knew ttait the wages were not a fuftcient en
couragement to procure £t men, they knew
it bore no reasonable proportion to the P rl "
of labor, at ieaft where the men were expect
ed; they knew that the time wai too short
for enlisting the men with such fconty encou
ragement, av.d for carrying on_ so di'.tant and
precariou an expedition, even ii no acci
dents or utifmaiiageineni were to take place ;
but cerrairfly accidents and mifmanapement
ought to be provided for in undertakings of
this nature; they know or might have known
that trifling with luch a war would naturally
excite the flame, and not quench it-
It cannot be pretended that resources were
wanting. Congreft received the public purie
with the government, and they very properly
foou rendered it productive. At an early pe
riod revenue* were found ; not only to pro
vide for the debts of the Union, for the dis
charge of which'they were bound by contract,
but alio made provision for the debts of the
individual .<tate% to do which thev were
bound bv 110 contraa ; and which are not yet
liquidated, nor their amount known. 1 can
not suppose this neg'ea was altogether owing
to inattention, for committees weru frequent
ly held on the state of the Union, and surely
the defence of the union was the firft subjeCt
which could present itfelf to their thoughts.
As no fufficient reason for this neglect has
ever occurred tome, 1 continue to view it
with surprize, perhaps others can better, ac
count for it. .
However, last session we were fufficiently
convinced of our error, the objeCt was fully
before us, as well as the plan proposed to be
pursued, and however we regretted the ex
pence, and evils Hill more to be dreaded,
from a {landing army, we from conviction,
provided adequate means, and now after
much of the expence is incurred, and the end
not accomplished, there is an attempt to with
draw the means : surely gertlemen have not
taken a full view of the fubjeCt.
Arguments have been drawn in favor of
the resolution from the flow progress ol t! e
recruiting service, and the inactivity of the
army last summer. On this subjeCt, I have a
verv different opinion. Let gentlemen for a
moment reflect upon the difficulties the re
cruiting service had to encounter. Ihe le
vies after a scene of arduous fatigue, endu
ring hunger and nakedness, many of them
were left rotting on the desolate sod in the
wilderness, and those who survived the horrid
carnage, returned with infinite hardships to
their homes, they with difficulty procured the
pittance allowed them by law ; their mouths
were filled with complaints, nor did they
alone complain ; and though the wages were
raised a dollar a month, yet even so, it was
not a fufficient encouragement where the
greatest number, and the best men were fought
for ; but this house are not to blame for this,
for we had agreed once, and again to Blake
the wages higher, but were overruled by the
other legislative branch. When gentlemen
maturely refleCt on those considerations, and
also that the spring was fat advanced, before
the recruiting service could commence, they
will with me rather be surprized that it has
succeeded so well; it is indeed beyond my most
sanguine expectations, and the men are not
generally of the most inferior kind, as has
been suggested.
With refpeft to the inactivity of the army,
the observations may have 111 some degree
arose from something expressed by me some
davs ago, I think on another subject.
X then said that the army which rendez
voused at Pitcfburgh had not undertaken the
defence of the frontier, and prevented the ne
cessity of militia service. That some of the
counties had been more diftretled by the ra
vages last summer, and the militia service
mo°re burthenfome than at any time since the
peace with Britain—that even the county
Where thev lav had to employ militia ; and
this is certainly true ; of the reasons for this
X have not been informed, nor am I accounta
ble for it. However, it is but reasonable that
I should offer such reasons as fuigeft them
fclves to me. It is well known in this house
that General Butler's having, according to
orders, Tent such of the levies as arrived ear
lv to the frontiers, and therefore afforded
n'eceJTary protection in time of harvest, was
much complained of, and assigned as a cause
of defeat, not only by delay, but want of dis
cipline, though I do not think it had that ef
fe<st ; yet probably to prevent complaints oi
this nature, the introducing discipline and m\-
litarv habits among the new raised troops may
have been judged preferable to the defence of
t'ie frontier ; prevailing desertions might
have had its weight; but though this might
be complained of with relped to thole op
prefTed with savage depredations and militia
service, yet certainly the army may be more
fit for the great objeCt of an expedition, Ctc.
