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

20 peculiar weight in this matter, rad on a
former occasion cautioned them, that erect
what Notifications they might, the enemy
were not obliged TO lie before thcm-that
shirs OF war were movable force on the
water, and to be resisted with effect must be
opposed by movable force on the land
these were the two leading measures
which were impressed on his mind as proper
TO be adopted. Muskets in the hands of our
citizens, and cannon in our arsenals, were so
much national wealth, even exclusive OF the
idea OF present national danger. The uses
to which they were 10 be applied under any
possible emergency were not susceptible CT
dispute. No man could arraign this as :
slonary plan OF defence, as had been doi.e
with respect to gun-boats and Qualifications
upon them however, he shoild say nothing
at present, except that he thought His the
preferable mode Of defence, and one emit ed
20 De provided tor, before the treasurv should
be drained for less worthy purposes. But
there was another and more important mea-
sure, which ought topreCede any step which
the House might take for defence twas a
measure OF Justice-~hiCh would not only en-
title them to success, but was eminently cal
culated to ensure it-a measure which would
unite all hearts and nerve every hand in the
cause OF their country. 1t was to do away
the stigma OF suffering those who had fought
and bled In their service, to starve in the
streets. With what face could the govern
ment call upon the youth of the nation to turn
out in the public defence, when their ewes
were every where assailed by the spectacle
OF their countrymen and kindred, veterans Of
OF the revolution, who had raised the proud
fabric OF our independence, begging from
door to door morsel ofbread. 1t was impos-
slble to contemplate the condition of those
gallant men who, after giving to their coun-
try every thing, were consigned by it to beg
gary and want, without sensations of indig-
nation and shame, as well as commiseration
But it is subject (said Mr.. r. on which
will say 10 more-I cannot supply feelings
to those who are destitute CT them-and |
should as soon undertake to raise the very
dead as excite those whom the subject itself
IS unable to move. He concluded bv Offering,
three resolutions, calculated to meet the OBJ
jets which he had in view. Processing him
self, at the same time, willing, to submit to
any amendment, which did not alter their
substance. He then read in his place the re-
solutions, which may be found in our last. :
Before he handed these resolutions to the
chair Mr.. X. said he would obviate am obiec-
ton which might be made to the first-that
they had already law to provide for these
persons. To the disgrace Of the statute book
they had pension law. What was the pro-
vision? That man who had incurred disabi-
lily by known wounds during the revolutionary
war, after being tied down to the most mi
mute proofs, which in most cases, from the
death or removal of his old companions in
arms, he was unable to give, although the fact
might be of general notoriety, was, if he could
surmount all the difficulties thrown in hiswav
entitled to miserable annuity to take date,
not from the time when the disability was in
Cured, but from the time when his claim
should be established So that the man whose
keen sensibiiity had restrained him from ap-
plying to the public for relict, who had strug-
gled on, in hope of better days, till the last
gasp, was put off with pension, which so
far from discharging the petty debts which
he might have contracted previous to his APP
plication, would hardly keep soul and body
together When ifhis pension were to take
date from the time of his service bciag rem
dered, as in common Justice it ought to be,
he might be placed i'll comparatively easy
circumstances.