF his country'S glory is calculated
10 produce.
There are, however, Others and not few.
that are enincntly calculated To shew, that
an immense sacrifice of blood and treasure
pine IN the militia. The glorious success
which i'll several instances crowned their eff
forts, was the result OF uncommon vaer or of
vdlor united with the advantage of position
suiteh 10 tbeir peculiar character. The great
erpart OF the American militia, accustomed
from their early youth to the use of firearms
are Doubtless more fOrmid able than any other
troops lii the world in the defence OF a line or
rampant. Victories in the field are gained by
other qualities-hy those disciplined evolnti
onS which give harmony and concert 10 hume
rOnS BODIES OF men, and enable whole armies
to move wththe activity and address of SINGLE
cem0atants. Let our militia be instructed
aud America would be equal to a contest with
the rest of the world united The improyc
ments which have been made i'm the art of war
since the commencement OF the French reyo-
ihtiou, give greater advantages to invading
and disciplined armies, acting against those of
contrary character, than they before pos
SeSSed. IhIsarises from their increased acti-
v,ty, produced by the great multiplication of
tleir iIght troops; the celebrity ofmOyement
given 10 the artillery and above all, to the
improvements in the staff, placing the subsis-
tence OF large armies upon a footing of securi
ty, beyond what was formerly supposed 10 be
possible. Animprovemcnt in tactics, which
gives advantages to the protested soldier who
iiShts Tor conquest, over the citizen who bears
arms only III defence of his country, is perhaps
TO be regretted, and no alternative is lett TO
TIE iattef, but TO perfect himself in the same
arts and discipline. Lit is believed that there
10 no t'"CS VII 'ecortl- OF republic, whose
citizens had been trained to the use Of arms
having been conquered by a nation posing
dtherent form OF government. Small reptb-
lies have been overthrow by those which
were more powerful; as Saguntum DESTROYED
by Carthage, and Nnmantia by Rome; but it
has been observed Of those governments that
" walls aud towers became their funeral piles
leaving nothing to their conquerors but their
ashes"
The committee cannot conceive that anv
aspect, however pacific il may be, which the
governments of Europe may for the present
have assumed towards this country should he
used as anargument to procrastnate even far
= day, any measure calculated 20 render their
future hostility abOrtiye. IT canuot be be-
lieved that any real friendship can exist i'm tIe
breasts OF the sovereigns of that continent for
government which has been founded upon
principles 80 opposite to theirs and which by
the happiness il diffnses. affords an eternal al
ire and reproach ap0n their conduct. What
ever security there may be derived from
theIr pOhcy none can certainty he eNpected
from their fOrbearance whenever from a
change OF circumstances, they NAV think il
proper 10 change their policy. The liberties
OF America muStthen he preserved as they
were Won by The arms, the discipline and the
vaicr Of her free horn sons.
But the defence of our country against a
foreign enemy, does not constitute the only
lperhaps the chief motive of military inn
proyements, 10 the extent contemplated by
tie proposition VIC are considering The
safety OF republic depends as much upon
tue equality IN the use of arms amongst
rs citizens. as upon the equality OF rights; no.
thing can be more dangerous in such govern
ment, than 10 have knowledge of the militia
ryart confined to part Of the peopie-for
sooner or later that part will govern
The efects OF discipline possessed by few
70 c0ntrolnumbers without. is 10 he seen in all
n