From mv own observations I know that un
remitting industry has been used to promote
discipline among the troops.
But an argument of another natuie, and
which seems to have tlie greatest weight with
the gentlemen, has been often urged, I mean
the expence, and the danger of new taxes.
I, it poflible that we have not revenues fuf
ficient for the defence of the union > Suielv
everv other clami inuft g've way to this.
Let it not be said that a tax for onr own de
fence could not be levied ; the people would
cheerfully pay taxes for this purpole, though
they mi"ht think themselves opprefled by o
ther demands that are more amply provided .
for But a new tax is not necelfary for that
purpose: a surplus of exiftiug revenues are at
our d-fpofal, befidss the cftimates of the war.
It is true we designed to have availed our
s-lves of it to begin the extuiguifhinent of
o" ir debt, though we have been since told that
it is necefTary to be applied otherwise, and
we arc called upon to raise a new tax for t .at
purpose, not for the purpose of procuring
Lace. However anxiously I desire to pay oft
the debt, yet I am certain it would be an
unwarrantable policy to fubjeft the country
to deftructiun lor that purpose ; beiides, 1
believe the alternative proposed would even
tually encreafe the expenee.
We liave a particular plan in view in order
to accomplish peace, .3 that plan executed .
Is t.iat object obtained ?
I believe gentlemen know we cannot ex
plain fully on this fubjetf, as it involves con
fidential communications, and plans not lu.
mitted to puolic view ; but they ay that two
regiments are fufficient to garrison the exilt
ing forts. Surely they know that to. t Ham
ilton, Fort Knox", See. are not the objeas con
templated; nor would these 1 prelume be
kept for their own fakes, they cannot defend
our territory, nor make it tbe interest ot the
Indians to Ik at pe<ice. If we expert to ex
ist as a nation we mult defend the territory
which we have purchased, which we have
fold to othei s, and which uniortunatley «<)r
them we have encouraged others to fettle
upon. In this I prefmne the committee are
agreed, at least I hope so ; but it will be laid
the difference is about the means. We are
told that the militia are more fit for this kind
of war than an army ; let the army keep the
forts, and the militia defend the frontiers
where they reside, and carry on expeditions
against the Indians. Comparing the militia
and Handing army is to little purpose ; I have
known both the one and the other on fomeoc
cafions behave so as to deserve great c() j n ~
mendation, &: at other times behave very 1 . J
this depends greatly 011 circumstances, eac jJ
have their particular advantages, and each
iliay find too much employ ; there are situa
tions and circumstances in which the nulitia
are undoubtedly best, and there are other fix
ations in which a Handing have the ad
vantage. But when I lpeak ot militia Ido
not mean such as are called in classes » r " m
their families, and composed ot many that
have neither been accustomed to the wood",
nor arms, ar.d go out with reluctance, leav
ing all that is dear to them behind, and con
sidering the service as a grievous eppreffiou.
I know and feel these things- I have been
oftenerthan once outwith the militia. 1 mean
a fele<stion of the militia willing to go, and
experienced in the woods, and in molt of
the frontiers such men, or suitable arms do
not now abound; but surely for services of a
more permanent nature an inlifted army is
more suitable.
But do gentlemen consider the consequenc
es of throwing all internal defence, ar.d dil
tant expeditions, upon the militia ? Is it not
enough that they already stand as a piquet
guard to their brethren who live at ease ;
that they eat their bread in the fear of their
lives, and are frequently embittered with
the view of mournful incidents ; but that we
must lay a deliberate plan for encreafing the
number of their fatherlels children, and chlld
lefs parents ■
I recollefl, it has been said oftener than
once on this floor on former occalions, and is
still owned by members, that the states who
have frontiers ought to provide for their own
protection, and that the government of the
union ought to assist only in the last resort; in
(bort that protection ought not to be a com
mon cause. Such highly aotifederal senti
ments I cor.fefs I heard with surprise.
