The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-12-08
RIcHMowD, Dec. 5th, 1903.


ration Of our intercourse with foreign natl
ons, on principles compatible with the ho-
nor and welfare of our country. That hope
has not been realized. The two great Belli
gercnts OF Europe, losing sight OF every law
but that OF force, and admitting to it no limi-
tation but thatof their own documentary inter-
est, have rejected or disregardcd all our Just
and liberal overtures
The Legislature at their last session, took
under their most serious consideration, the
measures which had been adopted by the Ge-
neral Government for preserving the peace
OF the country, and gave to those measures,
their warm and decided appreciation. The
events which were then passing in Europe,
and knowledge OF which soon reached us
here, established their necessity, and con-
hrmed the wisdom by which they had been
dictated. 1t was always seen that one of those
measures, the Embargo, suspending all our
Foreign Commerce, would impose upon the
People Of the United States, many and great
prlvations and Inconvenience. Wchave not
been eXcmptsfrom our portion of them But
we nave borne them with patience rs evils
necessarily attending the only measure which
Could have saved us from the greater evils of
actual war, or national degradation. Uncea-
sing'eiforts have been made to induce achanrc
in the conduct of the Belligerents towards us.
We lave done al that justice required; we
have offered all that honor would permit
They relax not in their injurious & unwar-
Tantabie course & our government, having
exhausted negotiation, now makes it's last ap-
peal to the Wisdom and TO the Patriotism of
the nation. In this awful crisis of our affairs
when the contest is reduced to the question
whether We shall relinquish, or whether we
shall maintain the Independence achieved
by the valor, and sealed by the blood IF our
toreiathers, we cannot hesitate to decide
We value the rich bequest above all price,
and Will defend it at every hazard. We can
not DC indifferent las to the measures which
may be adopted to advance this great object ::
but, whatever may be the course which may
be finally prescribed BY the Constituted Au-
thorities, will it not be the duty OF every Citi-
zen, III a Crisis like the present, to forget
ali minor differences, to yield his individual
opinion TO the Win of the Majority, and raj
~ round the Government of our choice p
Never forgetting that, Omitted we stand,
divided we fall'
The President of the United States has
deemed Unnecessary to require, by virtue of
an Act OF Congress Of the last Session, de-
tacnment of one hundred thousand Militia.
to be organized, armed and equipped, and
held in readiness to march at moments
warning The quota of this State consists
OF ten thousand one hundred and ninety
eight, officers included, and measures have
been taken by the Executive as far as they
possess the power, for complying with the
RequisltIon. The papers connected with
this subject are transmit ed for the informa-
ton OF the Legislature. Recollectine the
spirit so universally displayed on the former
requisition, and convinced that at no ante
cedent period of our history, the conduct of
foreign nations was ever more highly calcu-
lated to excite our just Indignation, and that
the situation of our country never more 1e-
CURED the exertions of Fatriotism--I have
well-grounded hopes that the quota of Viz
ginia, instead of beng filled by men rcluc-
family dragged to the Field, will consist ex-
ciusively of those who have voluntarily step
ped forward, and rendered their services.
at the first call of their Country.
1t is lesson taught by the history of eve
~ nation, and confirmed by the experience
OF cur OVID, and at no time more strongly
than tic present, that the love of peace and
practice of justice, will not always afford
security from unwarrantable and hostile ae-
gressions. Rapacity and ambition set at
nought such feeble barriers. Every Country,
therefore, should have within itself the
means OF defending and avenging its violated
At no time ought we to de-
pend OH the nations of Europe for supplies of
arms. We could never expect any but the
refuse of their Arsenals. But in the present
situation OF those nations in relation to each
other, and more particularly in relation to
us, our sole reliance must be upon our selves.
That reliance will not fail us, if we proper-
ly use the means with which we are so album
dainty supplied. Permit me, therefore once
more to recommend to the fostering care of
the General Assembly, the Public Manufac-
tory Of Arms. 1t is conducted under the
control Of the Executive, and the Establish
meDt itself, and all its operations are passed
in review before the Representatives of the
People, at their Annual Sessions, who there
fore will not fail to correct any errofs. de
fects or abuses, that may at any time exist.
The Executive deemed it advisable, du-
ring the last sunmer, to rcQucs. certain
Gentlemen 90 examine and prove a number
OF thc Arms of each years manufacture
since the commencement Of the Establish
ment, and 20 make comparison OF them
with the other arms belonging to the Public,
but not Of opr OWE manufacture. These Gen
tlem>n arc believed to be competent Judges
they are all Of them respectable for their IN
teiiigence aud standing in society, and, to
most OF them, the use Of arms became f4mi-
liar in the battles of our revolutionary con-
test. i have much pleasure in Submitting
their Report to the Consideration Of the Gc-
rcral Assembly, and in declaring my entire
concurrence, and that Of the Council unani-
mously, III tic opinions expressed in its CON
clusion, concerning the Establishment and
a.