The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-01-06
70 .be honorable TIE Senate 8 Hogfe Of Delegates

The minds Of the citizens Of Richmond have
for fome days pat been comfortably agitated
by a propofiion, which they undernand has
heeu fabmitted to the Legi(lature for the aboli
tion of the public guard. They cannot but
feel the deepeit interef in every fubjea con-
netled- with the fafety of this city, which in.
wolves of courfe not only the fafety of their
property but of their families. 1t is the pccu-
liar felicity of free government that every
citizen may difcufs public meafures, and an
enlightened Legislature will ever with to be in
formed of the featiments of thoic, on whom
the laws are to operate and will li:ten with
comp;acency to any obfervations, which may
afford the fmaeft 'affifance in forming cor
rect determination. The writer of thvfe re-
marks, participating in the feelings which he
has attributed to the citizens in general, begs
pcrmiflion TO fate to the Legislature of his
country, for which he entertains the highett
refpeef, the reafons which fatisfy his mind that
the abolition of the public guard would be i'm
polite and unjua.
The guard was originally iufitutcd as pro-
tection aganR danger, which unfortunately
for the people of this fate exits in the very
heart of the community, aud which 1t has AS yet
been found impoffbe to remove. That the
danger is not imaginary every one muft be con-
WINGED, but If there is any perfon who is
fccp.ic on this fnbee, let him examine the
journals of the houfe of Delegates for the f fiji
on commencing in 1900, and he will find in
governor Monroe's letter to the a',e,nbIy and
the documents to which it refers, abundant
evidence that there was at that time, and he
will be convinced that there fli is dreadful
reality in the danger to which we are expoied
There was calamity then impending over this
city and its vicinity, which bad it not been
checked in the fira inttince By what appeared
a providential Interpolation, and reiiGed after
a hP ard vin nF hr
government, might have produced the mott
destructive coniequences. The governor re-
commended to the Legislative the adoption of
fome fyfem, which might be calculated to
prevent any pernicious effects from the rtcur-
renee of fuch an evil. 1t is prefumed that the
public guard was eRablihcd in purfuance of
fuch recommendation. And it furey forms 4
it,ong argument in favor of its continuance,
thstthe then governor, who, from having feen all
the circumstances attending the danger to which
we were expofed, and who was 70 well able to
form correa decihon on the fubie1, lhoud
have deemed this kind of defence absolutely
necefiary. If then there is danger from this
iource, is it not the duty of govern mentto pro-
teti rs agaiGft it!
The protection of the perfons and property
oftndividuals was the primary objc6 for which
government WAS initituted. The reciprocal
duties OF protection and obedience conftitute
70 the community. III the Sd article of our
bill of rights it is expressly declared "that go
vernmcni is or ought to be initituted for the
common benefit, protection and fecurity of the
people, nation, or community" 1t is TO ena-
ole the fociety to afford this protection and fe-
cnrlty that If is entru!ted with the public pufe
and the public fword. /. cannot be doubted
then that is the duty of the Rate to give pro-.
lection to every portion Of its citizens who may
n!ed a frnr al III
domeftic iniure6ton. The city of Richmond
has peculiar claims upon the attention of the L.
giiiature. 1t is the capital of the fate. In it
are -puohc buildings of immenie value it is the
dePolitory OF the public treafury, the public
arms, and of the records of the flperior coHrts
and OF every department of the government
Ought it not To engage the mott ANXIOUS foIici-
tude of the Legislature, to place thefe highly
important objects in rate of the utmo(t feru-
rity? Independent of the public properly
which is collected in Richmond, the PROPERTY
of that city is intimately connected with the
welfare OF the country at large. II is well
Known that this tate has long been tributary in
commercial view TO the northern towns. Al
though we pof!eis a country Astounding in the
mot valuable productions which can arlte from
the cultivation of the foil, for want of an ade
quate capital, we have not been enabled to- a.
vail ourtelves of the advantages nature has 70
fiuSbnhI OSUONcu US anu WHICH ell
title us to occupy ditinguiihed ftation a
n,onsh the mott commercial of the ftates.
Within few years, this city has encreaitd
with rapdty which has been feldom equalled,
and il now proulifes TO rife to degree of com
mercial importance, which by affording GER
tain and advantageous market for the produc
sious Of onr lands, will not fail to enhance the
price OF thofe lands and to give fpring to a.
gricUlture, which will prove of the greatcft ad-
vantage TO the community. To enable us to
derive thefe advantages, it will require that this
city il,ould experience the fohering care of GO
Sernmcp.. At any rate no meafure G:ould be
adopted wh ch may be calculated to damp and
deprefs the fpirit of enterprie and improve
Inent which exits amongd US. Any meafnre
which has the appearance of dimniiIing the fe-
curly of perfons or property, could not fail to
have that effect. OF the fame character is the
plan which was contemplated to compel the ci-
tie f Richmond TO p,rforD All unufu VI degree
OF military duty.
II is we'll known tiat the duties Of A pub
JIG nature which the people of this city are at
prefeDt compelled TO perform, are extremely
srduous, If not burdcnfome. Bchdes the die
charge Of militia duty, which is often rendered
from our feufe Of danger, more Ievere than that
TO which the other portions Of the militia are
expofed, the citizens Of this town are compelled
to ferye on the juries in all the various courts
which fet in Richmond, and in which pcrfos:
from every part of the Rate have bunneis. Any
u