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-. ! r 1 hi R AX.'" -e&RO 12 Wl WEEKILY ADVERTISER. ' Oora arc the Plansof fair delightful Peace, : . Unwarp'4 by Party- Rage t live like BiotlieM." Voi. i. vs day, March 4; 1.800. 5 1 1 BIG f i. ! ' f I . ' . i- - ' ... . i ...... i-. . " ' . . - NORTH CONTINUATION OF THE DEBATE ON Mr. Nicholas's Propoitidn ' Per repealing certain Partpf the Ad for raiiln; aa additional Army. Mr. Randolph opened his mlrd en fpeech by a ftortaiHium jand then proceeded his col- league Mr. Marfhall . he faid, iimerita . fame time to His great talents, had lut this fub jeb in a Rate in which he didnot cxpedt to find it, when coming out of his hands, as he had advanced no thing which difproved the propriety of adopting theprefem meafure; ind us he had produced no arguments of weight, he fhould take it for granted that none could be adduced. Mr. R. oppofed ths eftablifhment of ji ftandmg army ia-th:s country, not finiy as an ufelefs and enormous exDef?ce. but upon the Wound of tfrs I . w conftitution. The fpirit of that in firunacnt, and the genius of a free people, are equally hoftile to this dangerous inflltution, which ought to-be reiorteorto (if at all) only m extreme cafes of difnculiy and dan ger. Yet let it be remembered that uiage is tantamount to every written obligation, and let us beware of en grafting this abufe upon our confti tution. A people who mean to con free, mult be prepared to meet dinger.in p.CaA,-and hot rely on the fallacious protjhftion of mercenary srinies. He wuld name a meifure which woulu protect us from every fear of danger, llect the wilhes of the people beftovv a part of the an nual millions which- are levied upon them, to the purpoi of arming and torganizing the Miliftia.; for if ever jrw oation ihould b4 fo rafh as to at tempt in in valionbf thefe ftatcs, if is upohthe 'Militu that we rhuft rely for the defence ?f thejr own rights, and everything dear to man. The word might be grating to the ears of iome gialemen, but in that cafe, we mu ft rely upon rcquifttion. No coun try linpofieffed. of the pecuniary re lources of Britain, can afford fnor can Ihe Jo it confiftently with pub- - ri " j - ...-.ww nary. army adequate to her defence, r rce had beeri obliged to abandon tlj.;,t;fyftcm, and to relbrt to reqiii jjCioriS of Militia. - Mr. R. wpuld not at empt to an tfsi'"er arguments drawn from a fup poied analogy between this country ajn.d Holland, Switzerland, &c. when no fuch analogy exiftsV Nor did he think thatfxhe Adminiftratorsof our Government had any reafon to be ctbliged to the member frm D-la- rare for 1'uggeftmg that thefe troops xnavbeneceffarv to overawe a hoftile faction, who (likempopprefTed fub ic6ls of the Batavian and Swifs Ari- lfcocracies) anxious for any change, j irom a perluahon that none could be ; more intolerable, and who might be difpofed therefore to join the. itand ardof ari in vading foe. Inftnuations that thefe troops. are to be ufed, on whatever pretext,; again ft our own people, would not reconcile him to ; the meafure. Mr, R. had hoped that our diftancc from, the gieat difturb- ers of human repofe, would have fe cured us from thdfe perpefual alarms, thofc armings and counter armings, which have raifed the national debt cf Britain to iu prefent aftonifhing amount, and nhich" fends her la bourers fupperlefs to bed. This is the mifchief which poifons that country, of all othtrs perhaps the molt .blefled, in point of loil, cji mateand podtion, ' ; " He was friendly to the refold t ion pn another ground. He believed it would remote a eonfiderablo caufeof irritation; for the military parade which meets the eye jh jalmdft every diieflion, had excited the gall oFour citizsns ; theyxecl a juft indignation at the light ;of f louhgers Who live upon the public, who ebnfume 'the fruits of their hdneftinduftrv, under the pretext ofpTdterngthern from a foreign yoke.: lie faid the people put ho confidence in the proteclio& 9& a handful of ragiai7iiikns. ihw know th2t when danger comes, they -r.uft.mert it, and they only a fit arms your; hands. Gentlemen talked of organizing the miiitja, "he tailed onincm to do to. i Inltead of reduc ing the prefent .force; he could wifti to fee the whole of it, reprobated as it is by the