There a.e some members, however, more
jV'nerous and proraife to vote for a iulHcient
fumof money to pay the expense. I believe
these members are sincere ; but do gentlemen
contemplate to what iflue the principles would
lead ? Do they not observe that the fate of
the government is deeply involved in the de
cision ?—Perhaps I may be alked, did not the
ltates depend chiefly uppn their own exerti
ons for the defence of the frontiers m.der the |
old Congress i Yes, they did, and were better j
protected than since that period. But let it
be recollected that at that time the llates had
the command of their own resources, and the
laying and executing their own plans : that
tbe Indians were not so formidably
but that since, the states had not the power ot
retaliating, nor the means of gratifying with
presents, since the Indians have been solemn.
ly told to look away from the little fires of
the states, to the great fire of the union : they
have looked upon us a more formidable and
dangerous foe, and made their arrangements
accordingly, and European nations and emis
saries among them have improved upon the
circumstance, and excited and aided them in
their union and exertions.
If the militia are to be so much oppreflbd,
it must be under their state laws; the operati
on of our militia law has not been tried, and
the militia will naturally have more confi
dence in the laws of the state, ar.d be better
paid by them. If the people must undergo all
the risk of life and all the hardihips of war, in
carrying on a war which they did not coin
mence, nor have power to terminate, will
they not natui ally look from the government
of the union, to that of their own states ! and
will the state governments conduct a war with
their hands tied ? Will they not take theii
own way of conducting the war and of pro
curing peace i Surely they will, and the ge
neral government ought only to hope for obe
dience* and respect as long as it gives general
protection, which was the reason of its inflitu
tion. But if gentlemen were willing thus to
surrender the principles of the government,
they ought firft to put the frontier states in
as good a situation as the new Congress found
them ; when the Indians were not united, and
when they did not know that they could so
easily and compleatly defaat us.
Supposing that we appropriate a fufficient
sum of money to pay the frontier militia for
conducting the war of the union ; I ask who
are these militia ? is it those unfortunate few
whom we induced ho fettle at Marietta that
are to protect our extensive western territo
ry, against the united exertions ot all the west
ern Indians ? or is it the few scattered inha-
258
""" S"", »■ "*
:SS=SK—s-srsss
sAswSSi n* 0..«. Uj*
intention of even the members who have e.
preyed themlelves so. w hirh the
From the very inadequate p J •
militia have already rece.ved the
ty of obtaining it, however weU dJpoted W
members who propose it may be, theie is 1
r "round to confide in the
' amo'e especially when it is coiiltfered that
the Vxpenfe has been the argument most
dwelt upon by all the gentlemen-
Arguments however of another and more
important nature have been suggested in fa
vor of leaning the army. I
able disposition of our citizens and theprmci
Dies of our government ; in this lam heait y
L-eed, and were the argument upon original
around, and the measure optional, I would
doubtleft oppose an army ; but the qoefbon
Ho., whether we (hall begin a war or whe
ther we ihall have a standing army to aid the
foment in time of peace ; « that were
the cafe I would certainly be on the other fide,
but with us it is a question of nerftv n
nf choice, it is to procure a peace, and not to
procure a war; it is to protect, , t0
oppress or aid in govern,ng our citizens , I
know that standing armies have always been
sources of oppression and aids of tyranny; our
people may long be governed without such
aid s their situation will not admit oi abu.es
from standing armies, nor would the citizens
submit thereto. f
However when I observe the difficulty of
procuring money for the /upport of even a
neceflarv force, and the jealousy ot armies
so prevalent among the members; whatever
difficulties it may now produce, yet thr. ti. -
nofition augurs well towards the fecuitty ot
our liberties; when I also conf.der how anxi
ous the people rfthe United States and the
members of Coigrefs are for peace, and what
extraordinary exertions the executive has
made to preserve it; and when I also refLft,
that the next Congress will be a more full
and equal repre entation of the pecple s
