Virginia Argus

From the National Intelligencer.

"We have frequently seen with regret in the public prints, accusations against Congress of tardiness in their motions, and indeed total indisposition to make the serious preparations called for by the present interesting crisis; and we have seen, with equal regret, the impression in some cases prevail, from these and similar representations, that Congress and the executive were not decided as to the course proper to be pursued. It has been the constant aim of federal prints to produce this impression, and their publications have had the unfortunate effect to lull the mercantile interest into a false security, from the effect of which we shall rejoice if they do not eventually severely suffer.

Those who have their eyes fixed on a certain object : like the traveller, to whom the distant mountains, the object of his pursuit, appears but an hour's journey from him; overlook the intermediate obstacles they have to overcome, the natural impediments interposed, and the extent of space which intervenes. This is incident to the sanguineness of our natures, and extends as well to political as to civil life. Those who, warmed by the ardent desire to avenge their country's wrongs, have regarded the preparation for war and its actual commencement as simultaneous operations, have, in their anxiety to attain their object, overlooked the tedious but necessary delay of preparation and organization essential to the success, nay to the institution of military expeditions. This it would however have been criminal for a government to have overlooked, and we accordingly find, that the Congress have progressed, from the commencement of their present session, with a deliberate but firm step pointed out to them, no less by their own conviction of their duties, imposed on them by the actual state of things than by the urgent recommendation of the executive.

We have been led to these reflections by a remark which just now caught our eye, in a valuable republican paper, reprobating, what is there called the "criminal tardiness" of Congress. Let us see, since they are said to have been so inactive, what has been done, in the present session, by way of preparation for anticipated war. Notwithstanding the novelty of the subject, our inexperience in war, and the consequent difficulty of arranging the details of a large military body, its equipage, &c. we find that—

Congress have passed some acts and originated others.

To fill up the ranks and prolong the enlistments of the present army;

To raise an additional regular force of twenty-five thousand men :

To authorise the employment of a volunteer force of fifty thousand men;

To raise six companies of mounted Rangers for the defence of our western frontier;

To arm the militia ;

To authorise detachments of militia :

To complete the fortification of our maritime frontier.

To repair and fit out our whole naval force ;

To procure camp equipage, baggage-wagons, &c. &c.

To purchase ordnance and military stores;

To purchase a vast supply of sulphur and salt-petre;

To make further provisions for the corps of engineers;

To establish a quarter-master's department and create commissary-generals, &c.

To provide for the support of the army and navy for the ensuing year;

To authorise a loan of eleven millions to defray these great expences :

And have taken steps evincing their determination to lay taxes to raise a revenue to pay the interest of the war loans, &c.

Is all this nothing?

But it may be asked, and indeed the question has already been put—why are not the men enlisted?—why have not the recruiting parties been sent ?

In reply to these questions, we need only state a single fact: that it was only in the course of last week that the Senate confirmed a part of the appointments of officers in the new army, without whose aid recruiting could not be commenced. We have understood that letters of appointment have been immediately expedited to those whose appointments have been confirmed, and that the recruiting will be forthwith vigorously commenced.

In relation to other preparations, we are not in the habit of prying into executive secrets, but we should deem the head of the War Department remiss in his duty if he has not caused ample preparation of military stores, camp equipage, clothing, &c. to be prepared, in a quantity sufficient to meet the probable demand. But we feel a confidence that he has performed this important, this all essential duty ; and that those who exult in the idea of their country's imputed imbecility and nakedness will find their views of profiting by her distress most happily thwarted, to the joy of every real friend of his country."