people, abanaoned, and the. defence of the cduntrv olaced in the hands of trie tieople themielves v 'fcO do not want to- have jhor nofes 7"' .:" fe..' held-to the ermditorrmp pay pro tectors. TheV'WiOi to employ the furDlufaiiecvfi their labours in increaf- ing thjpr projKirry, and in providing tor their orispnng. But we areafked, fajd Tr. R. how we are tp maintain our indepe.ndr ence. i ne queition- js not the pre fervation of our independence. It is fimply whether vre will' confent t a reduction ot an expenhve elta- biiihmeiUI hoftile to our liberties, whichcatinot be brought toactagain ft the enemy, and which, in cafe of ih- vaiion, would make but a paltry part of our defence, and appropriate the faving to objects of , real utility. nut it. is -laid the conhitency of otir councils will be called in queftioh, from rttracing lteps wach former legislatures vhad tafcen. . He would make fome facrifice to prefer ve the reputation of our councils ; But he muft notdo it at xhe&pence of du xy. ir our admmiitration iad here tofore expended the piiblic-money on imorouer o!" iecls ' h'rnnld n'nt confent to continue fucK tneafufisf in order to bolfter4.ixp 'thcif tohftfc ency. , - ; ' " Mr. R. next adverted to the. ftate of the public finances. If, faidhe; the cotninand of mortey. by indireflt methods were atteoded with no ih- convert ienee ; if for the payment of every Ih illO'g we borrow, every foot or iana in the Union did not ltand pledged, then-reiort to the favorite fc lource might not be fo unpleafant' but our people abhor the principles which it affords. They dread ityjf$Psj than honour. Who would n.tivy lit IIIC alii ccHiiccjuences ; wnetner they are warranted-in thefrfimpreflions, from a 20 years peace and a 10 years ope ration f f this government, he left gentlemen to determine. What is the confequence? J: Our debt has been dimiriilhed by hundreds of . i 1 .1 ... t)ioufandsand mcreafed by millions ! Theiiebt which was contracted dur- ingour revolutionary war, we know is ihe price of bur independence : We pay it witlioupi murmur, Vh wifh that the revenues raifed for that purpoft, could have been poured in to the lap of the Defenders of ihe Country, rather than the coffers f lpecuhtion. Should our negociation fail, it is a deed if gentlemen would then be willing to abandon" this defence ? For himfelf Mr. R. faid, he believed it impoflible for this country much as might be iqueezed from the people) to luppoit a mercenary force ade quate 10 its protection againft a pow erful invading5 foe. The country muft be protected tTr the people. A colleague of his had fpoken of the probable deficit in our revenue as trifling, and xhat if it was much lareer. it outht tint tr rlm-jnrl rvnf O Mvumjiu UI regard. Was it not furprifin to lee gentlemen put a fmileof contempt on a deficit of five Tniirrrc venu of nine, and ari annual increafe of debt to that amount ? Surely gentlemen muft dilTemblc their feel ings, when they make fo light of it. ir our exoences were ronfir.vi neceflary objeas, the people would pay them chearfully ; but thev will juftly murmur ai this idle wafte of their treafure. When gentlemen attempt to excite alarm on account of foreign danger, he wiftied to ad vert to dansrer of i more ferirm na ture at home, irifine from ftandini armies, which, by cultivating the military fpirit only in the foldier, deftroy it in the citizen. He cau, tioned gentlemen again ft an eftablifh ment which had Wrought the dow n. fal.of every frejitate Where it had been introduced ; and which muft produce in this country-erTects fimi lar to thofe which it has brought about in others, unlefs, indeedit is fuppofed, that the fame moral and phyficai caufes . which govern the eaiiern world, are heye iulpfindea in tneir operation. Mr, Otis faid, the ffentlcmari juft wv uown, nan, j with -great Kioaeixy, been plea led to lay, that his oblerva tions had been defultory, Mr. Q. would not join ilfue in Ihis remark ;i out wncn neiaas inatnis argumenxs had beenUveak he, feared, thifcXbab: of the Defenders of their; Country, in whole? hearirig they vere uttered, will think,, that a part of thein at; icaitj nave Deenextremeiyzrjajr. ;The principal 1 bbjeftionurjged a. ainft the army propiolid to berdif ba nded, was; that the 16 tris a nd taxes