The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-10-20

tniS ooJeCt, YET, tnSy Cannon pesuppnSeu eQu.i-
70 this an alsa competent to respond to tn
neavy and increasing demands of Tic nation
al z overnment.
The stte Of the national treasury, as ex-
hbited BY the proper officer. requires AN aug
ynentatiun OF existing taxes, and it. III addition
70 these, the pc pie Of Massachusetts, de,,ri-
we'd Of their commerce, and harrasSed bv a
formidable enemy, are compelled to provide
Tor the indispensable duty of self defence, it
must soon become impossible for them to sus-
tain this burthen. There remains to them
therefore no alternative bOt submission to
the enemy or the control of their own resour-
ces, 70 repel bis ag:sressons. 1t is impossible
to hesitate IN making the election. This pco-
pie arc not ready fcT conquest or submission.
But beng ready and determined to defend
themselves and having no other adequate
means at defence, they have the greatest
nsed Of those resources, deTir;,ble from them
selves, which the national governments has
hitherto thought proper to employ elsewhere.
Your committee are also OF opinion that If
the var is 10 continue, provision f,r militia
ny force, in addition to She ordinary militia,
must be resortcd to chat considerable
force must be Constantly embodied, & main
tanned ready 20 meet the enemy, IN his Nari-
ell and distant enterprises that the contin-
ual Calls upon great bodies OF militia, to march
from home, NJ all seasons, and TO remain ut n
distance from their families, will be the most
opp essive, an least economical of any mode
or defence which can be devised, in a pro-
traced warfare.
But while your Committee think, that the
people Of this 70 nm onwcaIth ought to I'M t.,
and that they win unite, under any circum-
stances, at the hazard os all that is dear. in
repelling u invading foe, il is not believed.
that this solsmn obligation imposes silence,
upon their just onmpl ints ag inst the authors
OF the nal missTtun,s. It IS on the con-
trary. sacred duty to hold up to view on ali
occasions, the destructive policy bv which :
state ct unparalleled national felicity. has
been converted into one Of humiliation * dan
ser believing, that, unless an almost ruined
people will discard the men and change the
measures which have induced this state of pc
ri and suff ring, the day of their political sal
walton IS past. It should never be forgotten.
th1t tbs dis strous condition of public affairs,
has been tlrce1 upon Massachusetts,, not
mercy ganst Ter consent, but in opposition
70 her most earnest protestations From the
moment that the administration, WELDING to it's
own passio1s, & calculations Of party power.
commenced its system Of commercial hostili-
~, TO Great Britain, and IF conformity to the
views OF the late tyrant of France, its tendency
10 involve the nation in the most needless and
cruel ernbarassnents, was distinctly foreseen.
and declaredby former legislatures. The in
sufhciency Of our youthful, though fmrishino.
commerce, to cope with that of Great Bri
tam m struggle of restrictions. WAS aEnoun-
ced by the united warning Of those best YER,
s9d IN a knowledge Of this subject Il was
never doubted by these persons, that a war
WIN Great Britain, would he accompanied bV
IN extinction Of commerce by the Danish
ment OF our sailors the desolaticn of orr.
coAst; the blockade and invasion Of oir sea
ports; the failure Of national credit the ne
cess:ey CT oppressive taxes; and the cons,lrn-
nation vt national ruin, by an alliance. with
the late despNt Of Europe, from which great
est of all calamities, We have been preserved
only by his tall, OF Ell these evils. were chr
ru!ers tcrewarhed by Massachusetts, whose
vita, interests were thus put vi % rarrlv and
they were implored by every cons 'erition OF
pohcy and humanity, to stay their h,nds from,
Fle crue! and wanton sacrifice e the interests
OF these, who asked from them noshinc but
Cle privilege OF Cursnng their own ipdussli-
GUS caii!nss. Eat government deaf 70 tl.;s
Voice, end listening to men DISTINGUISHED in
Their native state only by their disicyal.y to
IT'S lnteIests and the enjoyment Of a patronage
bestowed Gpon them IS its price, have affect
ed TO consider the PATRIOTS Citizens Of tb;s
great state as tainted with disafiection TO the
Onion and with prediction for Great Britain.
and have l2vished the public treasure IN vain
attempts 70 tX,'by evidence, this odions irnpu-
sttlon. hus dishonoured and deprived Of all
Influence in the national councils, this State
has been dragged into an unnatural and dis
tresgirg war, and its safety, perhaps its li5er-
ties a0gered.
lt therefore with great concern, that vour
committee are obliged to declare Their con-
Nction, that the constitution og the L. States
under the administration Of the persons in
power, has failed to secure to this Common
wealth, and as they believe tn the eastern ser
bon q this union, those equal rights and bcne-
ti's, which were the great objects of its form
at n, end which they cannot rel;nGuish with
On nun 70 themselves and posterity. These
g"le" noes justify and require vigorous. Der-
sNerng and peaceablc exertuns To mite
"a s. VINO realize the sufFerings, and forcsee
bhe dangcrs OF the country, in some system of
measures, to obtain relief, for which the ordi-
nary mode Il procuring amendments to the
Constitution aiDrds no reasonable expecfa+iOn
III season to prevent the COMPLETION Of isS
nun. The people, however, possess the means
81 c.ttam redress and when their sqfetv
which IS the'supreme law, is ;n question. tless
Inao1s should be promptly applied. The fra
Ihefs u the constitution, made provision 10 a.
mend defects which were known to be Incl
dental 70 every human institution ard the
provision itself was not less liable to be fou,,d
adjective upon experiment, U.an othcrparts of
the instrument. When this defCiencyb becomes
2 parent, no reason can preclude the RIGHT RI
tn whole people who were parties to II to -
d'pt another; and it IS not presur7ptYous