The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1822-12-27

| the existence of the other.--lt Is not the
exercise IN itself of these doubtful powers
by Congress thai is complained of but II is
! thee xercise of them, without the consent OF
! ihe people, or, in other words of the eonsii-
t luton, that is objected TO. The utility of
rcposin5 the power ofappfopriating money
/ for purposes of internal Improvements III
I The bands Of Congress, is granted by many
Of the most strenuous oPponepts Of the un-
constitutional exercise of it; q whilst such
a power might be usefuly exercised for the
/ benefit aud ornament OF the country, II sure
! protection against IFS abuse would be found
| ~ the accountability of Congress, and its
fears of mourning the apprehension of its
constituents.
The President displays considerable soli-
citude, as lac has done IN former messages,
on the subject of The army. lie seems To
| 1pprehend further attempts 10 reduce or
ldisband II, aud evidently anticipates aud
| dcpFecates second fling at the West
Point nstitution--W Whether his apprehen.
sions are well founded or not, am unable
| 10 say, bat firmly believe that public sen
| timcnt would approve both reduction Of
the army If not All entire DISARMAMENT, and
d suppression OF the military school--Ac-
cUrdIng 10 theory of our iustltutions-we
need mllltary force for the sole and exclu
siye purpose of self Characterization aud
conquest are repugnant To our pacific pro-
iessiuns and 10 the construction 0four go.
ycrnmont /; and "A further acquisition of ter
rlory reaching az our country already does
10 two oceans which bound the extlemlties
Of the csrtfv wond be needless and lmpo-
lite. Of all nations on the globe, we are
best projected by our isolated situation,
from foreign insult or invasion and from
the aspect OF our foreign relations, we not
only have no reason to apprehend an inter
ruption of the psoIound repose We ENJOY,
but il is scarcely possible 10 imagine any
cause Or causes, which could produce such
a rosult-The late war with England grew
out of the peculiar situation with regard TO
belllgerent Europe, which impeilcd her
from considerations Of national safety, to
violate in the persons of American scamss,
aud in the article of American commerce,
the principles Unnatural Justice, and nation
al law-lt was an extraordinary state of
things, and one which no combination Of
future events is likely TO reproduce. 1t is
susceptible of easy demonstration, that En-
gland will never voluntarily provoke war
with the IT, States ; but on the contrary,
would incur any sacrifice her pride would
sabmit to, to avoid one She has every
thing TO lose by such an event, and no
thing TO gain. She could make no i'm
preston upon MS, whilst her commerce
and her colonial territories would be n
like exposed to destruction and inva-
sion--Her commerce is rich aud more
extended than ours, and our means of mo-
testing and destroying il scarcely less suf-
Gclent and efectual than her's-ltis folly To
anticipate future war with her, and still
greater folly, If we did, to expect a military
inyaslon--If we are then not exposed to
the contingency Of war, from the influence
ofany events which have an existence, or
which are likely 10 occur in the ordinary H.
mt of human calculation, where is the need
ofincurring heavy annual and undimin-
lshlng expense, TO erect and keep in repair
Qualifications, whose hostile artillery will
probably be first pointed by the hand OF CT
wi strife, and the semblance of an army
| which will never see the face of foreign
entmy--lt is not danger 10 our libertie.
that IL feared from the presence of this
small army in the country, dispersed Ms il
| Is over such All immense surface: this dan
ger would be chmerical if the force itself
were much grcater--but il is the uselcssness
OF the appcndagc, the theoretical economy
which the government processes, and the
particular need there is at this time of car
rying such professions into pracnce. If the
nation have superfluous treasure, which the
government is at loss To dispose of, let il
demand M amendment to the constitution.
asking OF the people the power To com
| mence aud perfect n sy stem of internal i'm
provement.
II the army itself be supernuous, the Nj
litary School may be termed a nuisance.-
| II IL admitted to be an excellent school, but
II IS one reserved only for special class
| /, is not common TO the youth of the Re
public and the privileges which il con(crs
do not cease with the completion of the e.
dncation, but extend 10 admission into the
| army. A West Point Cadet has the pre-
terence to vacant commission over every
other citizen in thecountry tho this latter
may have exhausted his patrimony, 10 ac-
P'nre at some other academy the same
course of military institution. They are
pad hy the government at the rate Of 81.
amohth, independent of their education :;
II they choose ut the end of four wears Ia
enter the army, they have prior claim to
promotion over all other citizens but if
they prefer, as is often the case, to abandon
TIE profession for which they were educa-
tea, they enterwlth superior advantages in
10 the pursuits of civil life. Such is this
! republican institution an evil at all times
| as training III "A hand al citiycns d.,,,.l =,
the powers for the time being; intoxicating
The da'lsh doctrines ofmitary obedience,
aud violating the principles of Individual G.
quality ; tolerable only, when the safety of
the country demands the sacrifice of every
Other consideration, but superauous and
dangerous at all other times. Such SEMI.