buitienfome to the people. , And whit right, Mr. O. a Iked, had the etDie ot this country 10 expc 10 tcuape the conflagration in which he other three quarters of the globe are involved, wnnout tome pains 1 andj e x pence to erect barriers again ft its peftrnftive progrefs ? Are we choffen by Heaven to Iic in a fequef tered corner of the world, exempt from the trouble and dm relies of o'hfcr nations, toerow rich by their fpoils, and to fatten on their mis fori' turtes. without any additional bur- thebs ? Confident as he waS of th jjuftice of our caufe, he did not ex pect theaimtance of miracles for our rirciteclion. He feared 'our long en joyment of peace, had led gentlemen to trunk that peace beiongs to us of right, and that we have only to re mind our fouls that we have goods Jai up for many years', and may eat, drijfik and be merry. But to gentle meh who reafon thus, the voice of experience proclaims in folemli ac cerjts, that this very year, for aught Hwelknew, our liberties may bere u.jred at our hands. The committee ref toid that the prefent eftablifh jpieht fhews a deficit of five millions. jSup pole the calculation juft, and ;iheftabl:lhment neceflary, "what arie hyp million of dollars ? Or fuppofe jihit the price of our fafcty and in; Idepe ride nee, ITiould be, 20, 40, Or even 80 millions, in addition tothe 4feht deb?. This, "indeed, is mo. V,- as! M. Talleyrand obferved, it featdea of -money ; but money nea per than blood it is lefs prc- heh'ale between! doiubling the natio nal debt, and relinquifhing the rights of n independent nation ? Let the calculating DuWwnan, the hardy owns, the i6ttteliatn, nay, it gen tlemen pleafe, Ttf?retched Egyp- tiah, jbeafked,.j!rV at price they wpuld 'deem tir .ricjent rights anil brrvilescA. J raver fe the picture, and enquire of the Britifli ycpmanrV, of the peafants who co jlupperlels to htd, whether they wcmlti exenanse their burthens grat- as they, are ; their confeious pride and fatisfaction, the refult aft onjce,of a fen fe of duty and izfttyt fol all the advantages reaped bv the naiois juft enumerated? They wuld ail agree, except fuch as are abject or corrupt, that hherty carinit bejeltirnhted by money . Mr. O. complained of the deplo rahle'ftatement which had been ex. hilutfcd of our hnances ; (hewing thit we are now much better able. to ber the expence of a war, than we were at the time of our war for In dependence ; and that ! if we pay 8 perecnt. for mdney, it coifts the government or r,ngiano at lealt7. i f ' 1 1 1 r . t it loosmucn, ne oDiervea, naa oee:n ia upon mc lupject or aur nnances in the dilculiion ot this lubject. 1 ne enbtliry otiht limply to be, Is j prudent ana euentiai to the true in-; exeft of the country to maintain the eftablifhment r , If fo, we muft ful- lam ine pxpenceoi 11 ; ir etnerwne it ought to be reiihqujfhed, however iticqtiate our reiources may oe to its fuppbrtw Is it, then, expedient A ! r 1 r . unqrexifiing circumftances, tb fup?i port this army r Mr. O. went into aruments to prove that it wasthb'; tie allowed the danger of invaiion wafs fconuacraDiy aiminiinea j out wioi could fay, that the danger is (o. entiteiy pauea, as 10 warrant oun remainine m an utterly aeTcnccrejs ftaie? Another realon why Mr. 0.r Wiahedhthis army to ue preiervco,! was,i that ot alithe art and lciences underftbodand cultivatedin Europe; It prelent day,' the military arti has attained to the moirconhderable degree of perfection ; on -the :xon-: trarv. he believed that of all the arts and lciences known imAmerica, the: aril war-is the -lea It underltood. Cnudering this vaft difproportioni then, dufrht we not to Jtave men ito leafrh- the rudiments f dilciplihe, who fhould ferve for the germ of An army, to be ready whn called out byi Irequifitionj or by j aayf other "means?-.: -egentlemaaj from Vir gipiia cOnfiders ftandingarmies-aspp- paled to tlie-fpiritof.the conftitution aiiaaSaangerQus iq; liocrxyr iina alarm: nad beentrun at leaft lit tboui ;ari4 1 1 me&3 a yea rt 'Mlc B i infff irmviliridedin thi -country ;j and if Ithe obiectioh werle well founded, it Mould go to the dfftruction of the ti jrcgimen tsjfs' wejl as jof 1 he iicfcj andSe muft b.