The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-02-21
The ENQUIRER.
FEBRUdRY 81, 1899.
FOR THE EN9UiRER.
TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.
ITlzENs,

n 1Ns~S1AE T.. . .
TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.
ELK CITIZENS,
1t IS known to many ofyou
that l have been ior. several years past engaged
IN the public service as superintendl mt of the
mandatory of arms. The selection of lie
scite, heplan ofthe baiidins, the scheme of he
machinery are my work III short the Whole cd
ihco, & every thing connected with it, have risen
Under S,ve.c and by my direction. / had previ-
ouT,y VISITED every public institution OF the KIND
within the United States: it has been nv pride
10 make ours superior to them ali, and, IN sho /,
To carry IL to the hi chest degree of PERFECTION
witch INV powers were Capable OF att,i 1iHg
With THIS view, l relinqaisl,ed all other pursuits,
and have devoted eleven wears of the prime and
flower ofmy life to this great rational obi CT. How
Tar have succeeded, X IS no, FOR IN tb' Sev--I
nay SAFELY appc Ito ihe sestimc Uts NJ sNi t,e IT, -
e'!crs either tram other states 0r tron Europe who
lave seen tins institution. This however, l an tru.
~ ;,fiirni, IN the presence oftiiat BEN. yao.se ar"n-
es the secrets of the human heart, thai IN suprn
tending the establis.ine mt pllc-I undcg my are.
lhave done my duly not VITA reluctance I haze
been pissionstciy lttaslied 10 tie object, & / have
l'bo. eel ~ advance 1t 10 perfection not only with
assiduitv, tut with zeal and even with entliusi
asm. AS the arvul reports OF my proceedings
nave been regu.arly Lid bet,fe ,ie executive
.Dd communicated by the Governors IL the asse,,
bly, ii every session-"s the m.nufact0ry. snl e
S's tiiiS III TS'Al'bu ~ ~ iftNe DCEtl tphst4iillN
optn 10 the inspection, aud c:.STaiu.tion OF uiose
bodies and | have ever been - ,dy To give wrrl
che criu,n:s any explanation desired by eitnev-
and as have never heard from those b,iies any
other language than that of Appreciation and even
, apnlause, l had reason to hope that. the sincerity
otlny motives, at least, had been Justly appreciate
ted, and that it not an useful, | WAS deemed 4
faithful and a Jealous servant of tbs pubic.
Within the few last days OF the session of the
legislature, which has Just closed, nv hopes have
been reversed. / have seen the cabsl of a ie w mi
serlbie wretci,es, which Conscious Of my own
purity, and confiding III the justice OF ny coun'
try) l had looked upon with silent contempt-i
have seen that cabal successful and triumphant
1 have seen the House OF Delegates of Virginia,
within the iew last hours 81 their sess on, Ill the
midst ut pg-ii,iice: and impat.ence 10 r.sc. refu-
sing TO hear the evidence of an accused IA IN, and
lending the weight OF then respectable name to
ASSIST me malignity of my accusers. l know what
~ due to the representatives of The people; but
1 know, also, what is due 60 the people them.
selves, of whom l nm one. Its to The higher tn
bunaf OF the people, that | appeal from the sen.
ten"e oftheir re representatives | complain that
III ny person, the biIt of rights and constitution
of Virginia, nave been grossly and cruelty viola
te thar a privilege allowed 20 the IneancSt
wip;ch ia society, WAC stands accused, has been
d Md 10 INC that l have been condemned
without a hearing; that my documents, my w.t.
nesses, and AL the evidence lviiich went 20 reJel
tn charges ag ,inst me, and % pfoyen not on,y iIIy
innocence but my zeat Tor the public service,
have been McSsiiy aud unconstitutional exclu
dedtfrOm the view of the House, which was to
act upon Tycase that the report Of 4 committee
founded on L ihaf yiew Of the subject, and Dot
tAm.d upon sup-lii:iai md false calculations, has
bSen hastily and n, ons,leratciv passed through
the House tina, n the Iash AID fatal moment ct
hurry and prejudice, the House of DGlsga.cs
nave Pcactsed upon me an act OF injustice, of
baibaIous oppression & despotism, winch would
not be endured even in i mon,rch.
These are the points TO winch | beg The con.i
Iteration of the peo,,le. Itis not ihe s,,gl,ge Of
general compliant and ind anation lit | snail
employ l will submit t. TIA peoplea o.lm ala,
uicolored statement 81 { cts, sutboyied b. epi-
desce ; that evidence, winch lhe,r representatives
reused to examine, will nevertheless. DC exsni
ned ny the PEG, ie themselves. Tn people arc
the natural gu''di .Gts of each others r!gats and
Characters. Wi,!,er shall an indvidusi, who
has been outraged aud oppressed ny any body Ct
men, no IN ttter how OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES s!l,,t
he lily for redress, bat Ia The body Of til people /;
tiie i1uhLlin ut power and Of justice? Il IL to
thatbndy HAT ! by for redress. l ask not for
sympathy, for pity ! ak but for justice l EN-
Treat a cahE AID cdnd 4 hearing and to stand or
tai, b. the eVi.eIcc, only
! Ip.opoae. M a sev.es of numbers, 90 examine
tie report Of the ArTnOry committee, as il has
been adopted by the House OF Delegates
pledge ny self 10 demoU,iv.t- that The charges
made b, that report are rot founded in fact. |
am aware Of HE strength of tins expression g.
an prepared TO make II good in its fullest sense.
Had the House Of delegates received Tie report
OF their committee 1T an carrier day of the sessi
o., wAeu they would have been less in Il hurry 20
adjourn, and, u.eretoie, better disposed to re.
ceivc explanations and 10 hear the proofs, th;s
appeal would have been rendered unnecessary
They must not be sarp?ixcdif l refuse TO sit sGjl
under the imPutatiors which have been cast up.
on me. " lne worm that is trodden upon, vii!
TWIST" Nor is it i'll tic imposing name OF a II.
~ Delegates, TO make the bear with the silence.
OF guilt, u:e charge OF offences which my soul
a5irprs, as much is HAT Of any member IF thst
III 'usc. JOHN CLARKE.
EXTRACT from The ~JoukEALs OF THE
LiNIf.f nv NET Ec A.rE-