The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-09-15
FROM CONNECTICUT.
MICS nN

FhOM CONNECIlCUI.
MESSAGE
Of his Exceency Governor Girls void to the ener-
al Assembly at their Special Session, August 25,
1912.
! Gentlemen of the Council,
M. Spedker, ana
Gentlemen OF the House of Repyesentdtives.
Several important matters growing out of the war
IN which we are uIhappi!y engaged, appear to de-
mand the immediate attention OF the Legislature ;
| aud although aware of the expence and inconyeni-
ence, attending meeting of the General Assembly
at this season of the year, and time SO near the
Fall Session, yet trust, that full examination
at all the circumstances, will appear that the mea-
| sure has become highly expedient To render our
public concerns, however, ineligible, it will be
necessary to unfold the events which have attended
us. 80 = 80
Its known 10 the General Assembly that ON the
loth OF April last, Congress past act to detach
one hundred thousand militia for the service of the
U. States that three thousand men, the quota of
this State, agreeably the orders the President
we're promptly detached, and held in readiness for
the exisehces pointed out by the Constitution and
the Law.
The Act of Congress and the measures regarding
It, were communicated at the last Session, and viii
! be again laid before you. After your adjournment
| a letter was received from the War Department
dated June 18th, transferring the duty of calling
| the men to General Dearborn, and requesting that
] his requisition might therefore be complied with
as nothing Appeared in the communication, but
wish of the President, to conde this duty to an
officer Of rank who it was understood, would be
charged with the general command of the troops in
the Northern States, and as it could not be expec
ted that the President would authorize an order,
winch should be repugnant to the Constitution,
did not hesitate to inform the Secretary of War,
| that any requisition, which the President mi-ht
make through General Dearborn, should be com.
piled with. y" - 80
Soon after these transactions, at a time when
was pursuing tourney health; a letter was re-
ceved from General Dearborn, requiring four CON-
panies of the drafted militia to march, and to be
n
ing at Fort Trumbuli New London, and one com
pany to march for the battery near New Haven
An attention to the terms Of General Dearborn's
letter satisfied me that the requsition uneonst.
tutional and could not be complied with. had long
noticed that Important provision in the constitution
OF the United States, which authorised the Presi-
dent to call into service the militia " to repe nva-
slons, suppress instructions, and to aid in the exc
cution of the laws :; and it with satisfaction,
had noticed that the of Congress lad strictly
followed the principle of the constitution. .'r.a
But although entertained no doubts regarding
my duty, yet as viewed the step, which it became
necessary to take, highly Important it became pro-
per for to obtain the opinions Il reasonings Of
the council on the occasion.
That body accordingly convened at Hartford;
and it gave great satisfaction find that their
opinions concHrred with my own. Thinking l.
tcessary however to pursue my journey, His Hon
or Governor Smith was so good as to take charge
of the correspondence which had become necessary
the occasion; and by his letter 10 the Seer, tary
entertained in this state and determination
pecting the requisition-
The Secretary in reply, dated July i4th, in Ian.
guage unusual ard altogether unexpected, appeared
to claim promise, contained in my letter OF the
18th June to any requisition which should
be made by General Dearborn. This strange insin.
uaton, which originated in expressions of ciyiity to
the President and could not with decency have been
omtted,' was repealed.
In a letter from the War Department the subject
was also placed in point of-yew, which appeared
TO require consideration (; and 8, second meet
ing Of the council accordingly deemed necessa-
ny. The gentlemen comprising that body, were a
gain fully consulted and every view of the subject
has been taken Of which it appeared susceptible, u
we have been confirmed in the opinion, which We
FIRST formed and the Council has again advised, thai
nothing has taken place to justify me in executing
the requiston OF Gen. Dearborn.
All the papers, to which have referred, toge
Their with general proclamation, concsely explain
ing the facts which have taken place, and the views
which have been entertained at this important
period, will be now communicated for your nspec-
| ton
The importance of thia measure, both asst regards
the security Of the state, and as may also form
precedent future occasions, rendered it highly
important to consult the general Assembly.
But the Inconvenience of converting so large DO
dy and the early period of the fall sessions induced
me to submit to the temporary disadvantage of de-
lay rather than subject the immediate representa-
tives Of the people to SO much Inconvenience Sc
veral circumstances however having arisen,
which il appeared to could not with propr1ety adj
NIT Of delay have thought it my duty at this time
to convene the Legislative Body and avail myself
of the occasion to solicit your immediate attention
TO the proceedings Of the council and your deliberate
opinion on the measure which has been taken.---
This becomes more Immediately important from
the consideration, that If any have been
mted, they may, at this time, be corrected without
much Inconvenience.
The necessity Of obtaining supplies of military
stores this emergency in addition TO those on
hand viii be universally felt and finding the price
and scarcity rapidly increasing, thought no CON
siderstion could justify delay in calling the stten-
ton Of the Legislature immediately TO that subject
IL can scarcely be necessary for me to inform you
that military stores not be expected from the
general government aud that we have TO
expect that the regular troops will be principally
called from the sca-coast and of course the State
will beleft to defend ITSELF f exposed 20 foreign in
yasion.
1t may also be observed that II 10 unusual tn de-
pend altogether upon the Ge;-sral government for
the defence of our sea coast
The extensive territory, which Il hasb been the na
tionsl policy to grasp within our isdicton. and the