The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-12-15
ENQUIRER OFFICE,r Dec. IS.
TO THE VIRGINIA LEGIsL AZURE

y TIE FlkOlNIh LEGiSLAI REs
: GENTLEMEN----One of your fellow
citizens, who was born and bred on the soil
of Virginia, begs leave to lay few hints be-
fore you. He: has 40 other medium than
the Press to usher them into light.-If, like
one of you, ne had the honor of occupying a
seat III the hall of the Legislature, he would
dare to speak upon the floor of the house
what he now presumes TO write.
You have fallen, Gentlemen, on no ordina-
ry times. Since the peace of '83 we have
xeen no such moment as we have at present
At war with a powerful enemy--strong by
sea-capabe of any act of atrocity, as we
have seen III her employment of the Indian
savages to murder our women and children
enabled by her fleets toimake descents up
on our coasts, and shift the point Of attack
aS often as she pleases--at such time, with
an enemy thus iBsolent and unprincipled,
you have convened in this city. You have
something more to do than to plan roads,
authorize ferries, grant divorces, or even
regulate courts; you a re to ask yourselves,
whether you cannot do something for the
community at large, by way Of defence or
aggression, in the assertion Of the rights or
redress for the wrongs of an insulted coun-
try. You meet too, Sirs, with all the acts
OF your predecessors on your heads; to full
III the numerous promises and redeem the
sacred pledges OF past Legislatures on our
national concerns.
Iprayyo Gentlemen, yead the Resoluti-
ons which have been so frequently adopted
for several years past-Consult your own
Journals, and SET how often the Legislature
has invited the y. States tounsheathe the
sword by pledges of its support See how
often aud how emphatically your prcdeces-
| scrs have pledged to the government their
| lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.
And now, Sir=, let me put this plain, and
striking question to your hearts Is this all
air! Is it all vapouring? Is it mere lip
service Is the Legislature Of Virginia to
be a mere clustering. meddling, talking
canting body of men? Or arc you prepared
to show to your countrymen that they are
what they appeared to be that they have
the courage to act as wen as to tax & that
all their Resolution is not wasted upon pa
| per?
You can 90 something for the genera
veal. You can aid the arm Of the Hationa
government by the resources Of the state =
/ You can cast tile mantle OF the state powei
over the state itself, and thus more eifici.
emily contribute to battle the designs of tile
common enemy. You can do either yo,
Can do 6otb.
Our sister-sta,es are already setting yo,
the cxample---The Legislature Of Vernon
! nave ny law authorized corps OF NGiui
teers to be paid fvom the state ccfFers a.
much III addition to the pay from the u. .
a. will make their moath's pay equal tt
1910.
The Legislature Of South Carolina pro
pose to build a Shf Of bc line as ~ sift t,
the u. States
The AssemHIy Of Pennsylvania are at thi!
moment III session and the following ResO.
luton is now before that patrintic body:
HesOIUcd, That 4 Committee be appointet
20 enquire iaio thc eXpediency of proyidme
'--Watch Costs, warm clotling, mitten.