efts and sentiments than we are, I am conii
dent the army will be discharged ss soon as
our afFairs'will admit of it. _
The profpefts we have ol peace are not ve
ry flattering, they by no means arise from the
good dispositions of the Indians towards us,
nor from the love of peace,but from thedread
of the power and permanency ol our force ;
take away those impressions and all our proi
pefts of peace vanifli; it may be reco.lefted
that the Six Nation Indians were our invete
rate foe-:, and would never listen to the voice
of peace until they felt our power, and we
have fufficient proofs, that their continuing
peaceable does not arise from their dispositi
ons towards us, but from their being so much
in reach of our power. Admitting that the
militia were in refpeft the best for fight
ing Indians,and thatwe could in justice throw
the burthen and risk of fighting wholly on
them ; yet this method would certainly length
en the war ; we have, and always had the
militia ; but they are not a visible force, the
strokes they make distress and irritate the
Indians, and when the expedition is over the
force disappears, and the Indians meditate
and too often obtain revenge ; the apprehen
sion of an army strikes them with apprehensi
ons of a permanent design, and convinces
them that it is their interest to have peace ;
the late murders of those who bore the en
signs of peace are an undoubted proof that the
profpefts of peace do not arise from any other
! motives than the dread of our force.
When I reflefton our having so lately been
convinced of the indifpenfible necessity ofraif
ing an army, and before it was poflible to ac
complish the object intended, that a motion is
made for leflening that force, I am truly sur
prised at the inconsistency to which it would
lead ; surely there is not such an instance to
be found in the history of nations, nor in the
acts of public bodies, and if it Ihould succeed
it would mark our councils in an extraordi
nary point of view. Howeve, so averse am I
to armies and so sensible of the evils they have
occasioned, that I gave a I'erious ear to the
motion, and maturely examined the circum
stances in which the cafe was involved. I
wilhed for reasons tojuitify my fapporting
thereof, but examination produced convicti
on of its impropriety.
The gentlemen doubtless have determined
from thefirft imprellion of the fubjeft ; more
minute investigation will convince themselves
of the bad policy of such an unrealonable
change of measures. I with great reluctance
was convinced of the necellitv of so great a
force last session, but even if I had been final
ly against it last feilion, I would nevertheless
have been for supporting that force in the pre
sent important crisis ; better by far we had
never made the law for raising the army than
to repeal it now.
The present Indian war is eifentially dif
ferent from any former one. When Britain
and France divided North America betwixt
them, if the emmiffaries of both excited thp
Indians to war, the power of both afforded
protection. When Britain became pofl'efled
of the Western posts, and many tribes of In
dians commenced a war, the British govern
ment conducted the war, tarried it into the
Indian country, and by the dread of their
arms procured a peace ; but the Indians were
not thenfupported by other powers. But in
the preieut war, the Indians who at that time
knew nothing of us, have combined to make
it a common cause ; and no superior power
interest tJierafeives in our favor, no, they
con«<v? oSr inftrefti toK: inimical totheirt,
But if they d;d not receive encouragement,
protection, and supplies from our European
neighbors a peace wou!d soon he procured,
the gentlemen who lupport this resolution
know well how that matter (lands, and tlwy
know explanations here are not convenient.
I once thought of nuving a retaliation lor
limiting the time of enlisting to feme day in
March or April next, knowing that tlie inter,
mediate winter months are the bed season
for recrjuiting, and apprehending the best op.
portunities of disciplining would then be pro
bably over J Wut upon second thought, I ap
prehend this was not necelfary, that nioit pro
bably the army by that time would l>e so near
ly compleat, that ali the fuvsng of money it
would make, would be no object, and reflect
ing that the President was already authori'ed
either to stop recruit ng, or to d;ich.trge the
new regiments wben circumstance* would ad'
mitof Inch a inea ure. From the observa
tions I have made the committee will lie con
vinced that 1 deiign to vote agaiuft the re.
solution. (D'tal' be confirmed.)
