The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-12-10


On Tuesday, William III. Cabell, esq. was
reelected Chief Magistrate of this Com
monwealth, by the joint voice of both Houses
without opposition.
MIR. Samuel Peasants was in the same
manner reelected Public Printer-without
opposition.
Various petitions were presented to the
House of Delegates on Tuesday ndWednes-
day, of which we shall give more particu-
lar account when we are supplied with copy
of the Journals.
On Tuesday, the following luminous CON-
MUNIcATIoN. from the Governor svas sub
niited to both Houses.
RIcHMoND, Decem6erls, 1907.
g rejoice that the law has now conven-
ED the representatives of the people of Vir-
ginia. The Congress of the United States,
called by the President, at L period earlier
than usual, In consequence OF circumstances
which menaced the peace of our Country,
still remains in session. These circumstances
have been already announced to the nation
Their issue, as yet uncertain, may call from
the general government, measures which
MAJ require the firm and vigorous co-opera-
ton of the state Legislatures. One great OBJ
icct Of the establishment of the general 90
vcrnment was, to provide moro efFsctuaiiy
by our United force, for our common de-
fence: one OF the great duties of that govern
ment is to protect each state against invas;-
on. But as in the most wisely organized and
best administered governments, cases NAV oc-
Cur in which individuals will find It necesss-
~ to defend themselves against sudden vio-
ience, without waiting for the slow forms of
law, so III our widely extended Ccnfedcrated
Republic, it will sometimes happen that the
danger to a particular state, may be SO inn
minent as to require the exertion of its own
energies, before The national arm can be e5,-
tended for its protection. Such case has
occurred IN our own state since Your asst ses-
si6ri. nc capes CT Virginia nave been made
the theatre OF an outrage unprecedented in
the history of nations. in pursuance Of a for
nal order from British Admiral! founded
On pTetensicn opposed m every principle of
the acknowledged law Ct nations, & strikine.
vitaily at the Independence OF every other
country, public armed vessel of the United
otates, leaving her por. On distant service,
was on the 22d day OF june, followed by one
OF those vessels c. war which had been kind
Iy receivcdlnto OR harbors, and were at that
moment enjoying the benefits II hosDital-
lty, was attacked within sight Of our own
snore, had several of hcr crew killed and
wounded, four taken from her, and herself
disabled from proceeding. This outrage was
fo!Fowedup by others which, although not -;
enormous in atroCity, CT hot conducted to so
tfa5,caI an end, manifested an equal disrc-
gard OF our rights and spirit Of more deter
named and Systematic hostility. The ship
Leopard which, i'll or own harbors, had
watched the frigate Chesapeake, had follow
ed her out of them and attacked her, immct:-
stely returned, bringing with her the trophies
OF her lawics triumph and OF our degradation
and re-Joined the British sqnadron then living
IN liynhtVen Bay and on the Sd of July
Commodore Douglass, with the whole SQUAD
ron, took has station in Hampton Roads, fo.
the avowcd purpose of blockading the town
of Norfolk; a purpose that was but too faith
1uiy executed, at least so far as to permit no
vessel to pass without examination These
circumstances added to the very menacine
language of the British Commodore, ana the
still more menacing act of his sounding, for n
very considerable distance, the channe! Of F.
liza6eth river leading to Norfoik, seemed to
leave no doubt OF MS intention to attack that
town. Indeed after what had already occur
red, 1T was difficult toconiecture the limits to
which he intended 20 contine his hcstiIities.
Ihe Executive of Virginia, receiving the
earliest and most prompt information Of this
state of things, deemed it their duty to pro-
vide instantly for the protection of the coun
try. accordingly on the 9th fully, force be-
EeYcd to be competent, was directed to be i'm
medlately stationed at Norfolk & Hampton
O orders were given to the Bli%ad,cr Gems
commanding the Ialitia bordering ON the
Chesapeake Bay ami cur principal rivers, 10
organize other dctaciimtnts to be held in rea
d!ness TO take the field at moments warn
ing. These measures were communicated
without delay to the President Of the United
States; but previously to his receiving that
communication, he had bcen informed from
other sources, OF inc occurrences in the vicini-
ty of Norfolk, ana Gcyad.n< it necessary to
provide for the defence OF that place and the
protection Of the state, had on the 9TH of july,
Called on the Executive to order into imIne-
date service, at the cXpence of the U. S. such
portions ofthe militia as might be Thought ne
cessary and most convenient for these OBJ
Jects. The outrage on the Chesapeake, had
excited in every description Of cur fciiow CT
tEeha throughout the state, one universal sen
tinent CT the strongest Indignation III pri-
Vate or party differences were lost in sense
OF our violated rights as nation, anil in the
hrrnest resolution to cooperate, at the sa-
crifce Off and property, in whatever inca
sureS OF redress the constituted authorities
thould adopt. But when this outrage was fol-
lowed UP by the mcnacing attitude assumed
blythe British squadron in the very bosom of
cur country, by the blockade of our PRINCIPAL
commercial town, and by the prospect ofits
immediate attack, the militia in every part of
the amin frI i,,r ge-,,,c III e