Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-05-17
CovNoIL-CnAMpne, Nav u. ,8t
TIE Senate aud Iopse of Delegot..

Tie Senate and AoHse Of Delegates.
1t has become my duty to communicate to
you the circumstances, which made necessary
an extraordinary meeting OF the Legislature.
II is Known 10 you that Jour predecessors at
their lastscSsion passed a law eatitled ~ an
act ProyidRS forthe defence ofthc state against
invasion ornsurrection." After watiogs con.
venient to GIVE publicity to the law ,soPas TO az
iord the citiZrGs OF every part o frlse comm1o-
wealth, wing we've disposed'to eIlfei. the service
an opportunity of pt~sing kaowa.ther wis1ssk
and thereby grcatiy extending the range OF Sc
lectioni the Execptivel prcce eeIed t0Smske tie
necessary arpointneots; of.which they paye
inioymatonio't he p&rtiea concerned, but With
held the omnissions. Inthis stage oElhe bu.
siness, letters. sere recciyeseirsm The secreta-
ry of War, and 'sfState, whichiip the ,estimsti-
on OF the Execqt,ye, gave AZ aspect 20 BUR stu
the time the la~ PISSED. These letters as we'll
as mine to th9se ofieersof' the general govern.
ment, conneqtsd herewith, DE enclosed, and
will be fongd in packet A.SArhe Causes
which led e the passage OF tlieAaw are not
only disclYed in lis preamble, bdt.are ofee-
neral Datsriety. A powerful arfnament of
the eDeihy had entered the waters. of the
Colpmpnwealth, under circumstance well
calsH1atedto justify tie nlostserions alarm !:
an event OF Mss kiHa ot,having been anti
ciPaied, no ehScialf lmeasares had 6scn a.
doptsd for QUIZ Ne ehce, a4a our Extern
frontier was great'yexposed. NSueh Wa our
Condition, and such our dapger,N wheh the
law received tie assspt of tl,e-Eegislatnr
Shortly afterfHsA a5isprnniept the Gene
raj GoyernmeaB Lao ,ns.in cotforlufy with
Its power and dhty, tai effelxon fselfthe de-
tenCe ofthe 3fhte--Sa;ictio;lSsi sthe Course
pursued b1 the Executive i1Rci.liing out
tie Mitlas-authorised such fuhller de-
tachmeius as might be necessary &aii,L. also
having determined to raise a xee,thsr re
giment fog the defence Of the6Rate, TO be
oihcered oy our citizens szseflsly ely-and
further having promised such otter additi-
onal aid as the exigensy a daar affairs might
require presented a srtte ofthings which
could it have been aylieibated b. theL eeis.
lature, the Executier Believed, would have
prevented the passake of the la,a. Under
this impression it lceamea questiorilDf much
Importance with alt Executive whatcourse
they should pursue 10 CARA the law In.
TO eject alter 81 III assuian,es Feoo, tIe
general gover6NeAf was to adhere toA
system of delehce 10 its extent madeqastc
to the object for whicl it Mas intehded, ius-
tifablc onlY5n cases otextreme fecessity-
and establ SNng precedent Habie 10 be per.
vertsd TO Dc worst Of purposes.. and also in
V0lying We state IN an expense Ofhalf million
OF dollarSg by which our little resoarecs here.
toiore hWbanded with much care, were to be
immedetely sqaSndered, and our constituents
eXpOssa to new burdens To forbear to execute
II, waF not without its difficulties For the
ExeSRtive to take upon itself the high resoon-
slohHy OF not executing the law OF the land
w~s'so hostile TO the constitution, and pree.