The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-03-05
FOR THE ENQUIRER.

ctstsf'lS o. tHe y. -.
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
AS sorGe misrepresentation has already
taken place, and much more may be expcc
! ted, respecting two Of the last measures oil
the late General Assembly, it becomes i'm
portant to give brief narrative Of the e
vents which transpired. the measures which
were proposed, and the arguments which
were urged for and against them.
During the last week cf the session, two
OF the most important subjects were brought
into view. that had engaged the atten-
ton ct the Legislature during the winter
he one. long Preamble and Revolution
respecting Fort Powhatan ON The James
kiver-and the other, still Longer Pream
Die and Resolution respecting the claims of
Virginia on the Government of the Union.
The Report respecting Fort powh tan,
after recitiny the letter of the Governor of
this State to General Armstrong, The answer
OF the latter, accompanied by Col. Swift's
letter to him, the authorizes and reasons in
favor OF the establishment, winds up with
the expression OF an opinion that the Fort is
essential TO our safety, s. with an inssruc-
ton o the Governor to press en- the Presi-
dent of the United States the immediate ne
cessity Of repairing and putting it in pos
fnre of complete defence. 'fhis Report was
adopted in the House of Delegates and
then motion was made to insert the word
unantmoasLy which was accordingly done
L lie republican mem bers from the counties
lying around the towns of PetersSur~r arr
kichmcnd, were extremely .oiicitous for
the measure. Indeed, Mr.. Thweatt, on, of
the most respectable and anliab!e members
OF the Hou'e, was the author Of il.
When this Report came before the SEN
n 81 sFur D..
Tor the materials of definite opinion, as to
the value OF Fort at Hoods --rhe ipforna-
ton varied from different quarters, and
the Engineers Of the u. S. Offered among
themselves. The interval allowed for en-
curry was too short to set tb,. question at
rest. Under these impressions, 1T is presum
ed, member of the Senate (Mr. CabelN
proposed substitute, authorizing the Ex
ecutive Of this State to employ Engineers
to inspect and report to them all the facts
touching the utility OF the position and the
state OF the existing fortihca alton and TO
transmit such Report forthwith to the Presi-
dent, accompanied by request that he
would Immediately Cause the proper mea-
sures to be adopted. This Substitute re-
ceived the efficient co operation of Mr..
Johnson and some other members ard Fl
naliy prevailed in the Senate. -The n. Of
ID. rejected it and the two Houses contin-
we'd divided to the end of the session. The
n. OF ID. however, ultimately adopted a
measure, which is, IN this state az least. sin
gular, and a1omaious--and which most II
all tunes, carry with it lese than he force OF
the state, as it presents it in divided aid
distracted attitade. Finding the Senate ,e
nacioCs OF its substitute, they adhered 10
their own preamble and esolution-ard
rAen adopted them by separate vote of
hot I1A
VET, authorizes and requests the Executive
tn address the Prrsfdrnt on the subject
The federal members of the Senate all va
ted tor the Preamble ard Reso.ufIon--it
was NUS TO 'hem--bscause the effect If
their adoption would have been censure
'ep. the General Government, and particu
ieriy OH the Head Of tie War Department.
The same calculation no doubt had It's ef.
feet on the same party in the Lower
House.
1t is true, that TIRE style OF Gen. Arm
tsrong's and Col. Swfft's letters have given
offence to all parties.
They should at lesst have assigned some
reason tor their opinion ard as thcv had
moi been consulted CT the utility OF the Fort.
as refuge against an Instruction Of slaves
t1ey might have sbs, aimed froln any iD,iroa
eiCus OF 4 nature calculated TO wornd the
feelings and degrade the character Of our
state. THESE GeTtemen surely did not in
tend TO insult The State, tst the STYLE cF
their communications is still liable to excep-
tons. Yet neither was this suff Glen, rea
son why Ne Should pronounce their aim
ions TO be incorI cot. This res ed upon facts
aitne, * the only way to give those facts ali
the Weight, which they deserved was to send
competent eng Urers to he spot, and 70
press their Information. upon the govern
ment OF the Umdr. !, is possible that the
Leglalstufe may have been mists ken a 10
me Fort it is certain that IL they we're
right, the best way to satisfy Ire world of IL,
w@s by en- Enginre,'s not Frgt I1Gae re-,
port. Mcssrs. Matison and Mrnroe, being
both T,rgiuiaUs, and the other Scgtcs airea
dy too IDLY jealous OF Vrrg:o,s i..auence, =
InFre declaration by our Logisisture, might
have embarrassed the AnIhinistre,isn I'm :