The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-12-12


enemy by giving Intelligence, furnishing then.
win arms, provision, or naval stores, nc shall be
liable To imprisonment .3nd proper persons 81 al
he appointed Try the committee nr safety to TAX. mos.
session oi Their estates both real and persnnal wlrh
shalt b. subject the future determination O, III
| convention.
! This or,,inance further rccites-That whereas il
IS essential 10 the peace the happiness and the saf,
" oi thIs colony, that The continental association we
had then no fedora. co?stf ution should Lee strictly
observed, and that all yio,tors OF the same s!,n
he duly punished it therefore or,iains, that ell
merchants, traders ar other persons who Shalt i'm
port amy goods, wares or meFchandi2vs contrary TO
the ssii continental association shall forfeit the
gon.s Ne or II any person oiendin. sh,ll refuse
or fail 10 deliver up the goss when required by the
committee "f safety, he shall forfeit the full value
thereon m money. .2nd either case shalt LIZ
moreover forever rendered incapable of trading in
tins Colony fad it any person shall by writing or
Otherwise order amy goods &c. to be imported in,,,
TINS colony contrary To the continental associations
the person offending shall be for ever rendered
incapable ot trading in this colory and suffer three
months imprisonment SIC. The ordinance con.
fans several other provisions, which may be careful.
~ consulted.
~ The preceding ordinances were all
ahtecetlent TO the establishment IF The con-
sH'hfion.
At convention in Williamsburg, Nav 9th 1776
At this convention the constitution OF Virginia Was
settled.
Chap 4.--An ordinance for erecting salt works, &
encouraging the making or Salt.
Chap. 7.--.9n ordinance tn amend an ordinance
for establishing mode OF punishment for the enc.
mies ut .4merica in this colony.
his ordinance after promising that the former
1ad been iosnd inadequate the purposes thereby
intended, Orains that If any free ucrson shall IL,
any manner or by any. device WAYS or mean,
aio sbet, or assist the enemy, the party SO Offend
ing Shalt forfeit all his estate, and personal 70
the nse OF the commonwealth, and moreover be i'm
prisoned during such time as the Commissioners, for
beyond the continuance OF the war with Great Brit
ain.
Chap. 10.-.fn ordinance making it Felony to
counterfeit the continental! paper currency
Chap. 11.-.in ordinance for augmenting the 9th
regt ot Regular Forces, providing for the better de
fence ct the frontiers of this colony and for raising
six troops OF horse.
Chap. An ordinance for amending an ordi
nance tor raising and embodyiHg a sufficient force
tor the defeucc and protection Of this colony and for
other purposes.
Chap iS-.4n ordinance to supply certain defects
in former order of convention for raising troops
of horse.
Chap. Ian ordinance for making further pro
visions FOR the defence and protection of this COLONY
The titles or these acts shew that expert
ence, the great teacher of statesmen, had
shewn that the former provisions for these
purposes were Inadequate.
They Contain, therefore, an useful admo-
milton to the Legislature, not to fall into the
SAINT CIIOT again.
Let it not be supposed that the General
Government is to do every thing for us, in
this war. We have ample means and re-
sources within ourselves, not only to protect
and defend ourselves within our own state
but to aid the operations of the General Gov
eminent. Shall we then wait till the sepe-
ratists of the north shall assist us bv their
exertions in our behalf, or shall we obey the
precept OF Hercules to the wacgoner. and
set our own shoulders immediately TO the
wheelf Will any true-born son of Virginia
doubt what answer he ought to make?
Let it be remembered, that though the in
dividual states are prohibited from raising
troops, or establishing a navy in time Of
peace. there is no such prohibition in time
OF war We ought and must look to our
protection and defence, at such periods. in
stead of leaving our towns. our harbors
our rivers and their banks, wholly at the
mercy OF predatory and rapacious enemy.
And this brings us to the last ordinance past
at this convention, viz
Chap. 15.-An ordinance to establish . boar3 of
commissioners TO superintend and direct the naval
affairs of this colony.
shall conclude this number. The peri-
cd to which l have brought it, lust reaches
the declaration of ndependence.-Nav e.
very member of the Legislature of Virginia
now feel, as their ancestors and predeCess.
ors telt at that momenti!i