Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-03-21

from discarded and war:h css workmen !!
We'll do they know, ,hat this is untrue,-
that my ipiormatlon Was derived from AN
examination of john Clarke's own reports
and other documents from knowledge OF
the particular duties win Ga the conductors
OF a mandatory OF arms ought to perform
from established data that the arms, al
ready made, were wor HESS, and that the
modes pursued would never produce better.
They may know more, that employed sun
dry intelligent persons, who were not sus-
pected to obtain accurate Information " the
various operations of the armory-and of
other matters worthy of notice and inquiry.
From.taa reports oi obese persons, and not
from the workmen, / derived knowie1ge
OF facts: From my own experience or the
proper mVtle of condacting such business,
and an exaali1ation o John Clarle's own
decept'ous repur,s, and slight view ot the
accounts drew my infercnces and made
my charges.
Among the persons TO whom l was great
ly Indebted FOR information and service, was
young lr'sman, who had nut lately found
an asylum in this country; his name, Tho
mas Ifnsiozv-I found him a tive, intelh :
gent, interchangeable, md correct He IS now
emplpyedby Jno Tayloc, esq. OF Noun. Airy,
and take this opportunity OF giving pub
lie testimonial of the service he has rem
opinion l entertain of his Industry, hon !.
or and vcracity.-Th;s is a tribute to me-
rit which ipay wth pleasure,
BY such means | obtained the most CON-
plete information, from the commencement
OF the operations, of the arIrory, Far supe-
rior to tiiat which gould have been given
even BY Johu Clarke himself, if he had been
50 Disposed
The charges made by me were so plain
and so pointed that they could not pass uu-
noticed. The public feeling was excited.
and, then it was, that the most wicked
schemes were invented and prosecuted
not to meet and examine the charges, but
to convict me of falsehood anti tx stigma
upon my name 1 was bound by the die
tatcs OF self preservation to meet and OPP
pose them .--Same OF the means have al :
ready expiained--ny foes tho numerous
and powerful were afraid of an open COM
bat. had put my single bark to sea, and
absolutely biockaded their ports They ef-
fected to treat me with gempt, but they
burst not sly word, and because, they
too well knew that the very means Of vim.
dicntion would expose them to new and
more severe attacks
When the legislature met, circulated
among them May copies of those discus
sions, which had been published under my
signature. ] introduced the subject in pub.
lie as we'll as in private conversation, and
assured every one 20 whom | spoke, thar
those printed papers confirmed tissue o
truths for the pcoof of which I was ready
and willing tn adduce testimony.
Before adopted this open and unequivo.
cal conduct, I was we'll convinced that my
charges were not only true but capable oil
being proved +; that public inv stigation was
necessary; that there was adiabolIcal con.
spracy, formed to prevent it. and that the
plot would be aided by report OF certain
private persons, who had been authorised
by the executive to examine and prove the
muskcts by another report, of three
members OF the executive council, and The
accompanying documents, and from the
public letter of the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT s
all these shall speak hereafter.
Win such testimonials, the conspirator'
had some ground TO exult as they offerdid
in an approaching triumphant it was
this which authorised one of the mcanest
and Io7ccst Of the set, to go from place to
place, and inform such members as would
listen TO him, that my accusations were
false and groundless that il was ,mpossi
bic to support my charges aud the refore
must be stigmatzed and dsgrsced -
had daily Information OF these pranks
and clearly saw he necessity FOR a ting, not
only, with prompti,ude bu viii, fiDness and
ChSfSJ ---rtiiu ~ WIS ny sutsit incftIlS tldl 4
used my best efforts, to counterfeit nefa-
rious plot just ready TO explode.
shall ever take credit as well as enjoy the
highest satisfaction in believing, that con.
tributed in the slightest degree to su5st
tute a disgraceful defeat, instead of that
triumph which had been anticipated, and
if the 7vork 7oas ell my our if | am to- be
considered as the author and faRiisher, as
It's admitted So much higher will be my
qualification. The conspirators were taken
by surprize They were ut.gener9iled The
SUBJECT was introduced, soonerthan they ex
pected and by persons who we're not their
friends. The documents, already referred
to,.instead Of forming the van of attack
against me, were cast in 'therear.--
The. whole plan of the campaign was
changed; and they could never again or
gapize a new sys,en, before their de-
feat was Inevitable a coed aeai has been
said as 50 tile maaaer ofin,roducing the
subject alice il here. 70 say; taa' the re-
resolution 70 enquire into the operations Of
the armorg. was broad Just an c mprehen-
sive. John Clarke also c5mplains of the
manner Of appointing tue committee, and
so did some of those VINO vyege slcferc,ineh