Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-10-27
COMMUNICATIONS.

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Mr.. SSowpEN-lt appears without design |
have cast firebrand INTO the camp. have waited
thus long, to give your various military CORES
pondents an opportunity to display To you l
presume it will be sufficient to say that did not
intend to do "some injustice" to any one. To
them must say, that they are fighting windmills,
If they suppose l wish to induce men to resist
the laws, and stir them up to some sudden
act of mutiny." Don't be alarmed, gentlemen:
there is no danger Of - Gunpowder Plot or a
revolution! These are all the phantoms of your
heated imasinatioDs. My interrogatories were
all based upon common report, and it is crafty
ing to see them answered SO promptly and so sat
istactorily. But the fact OF more than one half
of las, wears receipts having been applied TO the
extinguishment of debts due by the Regiment,
which were contracted between the years 1915
and 1922, isa convincing proof of bad manage
ment in the fiscal department those yeais. If
the Regiment has not in eight years, been able to
discharge the debts due at the close of the year
1922, it shews that part of the complaint has
not been without some reasonable cause. Whe-
ther " Justice" can ''ride in the whirlwind and
direct the storm" or not, | do not pretend TO
know, but should suppose, from his confident
manner, that he is at least well satisfied with
hitnseif: Probably his advice to me, to "look
with more GOODNESS to the subject" would not
be entirely lost on himself. | make 10 preten-
sions to superior wisdom, nor have | affirmed
that :. am competent" But seeing defect in
the system, which you and others admit does ex-
list. took the liberty of calling the attention of
the public to it. If have succeeded in that, my
ends are attained. 1t is not my wish to destroy
but to improve. My object was not TO cast un-
just imputations upon our officers; and did sup
pose had been sufficiently guarded TO prevent
any misrepresentation. The system was my aim.
Do you discover any thing in all this like mutiny
or rebellion, coming even from the pen even of a
common soldierf cannot agree with You that this
il not proper time to agitate the question. -
When better than Immediately before session
of Congress? II NAV not be amlss for me TO in
form - Bsyard'' that s's op'' would not have
been preventive with me. have had the offer
kag sy,,e, and night now have been mounted,
While he, in all probability, scaiks:
Your friend.
October 90. PENN.
From the sublime to the ridiculous there 10 but one
tep"-NGpOleon.
iNr. Snotoden--'i'he great Captain of the age
has left no saving the truth Of which is more often
exemplifed- seldom, | think, more fully
than in the tenor OF some late communications In
your Gazette
In reply TO some very reasonable interrogato-
ries of - PENN" forth steps the chevaller, with-
out fear and without reproach, "who talks of ''re-
distance to the laws" 'mutiny." officers . re-
sulary appointed" and to be ''regaiariy o6ey-
ed''-on the fine glorious days by law appointed
no more, l presume. Next comes ''Justice,"
who accuses :. Penn of desire to raise storms
and whirlwinds, or, in common place terms, 10
4,
citizens--Tells US that Warrington, the father
great, from his da VITO thsS resent, have been In
favor of the Militia sYsAm. Truly, from the
sublime to the ridiculous there is but one step
For my part, never witness Militia training
(the Volunteer Companies, of course, not allud-
ed to,) without being forcibly reminded of the
array of honest Sir John Falstaf Onr troops
are better clothed. and Of more respectable call
mos; but they, too, march somewhat as it they
50 had gives on though certainly not for the
same reason; and no man, whose patriotism is
not greater than his pride, would march through
Coventry with them"
Seriously, however, the admission of "Jus-
tice,' that, in some IL or Is years, the regiment
has not succeeded in paving It's debts, lit certain
IL has not been for want ct fning absentees pref
~ severely shews that there have been faults
somewhere, and at some period, and is at least
some justification Of the remarks of sPenn.'-
After all, is the present system worth preserv-
ings Is it not an onerous tax On working man |
to lose FIVE days. labor? Is not the sum of SIS |
NEARLY enough to pay the tuition of boy at one
Of our best English schools,) an onerous tax on
those who, from whatever cause, do not turn out?
Is there one private in hundred, the Volunteers
always excepted, who has any motive or induce
ment to join in the farce, except that Of saving
his fine:
Let us, then. endeavor to abolish this odious.
oppressive, and worse than useless, system; and
when the hour of trial arrives there will be found
men enough ready to defend their country, and
heir coantry's rights, to the cry of
S.VIVALY Shirt
Thirty wagons passed through this city last
.