Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-03-21
TO THE PEOPLE OF yIRGI.
MA,
No. III.
FELLOW .CITIzENs,

FELLOW .CITIZENs,
have now explained
to YOU the origin and constitution Of
the Armory Committee. Before pro-
coed to the examination and refutati7n
oftheir report; it remains only, that
should shew you how that commit
tee was employed during the eight
weeks, in which It's supposed, they
were giving me hearing.
The first object specified in the re-
solution under which they acted, was,
that they should " enquire into the
manner in which the institution had
been conducted since its commence
ment." Here it is to be remarked,
thatthe building of the institution com.
menced in 1899. My Reports had
been annually submitted to the execu-
tive; and by the executive to the le-
gislature, at every session. NV ac-
counts had been also passed by the ex.
ecu.ive regularly; whose journals du-
ring every session, were laid upon the
table Of the House Of Delegates, open
to the inspection Of every member.
The Auditors accounts, comprehen-
ding general statement Of the expen-
ditures on this object were also, annu-
ally, submitted and the details of the
expense were to be found on the files
in,his Office. The treasury office con-
tanned also the evidence of this annu [.
al expense and every year commit.
tee Of the House OF Delegates was APP.
pointed, jointly with committee of
tnc Senate, TO examine the trcasurer's
accounts. The mandatory itself, is
but few yards out of the limits of
the city of Richmond the members
of the assembly were, every yearin the
habit of visiting it; here they had an
opportunity of seeing the manner in
which the various operations were car
ried on; of seeing the order kept up
among the artihcers; ofexamining the
contracts made with these men; of
inspecting, if they pleased, the books
oil the institution; of counting the
stands Of arms, and thus checking my
reports in short, there was no one
subject having any kind of connection
with the armory, i.em the books of
the executive council Go.yn to the pay
rolls. given monthly to the artihcers
which had not bsen regularly laid open
most completely to the inspection and
examination of every legislaturs, from
the time that the first pick AXIS was
struck into the earth, to clear away the
foundation, down TO the meeting OK
the assembly, last winter. AS every
preceding legislature had equal powers
with the last; as they had equal oppor-
tunities ofknowing thetruth evidence
equally authentic before them; AID
equal patriotism and intelligence to IN /.
vestigate it; the fair presumption, and.
indeed, the only one compatible with
the honor Of former legislatures, is,
that the merits of this institution and
ofits officers were annually considered
and canvassed, if not by any formal
measure of the house, at least by the
members Individually. Why, then,
you will naturally enquire, were not
these abuses discovered sooner, and
the officers removed! The answer is
plain and easy. 1t was because for
mer legislatures did not understand
this new kind of merit; of discover.
ing abuses which did not exist; Ii
was because former legislatures knew
the value ofthis institution to the state,
and were disposed to cherish and fos-
ter it because they felt a proper res
pect for the constitution, and for that
branch of the government under whose
Immediate care and direction the ar.
mory had been placed because they
chose to rely only on authentic evi.
dence, and to give the subject, on all
occasions, fair & candid examination.
The same temper would have conduct