The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-01-11
1--we Tue HOMO. % De, nc.
JAMES MONROE.
THE PREsIDENT's REPLY


| 10 the Sena'e and House Of Commons of tke &c
neral 4ssenlb[y Of the Ssdte ofyNoyfh. Ca, Dina
| hav" tsceived, feilSw- cItizsns, your Memorial
OF the 29th ut representing the exposure of your
state to danger its board aRd requesting 70 be
informed whether measures will be immediately Ia
ken by the National Coz ernvnent for its protection
! The anxiety which you manifest for the security
nj the state uDier your particular care cannot bat
| be comm sEded, and it would he highly agreeable IN
make communication that would remove all occa.
| Eon for it.
The Legislature of North Carolina is too en,fpht.
ensd and too just not 10 be sensible that tire rrotpc
| ton to be extended by the General Goyernment
Sver the Union, m1st be proportoned 20 the aegre.
gate means applicable tn ret0 and that, in disri-
6uting these, regard must be had 70 The compare.
tive prscGcablity and probability Of attempts on mar
ticu'ar stat and places. Against oceasional At.
tempts, where there are 80 many points accessible
BY water, from an enemy having on that element
fierce g. extensive and so readily concentrated an
absolute protection every is not possible Con
sidering the states as parts Of whole, the best
defence OF the Whole must be kept in view by the
authority TO which that Is entrusted and it FORUM
etry happens that The security and interests of Dar
hoular par will often be comprelIe1ded in the ef
feet produced by means more Immediately applied
90 the pro- eetion Of other parts.
These observations not intended to preclude
due consideration Of the particular case stated in
your memorial. Tn appeal only to the candou,
with which you viii be 10 review the measures
NJ the Executive ~ relation 10 he general snd mar
claimed by the i,npartiai;y which has directed
the.r.
With view to the more convenient superiD,ead
snce aud protection Of every part of the u. S. they
have bern psrtioned into military districts. IT,,
officer Allotted to that which includes the SAFE OK
CsToiins, VII be instructed es soon as praetc die
To visit sad examine the situation of the exuoef
paris Of the stale, with view to Improvements which
may lie properly made ~ works OF deeae. he
was about to maze such visit when he wss csileJ
away to more Urgent hut Temporary service In thu
mesn time, Col. Of Enginsers had been sent to ex
anime the ports. ard make report the subjt Ut Of
t.rm
The Secretary Of the Navy has not been inat;sp
tive to the means Of defence depending on his de
pertinent, vhich was thought best adapted to the
waters o North Csrolina and 60 the gu n boats a.
ready allotted, tie equipment Of which has not
been intermitted, Ike number Of armed boats of
another m ldf ;adpn will be added soon as they
can be mad ready for service.
IN mskins THE communication il viii Of course lot
be understood IS superesding any auxiliary proyis
ons which the State OF North Carolina may think
proper to make on its Account, has been done
some other states, in order to a rnnre complete
an part cuiar security than it may be in the power
OF the general government 10 extend 90 every IT
posed situation throughout the frontier Of the Unit
Sets
- pleased, fellow ci izens 10 accept assurances of
my high respect, and ms best wishes.
JAMES MADISON.
Washington, Dec. IL. 1913.