&eimfcic&ute' rccoutfe jtbjtaiiUia That' gentleman farther .contends, that this country cannot be defended by a ftanding array, but that a force in time of danger mult be railed ny requifition. And where, he ilked lav the difference between a ftancL ing army and a force raifed for z l'u ' mited time by requiution, 1 hegen-r rleraan may diftingurfh the fir ft by the hard names of Raggamuffins and Mercenaries, if lie thinks proper j but why troops raifed according to his ideas of requifition, who are to be organized, diiciplined and com pelled into fervice, to receive pay, and march wherever they arc orders ed, are lefs Raggamuffins and Mer cenaries, than troops raifed in my other mode, was for that gentleman to e?iplainf Far was it from him to queftion the importance of the great national refource, the Militia. He allowed them to be the Palladium of he country ; but he contended that they: are fit only for fudden emcr-' gencies.1 They wil fight with brai very whilft they continue in the field. They will resfift ari invading army, but they will not endure a fe ries of campaigns. And fuppofe we have not the money, that wc, cannot obtain it without fqueeezing it from our tieedy conftituents, the gentle man will nothelitatc tofqueeze them for the Jake of the Militia, tho "not for the regular army. Mr, O. wars forry to hear the genileman make ufe of the term jquuzt, when applied to taxation. It was the only inelegant word vhich efcaped him, and itwas certainly mifapplied. This word is properly-ufed, when fpeaking ot the impofitions of defpots and arbitrary governments ; but to talk of fqueez ing the people in our happy coun try; and under our mild , govern ment, -was certainly to fpeak with- out accuracy. When the gentleman confidered, that atthe fame time they fque'ezed their conftituents, they alio fqueezed themfelves, the afperity with which he pronounced that ex pteffion would doubtlefs be mollified.? J He regretted alfo that the gentleman had dilcovered the gall of the people moved by-the fight of the federal uniform. He himfelf had witneffed n6 fuch effect. He was aware that the jealoufics of the people arc habi tual with rejpeft to ftanding armies in time of peace ; but lurely thele alarms muft yield to good fenfe, to the confederation that the exiftence of this army is limited to the dura tion of our controverlieswith France, x Mr. O. laid his ftrongeft objection to the refolution arofo from the time chofe-n for offering; it tothehoule. He wiftied our Envoys to aVail them felves in their nesociatioh of the oftenfible opinion -ojF fentiment pre- vailing among the people, and of ail advantages which thev carried with them,-to maintain the rights and ho. nour of this country. The com mi t tee had beei told, that the invi tation tp renew negociation, muft not be imputed to this army, as the, act for railing it palled in July, and it couid not be known in r ranee in Auffuft, when overtures were made to, us by the jj 1 rectory ; out it mult be recollected, that this law was the laft of a feri ts of meafu res, fome of which muft have been known to the French government before Auguft. Not that any one luppoles that theie twelve regiments would be a matchii for the armies ot France, or that they - are to ne traniporteja to her coait v but, that all thefe acu taken toge- theri were an evidence of our fpi- rit a proof that political divifions of ientiment.vanilh berorea common fenfe of ihfulted dignity and nat)onar honour.: Under thele advantages:!! buriEnveysJ embarked, and be thisi meafure difgui fed as it might, it will; rove a ltumblmgjblock to the ne gotiation, ihe Directory, with a, jt a weak a.rid wavering policy, from which thy will nbt fail to atteinpt! to -lira w an advantage. When w vhi"are;bppled ;to ihe relblution,;j fiia: Mt:&xpTCl& readmels to modify the p relent mil i t a rye fta bl i fh- Irient, foas to dimiriifti the expence, we are told, that - any modification will rp roducc the fame cftcct On the riegociation with thepropofed reduc tion. iiie;Was ot a veryKdjrterent opinidri In the One ; calc tt lipid the. purfe and prefer ve the eftablifh ment ; in' the othier, we (hall iofe, fir ft the eftablifhmeht and then the purle. The one would be a total de-? -- ---- . .:-nl- 'i - ' tiarture lrcm" lvitem. the otner a I mere Tufpcauoii of-nicaTii, Mr. O. concluded by difapproving trie intimation fuggefted