Tweidai, January 8.
Mr. Gicenup laid the following motion on
the table yesterday That a committee be ap
pointed to prepare and bring in a bill, for plac
ing on the pension lift, all futh officers and pri
vates of the militia, who have been, or ftiall be
wounded, or disabled in the service of the United
States, and not provided for by law.
A petition was presented by Mr. Muhlen
berg, Irom William Wirtz, praying compenfa
tien for services during the late war. Read and
referred to the Secretary of the Treasury.
The House took into consideration, the bill
making appropriations for the year 1793, as re
ported by the committee of the whole ycfterday.
Some debate ensued on the item of contingencies
for the War Department; the sum reported in
the estimate is 50,000 dollars. The House at
length filled the blank with 30,00 c the
blanks being filled, it was ordered that the bill
be engrossed for a third reading to-morrow.
A message was received from the Senate by
Mr. Sicretary Otis, informing the House that
the Senate have passed a bill in addition to the
ast for eftablilhing the Judicial Courts of the
United States; anddefirethe concurrence of the
House.
Another meflage from the Senate iuformed
the House, that they have parted a bill, which
originatsd in the House, for allowing interest on
a sum due to the persons therein mentioned,
pursuant to a resolution of the late Congress.
On motion of Mr. Steele, the ayes and noes
were taken this day on the proposed amendment
to his resolution, for reducing the military es
tablishment of the United States viz.
Resolved, That a committee be appointed to
prepare and bring in a bill for reducing the mili
tary ellablifhment of the United States to
regiments, consisting of the non-comniif
fioned officers and privates bow in service, or
which may be recruited before the day
of next; with such proportion of com
missioned officers as thu President of the United
States may think proper.
A T E S.
Mess. A&e,
Clarl,
Giles,
Oilman,
Gerry,
Goodhue,
Grove,
Greenup,
Lee,
Leonard,
Livcrmore,
Macon,
Mercer
NOES.
Mess. Kittera,
Lawrance,
Milledge,
Muhlenberg,
Murray,
Sedgwick,
Schoonmalter,
W. Smith,
Js. Smith,
Sterrett,
Sturges,
Sylvester,
Thatcher,
Wadfworth,
White,
Willis.
The ayes and noes on the original motion,
were then called:
Mess. Ames,
Benfon,
Barnwell,
Baldwin,
S. Bourne,
B Bourn,
Boudinot,
Dayton,
Findley,
Fitzfimons,
Gregg,
Hartley,
Heifler,
Hillhoufe,
Huger,
Kitchell,
A Y £ s.
Mess. Mercer,
Mess. Aflie,
Clark,
Giles,
Gilman,
Goodhue,
Greenup,
Grove,
Leonard,
Livermore,
Macon,
N 0
Mess. Ames,
Barnwell,
Baldwin,
Benfun,
lioudinot,
S Bourne,
Dayton,
Findley,
Fitzfimons,
Gerry,
Gordon,
Gregg,
Hartley,
Ilillhoufe,
Huger,
Kitthell,
Kittera,
Lawrante,
Mess. Madison,
Moore,
Nilcs,
Orr,
Parker,
J. Smith,
Steele,
Sumpter,
T re&dwell,
Tucket,
Venable,
Ward,
Williamion. %6.
Niles,
Orr,
Parker,
Lee
Steele,
Sumpter,
T readweli,
Venable.
Ward. «
E S.
Mess. Milledge,
Moore,
Muhlenberg,
MurTay,
Schoonmaker,
Sedgwick,
J. Smith,
Is. Smith,
W. Smith,
Sterrett,
Sturges,
Sylvtfter,
Thatcher,
Tucker,
Wadfworth.
White,
Williamfon,
Wiilis. 3'