The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-03-07

ted that there were in the House of Delegates,
men who had worked and pushed themselves
forward into the most conspicuous employ
ments in that house, and who had been de-
crying the institution and hooting evil omens
against it, from its first foundation ; that, to
the enmity of these men, the charges of the
Nicginian would furnish food ; would act up
on them as a stimulous andset them to work.
Il ought to have reflected, that between
these busy members in the House, and the
dark and intriguing spirit of the Editor out
OF Ii, backed by his myrmidons, the discard
ed workmea, and the whole acting upon the
unsuspicious minds of the new members as
soon as they came to town, a coordination
might be formed, against which, no innocence
or merit could defend me, The plot took
effect accordingly. The members had no
sooner engaged their lodgings, than their
quarters were beaten up, by the Editor and
MS worthy co-adJutors; printed papers were
pushed into their hands, setting forth ascu-
sations OF the most. alarming nature against
the management OF the manufactory of arms
and backed by a kind of letter of credit from
the before mentioned John Strobe, TO his
" Dear Friend" as he calls him, and pupil,
the Editor. Not content with b~esettingthem
IN their lodgings, this man had the e~fronte-
ry TO take his stand in the lobby of the
House to have such members, as he select
ed, cailec'out to harangte them on the heads
or his accusation /; while some one of the dis
carded workmen. whose person and credi-
oiilty were, 81 coarse, entirely unknown to
the menaers. was ever ready at his post
prepared, at the back of the nccuser- IN
step forward and support his statements. 1t
IS not tobc wondered at, that members thus
besieSed and acted Upon, and hearing aothiug
ia contradiction 30 these Charges, should be-
SIN To conserve the most inausDicious pre-
Judices. ! SAW the Shois machinery a. work
and understood it perfectly: bu; how was it
to be counteracted by a man who felt his
own innocencs, honesty, and Will add, me-
rit! Was Il fer me to descend 10 coua.erva;l
ne machiRations CT my ENEMY, by adopting
his infamous arts? Yas i for rae 20 sneak
like a cu!prit, from boardin~- house to BOARD
lighthouse, and ask fcr mercy, where knew
that i was cntitltd to gratitude? In any O.
fher situation than thai to which I have been
reduced, this Language would, know lie in
oelcate; but outraged, oppressed and rob
ped, as have been, 81 my rights, l wiz dare
to speai- out and claim whatt know to be
justly my own.
Vixen this out of-desrsi intrigue had been oo-
:hs O.. leaS enough, si;i The fii.,iE 0ff the iue,n-
oers, ! presume were supposed 70 be sufficient
~ poisoned iof the purlbse, = member from the
county o! ChIfeHber, the county Of john STROBE
and ct the editors befoie mentioned, rose in his
piscc ana moved ti>GS tie Pouce should com 70
the following resolution
" aeSo!0ea, That a cPnmittee be appointed 10
enqulr ai>6 examine nth the situation ofthe Ar
INQUIRY established for the manufacturing of nuL.
lie arms K that 20 much oftae Governor com
munication as relates thereto be referred 70 ,be
same" ~
This resolution you VIII find upon the 1O.h
page Of the Journal, Of the House OF Dele rales.
II the question had been put upon this resolution,
1t must have been carried in The affirmative and
then according TO TIE for,rs OF proceeding in the
House, the gentleman who made the motion
must have been appointed tn. chairr,en. TIE
Chairman of the spccia! committee IS alyyays Che
most effective member ON It: Il he object OF he
comrAittee Ne 10 prepare a bill, 1t X he who
c.raws Che biz an6 reports it to the House IS
the object be to draw resolp.ionsG or TO q, ,.,v \.
Their sPeoia, thing, thc chairman is the prime &.
gent he pres;des IL tEe c~ontrc,,l,
IN a very gteatdegrce, BY lis authority, the one
TatIcns N that comtlittec, his ben prec2.cs he
report ne brirTs il Gowa and presents it to .,e
House, and the Whole hoaor G. the transaction
Whatever it may BE, is aJcribed to him. In ? for
neristter I Gated Daniel Shelley, & member
from Wytne, the sebecyeated shairnIul of tlA
committee; you viii How-Jee that the ep;.het
was justly applied Tbs r.an who hac Leel
for severrl years u%ttsrinY orioles against ,e ar
Iioury, and foictei,iGG tie injuries which il
would in1lct on the The st9te ElGing, nov, chat
N'S i'~iA y iA.sG-y z DC EDr..G WY ~ TIE I.GFl-I
Der from Cui2eP?er, ape the fruits cchis own sa-
gacity gathered by another h; d, hit upon an e.
ledIent to Intercept that smbep IND. t,rrrst
hinsclfin tho post Of hcror. lie aoyed fbsl
the reaoluslon4 oii-red by lie member from Cui.
Pepper, might lie on the able statinr the he
hI-'sel< you'd or g. ext Oar Ger one uoeo a
0r9adec scale, md 'whica that .lemf.. IvauII
md to answer his 1--WE chiaet rOre u rrDlc,elv.
perhaps, than tai which II. had ten1.sred. This
was an agreement 10 .h3MaCdesty OK tke me-,bc.
ticnl CuiEspper and lr5 accordingly gave ,yay.
l take this opportunity Of scying that inpuye
nothing improper to this young C~ertloman. Ee
is represented TO me 20 Re on honorable yo.-r,.
man; I have ne rcason o doubt iE. r. aim
she motion he did, l helicYe he was led to sam.
pose that he was doinr useful service. To HI
country. On the next GgY ~. Shefsy. car.
forward with nis resolution. = q ir thee words :.
" Resaseet, That 40 Egch cfthe Governors.
communication as relates to the rnanUcactory Of
arms be referred 70 atalect com,Aittec, and iha.
they be instructed tc enc uire into the manner; in
which the institution has been conducted 81 20
ITS cor1nencemen thea 2ount crmcrsv a,,,rr.
pristea and e. pen6sd the nHTaker of ,,,n.
complicated and the s'riOus descriptions hereof :.
the unraught materials on hand the component
PARIS OF the arms the quantity OF arms made :.
and to make such farther enquiries into the .st,f,.
and operations Of the sale msnufactory as tbey
may aeem interesting to the publ;c, s41 nae re-.
by bill or otherwise :" this il q, ,ke
18th page OF the journals. t VIII he ob.eryed
t'at the resolution Srst offered was n. general