by Mr. GaU latin, that the effect of a treaty with France might, probably involve th counsry in hoftilities with another nation. He cpnfidered an allufioa to fuch a ftate. of things as highly premature and injudicious. . Mr, Claiborne faid, therefolu tion on the table prefented to hie mind an alpett favourable to ; the in- ) terelt of pur common Country ; in- . ltead or drawing upon the 'govern ment debility and 'degradation," in his opinion, it would ft rengtheii her refourccs, and increafi the; re fpett of our citizens for the admini ftration. Inftead of endangei ing tho fecurity of ieLatlon; it would add to its lafety,; attd 'promote; the hap- pinefs of the people, , . He had frequently heard the fata of thofe riatitins which had lately loft their goverhments, and, in fomo cafes, the little remnant of . liberty they poffeffed, mourned over: within the walls of thisfhoufe ; -arid the fubject was never introduced but his fenfibiiity was greatly excited at the recital of fuch calamities. But when he heard gentlemen aflimilate the late, fituation of Italy, Holland and Swit zerland, to the p relent ftate of Ame rica, he felt indignant, at the reflec tion on the American character. In thole, countries the governments were corrupt, jjtdrhtn rights , wer L rAJ I il' ' 1- n no fpcft nd le tyranny of the rulersJriieIated the affections of the people : the inteftine oTivifions which conftquently ejfuVd,nvited attack, and they, fell an eafyprey to French ambition. But lryAirierica we have a government ofur choice. and e.very man knows., that while the conftitution is preferved, hit rightsre lecure : from revolution. H we Havp nothing to gam but miich'to lofci ' ilvongs France had done xjf on thefofcean, ajid elfe where, were known to all America. Every where the fentiment has been expreffed,and fo far as relates to refiftance to foreign dominion, tnd a determinatioa to fupport our government and inde pendence fromvforeign attacks, but was from the prevalence of this na- tf cionai icntimenc tnat ne telt lecure from invafion, as well as from the debility of France, at leaft io far as relates to the means ef convey (nwar to our ftiores, which means were unqueftibnably money and fhips. But the gentleman from Delaware, feems to.drW no fecurity frorri this weaknefs, but aiks, What may we not apprehend from a nation who had the boldnefs to attempt, and the power to effect the invafion of E gypt ?" Mr. C. thought his coun try degraded by fqch. a queltiop. Are the Mamalukes of Egypt, laid he, to be compared to the citizens of the U. States ? Mr. Bayard ex plaineddeclaring he made vile of no fuch comparifonj. Mr. C. faid, he believedhe had quoted the words of ihe geritlemati correctly, and he had a right t draw therefrom his own xojiclufions, S Believing , as he did that there was ho danger of invafion, he could fee noufeful purpofe to which this ar my could be applied-; but, on the contrary, he law much evil which lf it would create; arooLg the greateft vas tne mcrcaie or tne national ej- I penditure, and with it the increafe l of the national burthens, And let if not gent lemen flatter themfelves that J tne. prerent weignt or government is not felt by the peoplei In the com- merciai parts 01 the Union, the taxes are paid with eafe ; but in the inte rior country, they, ate met With dif ficulty. And if this army fyftem be perfifted in, taxation muft every where become' great and burthen fome. His defire was tp exact no' more money from the people, thari was aoioiuteiy necenary. 1 he tcei ingslof a nation may be Well.xoni-' If pared to thoie ot an individual ; A man loaded with debt, arid ffodeil by his creditors, too' often lofes his firmnefsbf chaiaterr anid fihks into inactivity and defpair ; and a nation groaning under debt and taxes, .fre quently falls into political Uthargy, n d tamely wears a n y yoke its riilets may prepare or it. Whax elfe-has. induced- the people of Bnglahdt'i carry their corrupt goyernxcent ihro, J j io many wiis or ambition. ifctojufter " l ' in paying feicig'a JwrU,! ip.iijk. ,' W j 4 A' 4 41 1 . 4.- , :'''A:-- --':. -. .
The Weekly Raleigh Register (Raleigh, N.C.)
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March 4, 1800, edition 1
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