The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-07-02
Richmond, GA. Saturday, .J,.iy ..
PREPARED

Why is the nation asleep! Why does it
dozc, perhaps on the brink of the prccipicel
1t IS the syren sound of heace, heace, that is
whispered in our ears. 1t is because we hotic.
more than we fe0r.-And whence comes this
'seducing hQfic Surely it is not the naughty
threats fthe Printers DevAs in l.ondon-Itis
not the dispatch OF the troops to America nor
the number oftransports which they have sent
20 bcurdeaGX--it is not the hordcs of British 6,
Spanish Mcrcenaries whom they threaten to
pour upon our shores.-It is not the pledge
winch they have exaCted from their Allies on
the Continent, not to step between them & their
wrath, nor interfere in their contentious with
Amer.ca.-Surely it is not these tdings that
have dragged us to sleep--And can it be
the tidingS of peace which have lately crossed
the Atlantic the scraps ofletters which have
TRANSFERRED through our papers, the Say-So's of
Mr. Parkman, or the still wagner say-so's
which are attributed to the lips OF Mr. Bayard?
Can 1t be the wishes of the merchants, nor
CIR r. speculatiors, as to WHIT are the
Interests o. tie enemy Or is it the silence
that reigns at Washington?
It's known, or it is suspected, that Dispatch
es have been received at Washington
Some have listened for the tocsin-but no
tocsin has yet sounded.
single peal at this moment would
sound to the remotest hamlet of the
nation.-Eveiy man would rouse himself and
grid on his arms. If danger then approach
cs, let the silence be broken-lct the word be
given and. deusion viii vanish before it.
But does not the world place too much stress
upon these dispatches If they were of the
most favorable complexion, ought we to re-
lax in our preparations Is not the enemy
with whom we have todeal, of q sly, cunning,
and fraudulent character Is he not more apt
to strike, when he has thrown US off our guard
by professions Of aTity ? While inc plays the
farce at GCttenburg, may he not perform the
tragedy On the shores of America ?-Instcad
Of relaxing, let every man redouble his excr-
tons The constituted authorities Of the coun-
try are bound to take every measure in their
proper spheres, which is essential 20 our de-
fence.
Oar maxim is, trust nothing TO the moment
When the period of danger shall come, trust
to the silbH of the people, but waste not that
spirit BY abortiyc schemes, nor COW it by the
appearance Of disorder or confusion. Think
befOrehand--do every thing that can be done
TO ut us Tor the danger-but when that dan
ger arrives, It is the time to act-to 4" do or
die.' Trust nothing to chance nothing to
the incxperence of your officers nothing to
the perturbation Of the moment but let cy-
cry preparatory step be taken, which the
multiplicity Of the details of military opera
uOnS lndispcnSlOly requires.
For instance
Are Videttcs planted on our rivers to give
the earliest notice of the approach
Has the country been reconnoitred, so as to
! fX upon the points where the enemy are TO
! be met
We have many pieces Of artillery mounted
have the Executive examined the carria
| ges Are the wheels strongs The gear rea-
| dy : Cartridges enough formed Are the
| horses designated to draw them Are the dri.
vCrs designated TO lead them
! "A all the necessary steps taken to screen
us from the Efforts Of Our own population
| L. q word we know that many Of the
things which ought to be done, to meet the
sword Of the invader, have been done but il
every thug doue We call upon the authortic