Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-11-19
N~ Detlar.ment, Ju!u IA. 1912.

Griswohl, on account Of I'LL health, is seri-
onSiy TO be regretted. particularly a; this i'm
Portan' crisis, when his prompt assurances
OF obeving the requsltion If the president To
call into the service Of the Unite,, States,
such detachmcnts of militia as nigh, he re
Cured, confcrmablv to the &C, Of Aprl 10th,
1912. through general Dearborn. are inter
rupted and suspended bv your henor.
The SON assigned FIR refusing to exc
cute the engagements If his eXcelency gn-
vernon Griswold, appears not less ex,raor-
fl'narv than the act itself. After declara-
ton otwar against nation possessed of a
powerfu! and numerous fleet, part &c which
were actually On opr coast, had been pro-
mulgaied and officially CO nmunicated 10
me executive otthc state, the assertion made
oy Your honor that the governor is not in
tormcd thar the y. States are in imminent
danger OF INVASION" was not to have been
expected. To remove all doubts from your
mind on this subject, am instructed by the
president tn state IN you that such danger
actually exists, and TO request that the re-
QUESTION of general Dearborn, made by
his special authority, for calling into the
service of the United States certain detach-
ments of militia from the state of Connecti
cnt, be forthwith carried into effect:
The right Of the state to efficcr the mill
TIA is Clearly recognized in the requisition of
general Dearborn. The dc achments when
! marched To the several posts assigned the ~ /,
with their proper officers, appointed con-
formally tn the laws of The state, will com
-mand or be Commanded according to the
rules and articles of war and the usages OF
service
Very respect, lly, &c.
(Signed)
His honor John g. Smith,
LIT. governor Of the state of Connecticut.
SIR,
HIS honor governor Smith has put into
my hands your letter Of the 14.h Of July.
and 1t is with surprise / notice the construc-
zion YOU have put on my letter of the 18th os
June. The unusual and eXceptonable terms
also in which yoar letter is expressed, have
not escaped notice. But regard to the
prcprietv of my own conduct will not allow
me to descend 10 any comments upon its
particular expressions, bUt leave me to per-
form my duty to the general government,
. by giving the explanation which appears
proper.
When you communicated the request OF
the president that any future rcquisition
from general Dearborn, for 4 part of the
drafted militia, might be complied with, it
remained uncertain whether such require
ment would be made, or if made. under
| what circumstances it might take place.
Confident however, that the president
would authorize no requisition which was
not strictly constitutional, and particularly
that the order could exceed the condi-
tons of the act of the 10th of April, to which
you had referred, Ihad no hesitation in Civ
| ing general assurance that the acquisitions
| which the president might make through
general Dearborn would be complied with.
| | then thought a | do still, that decency and
| "A due respect to the first magistrate of the
union required that my assurance should be
| general, and no expression should be used
! which might imply suspicion that the pre-
| sident would violate the constitution in his
| ord rs. / also expected that this early and
! general declaration would be considered as
| evidence of disposition, which has been u
niformy felt in this state, to execute every
| constitutional requisision from the general
| government.
! In what light, however, my expressions
| have been viewed, ] trust there will be no
| future miSconstruction. when assure yon,
, that neither intended or, expected TO be
understood, by the general language of my
| letter, or Any expression it contained, to give
the smallest assurance that would execute
any order which judged repugnant to the
constitution, from whatever source it might
| emaulte
The light in which have viewed the or
| der from general Dearborn, has been AREA
dy communicated by governor Smith, and it
IS ony proper to add, that my opinion has
not changed, but is confirmed by the unan-
| imnus opinions of the council Of the state.
| The new light in which YOU have prcsen-
ed the subject in YOUR letter TO governor
| Smith, has received every attention, bot
still ms opinion remains the same. The
I war winch has commenced and the crui2-
I ing Of hostile fleet on ON coast, is not inva
SION, and the declaration ofthe presidcnr that
there is immiaeut dagger % invasion, is ~
identity consequence drawn from the ficts
now disclosed, aud is not in my opinion VIZ
ranled by those facts. IF such consequences
were admitted TO rusuit from q declaration
, OF war with al European power, II wod!d
! follow that Gvery war ofthatcharacterW would
throw he militia iuto the hands Of the ns.ion-
al government aud strip the s,aies e the ~
portaOt right reserved 90 ihcm. In edition
to the foregoing facts. It IS proper for ne fur
thcr 10 observe, TINT have found 1t diHcuit
to FIX in nv mind the nae niugoF The words
g imgfacut da err ofivUaSiou" used By con
grcss in the act of the 2Gth Of February,
l795 and nov repeated IN your iet.er, ~ nc
such expression is contaiaed in that pare Of
the constitution, which auJhorize. tie pr, 81
dent to cal the uilltn inso service. Pre-
sn 1n0g, however, al some 1cfqirc mean
ina,, Thought eonssstent villa the constitution,