The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-12-05

ties and property.
The public tntitu.ions in this City have been
objects of the particular attention of the Exc
cutive.-The Mandatory of Arms has been
conducted, as heretofore, under the fuperinten-
ding vigilance aud Kill of the ingenious Major
John Clarke, with fuccefs equal to the mott
fangune expectations ofthc friends of that ufe-
iul and valuable eitablihment. A detailed re-
port of its operations will be prepared, as ufu-
n, by the fuperintendant, and will form the
iuhject of fuhfequeut communication. At
prefent beg leave to obferve, that by the act
at the fifth of February lat, the FUN of forty
thouiand dollars, was appropriated for the ex-
pence of Manufacturing Arms, including Off
.ers' falaries, with an exprefs restriction that,
the operations ihoud be 70 conducted as to
prevent the expenditure of greater fun, and
that it fhould not be lawful for the Auditor to
ii1ue warrants to greater amount-lt was ma
nifef that, to keep theinfitutionin operation, &
at the fame timeto keep within the limits of the
appropriation, there would be neceiIity for re-
trenching the expences of the eitabihment.
Accordingly, thofc of :hc Artifccrs were diff
charged, whole fervices could be fparcd with
the leaf injury, and every exertien was made
} to comply with the wiihes of the Legislature by
keeping within the limits of the rettrittion i'm.
pofed. But, in an eftabliihmeut 70 extenlive
as our Mandatory Of Arms, it isiTnpoilibe, on
the frlt experiment. TO foretee with certainty,
what particular fytenn of operation will keep
the inftitution in motion for given time, on
given FUN. And it was found fome time in the
month of October, that the expences had alrea-
dy equaled the appropriation which the ex-
ccutive were bound not to exceed. Thus ftu-
ated, the proper courie TO be purified became
an important object of anxious enquiry. To
have permitted the eGabIhment to have re-
manned idle, by difcontinuing it's operations I'M
I'll the meeting OF the aifembIy, would have
been attended with the mott ferious inconveni-
ence and injury. Waving the confederation of
all other Disadvantages of fuch procedure, ii
will, perhapsbe ,fufiiceutto obfervc. thatthcmoit
of the Artifcers have been induced, by the pro-
miie of employment, TO come TO Virginia from
remote parts of the union and in many initan-
ces, there were actual CONTRACTS fil in force be-
tween them and the Commonwealth. 1t was
conceived that, if we failed to furniih them
with employment, by difcontnuing the opera
tons of the Mandatory of Arms, they would
be abfolved from their Obligations to the pub
lie =; aud depending on employment for fubiE-
terce, they would have been compelled to
feek it elfcwhere, and to abandon the in
ftitution. They had been procured after
much trouble, with great difficulty and ex-
pence they had arrived at great h,ll in their
REFLECTIVE branches of buineis, and had become
attached to the Inititution. Had they been
compelled to abandon il, their lofs would not
have been fupplied but at great eXpence, and
after a Sonliierable ,apfe ftime, during which
this important e.tablhmcnt would have Ian
gnifhed, or remained idle.-It was therefore
conceised by the Executive TO be their duty
to retain the ervices of theie valuable men, pro-
vided il could he done without a departure
from the intentions of the Legislature, whio h
they hold in too high relpect ever knowingly TO
violate. II was communicated to them, that
the Artificers were willing TO continue in the
public employment in carrying on the operati-
ons ofihe Mandatory of Arms, although they
knew there was 40 law to provide for their pay
ment, and that the Executive had no right to
make any contract, to compromit the public
faith. They demanded no fuch contract, and
1t demanded, none would have been made.
They were willing to throw themfelves on
the libcraity of the AfIcmhly, provided the
Executive would permit them to proceed in
their uiual employment, and would proclifc
TO fate the cafe, and recommend them to
the confederation of the Legiiiature. The
Executive could not hefitate moment to
accede TO theie terms and directed the OPERATE
ons to be carried on az uiuai, and fuch articles
to be purchaied by Tie Superintendent, as
fhou|d be abfolutely neceifary to the proyrefs
of the edabihment /; the perfoas. OF whom
they were Purchafed, agreeing to ref theirclams
Prepayment, on the fanefooing with that of the
claims of the Arthcers.
The Superintendant had alto comfortable
time before, rcquefted fome Merchants of this
city, to procure 4 quantity of feel, files and
Hints eiicntally necef7ary for the future ulc of
the mandatory OF Arms and although the
Merchants who had procured thefc articles,
had expected immediate payment, yet they
alto conientcd TO wait, uati it liould b pro-
vided for by the Ancmbly.-I now take much
pleainre in mott heartily Recommending the
claims ofthe Arthcers TO the carly confederate
on of the Legislature, as alto the other Claims
aforementioned. mot folemnly allure the
General Ahembly, that the courfe purified by
the Executive has nc, arilen from any with to
evade the law OF the lalt Seliion, bY expeEdiny
or this o;ieSt larger fun than was appropria.
ted; and tits hoped that their condntf will be
approved, when it ~ remembered, that the fuh.
jett is completely within the power OF the Az
iemhy, and thar the expences incurred fince
the lat appropriation was cxhaufed, may iu1-
W be conidered az forming items in the expen-
ces OF the new year over the appropriations of
which the Legislature have full controuI, and
may enlarge Or limit them at pleafure. IF the
preient Legislature ihould purfue the fame po-
Icy which Influenced the lat, in reftraining the
expcnces of this Establishment within sertain
limits have the piraiure to allure the Gene
raj Aiirmby, that the experience Of the Ian
year will enable fhe executive To continue the
operations, and al The fame time 70 keep with
IN the hou nds prefcribed But I - IN he in