The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-04-17

NltSOisAE. F
~ We publish with great pleasure the
following Address from the Chief Magis-
trate OF this Commonwealth to the Com
iaandants ut Regiments.
RICHMOND, March 3lst, 1912.
Ihave. thought proper Ivy and with the
advice of the Council of State, to direct the
distribution at SO many Arms AS will be SUI
hcient TO arm completely, (they being the
most exposed TO danger,J the following
Counties. to wit Accomack, Charles
City, Dinwiddie. Elizabeth City, Essex. FAIR
fax. Gloucester, Isle of Wight, lanes City,
King William, King George, lancaster.
Middlesex, Mathews, Nanscmond,. North
ampton. Northumberland. Norfolk, Princess
Ann. Prince George, Prince William, Rich
mond. Southampton, Stafford, Surry, Spott-
Isyivania, Sussex. Nvai wick and WeItmore-
land. =
Instructions are giveit to forward the quo.
ia assigned each Regiment to the most con-
venient place for distribution, which you
will cause to be placed in the hands Of the
Militia, without moments delay. The re-
siduc of the public Arms will take the di
rection prescribed by law, and be distribu-
ted equally amongst all the regiments in pro
portion to their numbers, unless diverted
from that Channel by some emergene oc-
casion. must require of you, forthwith
l
inspection to take place of all the arms here
toforc delivered to the Regiment under your
command /; and that you will With the least
possible delay, by pest or otherwise, report
their condition to this department.--You
| will also report the strength of the Caral-
ry and Artillery (if amy attached to your
Regiment Wheresoever delinquency has
occurred, either in the distribution or safe
| keeping OF the public arms, you will take
immediate and effectual steps to bring t.
notice such delinquents, that they may be
| exposed to such penalties as the law infiicts.
| The preservation of the public arms, is an
object of such primary Importance, that the
Necessity of an unwearied attention and an
unceasing vigilance to this subject, cannot
be too strongly inculcated. Whilst on the
one hand, we cannot too highly applaud
that wisdom, under the guidance of which
Virginia procured arms to be placed in the
hands OF her citizens, who might thereby be
prepared in any EFFICIENCY to defend their
1birthright: On the other, we cannot but
ldeplore the negligence and listlessness
(Which all agree in saying) have marked
the conduct OF but too many Of those to whose
care has been conhded their preservation
Let those who have been guilty of such I'M
pardonable negligence recollect, that when
the day OF reckoning shall arrive, (and come
it WILL the vengeance of an abused and in
ljured people will fall heavily upon the
heads OF those who have betrayed the con-
hdence of their country. .
1t is far from my intention to excite any
premature or unnecessary alarm and
wish yon distinctly to understand, that am
in possession Of no other information than
that which is common to every citzen--Yet,
8 under my present impressions, arising from
. the probable course Of events, should be
! wanting IN my duty, were not to Cali Your
serious attention to the threaten ming posture
OF cur Foreign Relations. IL is time we
should be upon the alert that we shake of
the supineness which paralyzes every man
~ effort /: that we should be sensibly alive
TO, and prepared tor, the approaching crisis
Il lt seems that no alternative is left, but AIN
appeal to arms or an iynominous sabm 3 son
I-America will not even deliberate which
to choose.-tiow long shall we set with our
arms folded together, and still hope for the
continuance OF peace-when by a long seri-
es OF acts, such hope is proved 10 be illuso-
Try! There was, indeed, time when such
hope might we'll have been INDUCED. Sc
paratcd as we are from the Old World by
a mighty expanse OF ocean quietly pursuing
our honest and legitimate avocations impair
.. tial In our feelings and irreproachable in Our
conduct towards all nations with Justice
. tor our guide and peace for our object, re-
peat again, we might we'll have hoped to
nave been exempt from those calamities
with which, as with the bosom of deSolation
an angry God has swept the face of Europe
But rational as that hope once was, it would
De madness any longer to induigein it. The
measure OF our slifferings is full; that of our
patience is exhausted. The high seas, the
common inheritage of all nations, have been
usnrped by our irpplacabls enemy, the dis
turbers of the peace of mankind, who con
temptuonsly disregard those laws which
had Justice for their basis, and the universe
Consent OF all the nations OF the earth for
their authority Our vessels have been
seized and contiscated upon no other pre-
texc Than that which is common TO every
spoiler. Our lawful ccmmerce, with the
products OF our laOour, UIostened with the
sweat OF our brow, has been exposed to con-
tlnusJ spoiiation--our native born citizens
have been carried into captivity to endure
hardships, at the enumerati6n Of which hui
i:ianlty reccils; and to complete the black
catalogue OF wrongs, the nation that has
done these things, in the very moment when
She Was protesting ardent friendships and a
desire for peace, with perhdy peculiar TO
herself, audaciously laid her bio ,dy and un
hailowed hands upon the Ark of our politi-
Cal salvation--the union Of these states
and, by means the most fiagilious, sought it's
destruction. She who boasts, that She is
fighting the battles of civilized man, and
forms the only rampant against universal
Idespotism--she who aspires to the proud and
enviable Character of feeding and Keeping
lsI. a. L i