The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-11-12


OF the United states; service rendered nc |
cessary to defend our territory from invasion (; !
is highly aggravated by the consideration that |
the danger which called them to the field, * |
the concentration of the enemv'S forces on our |
coasts, have resulted from the ships Of the u. |
States having taken refuge in our WATERS
Were this the only instance evincive Of the dis
regard o. the Administration t. the just claims
aud best interests of this state-the only
ground to fear that we are forgotten in their
councils. except as subjects of TAXATION and
oppression--we should choose to consider it
an instance anomalous & soiitary-still, yield
them our conh..Snce, and hope for protection,
to the extent of their power, in this season Of
unusual calamity.
Protection is the first and most important
claim of these safes en- the government OF
the naticn. 1t is aprimary condition essential
to the very obligation of every compact he
tween rulers and their subjects To obtain
that, as a principal object, Connecticut be-
came member of the national confederacy.
In defensive war, government would stand
justified, after making a fair application OF its
powers 10 that important end-for it could no
more. But Wien government hastily de-
clare war without providing the Indispensable
means of conducting it-want of means is TO
apology for refusing protection. In such
case, the very declaration oil war, is, of itself
as the loss OF protection by the subject, is the
natural and inevitable consequence ofthc mea-
sure. When that war annihilates the only
revenues oftha nation, the violation of the o.
rigiud contract is still more palpable. IF
wagcd Tor foreign conquest, and the wreck of
the national treasures devoted to frliitless
invasion CT the eneny's territory, the charac-
ter or the act is more criminal, but not more
clear.
XkTbatava, n, AZ, J,a tI,, A;,,o.;..... ,r H. 49,.
tional executive towards>this state, during the
sequel Of the war, such is the condition Of the
public finances, that constant and very great
advances must be made from our state trea-
! sury, to meet the expenditures necessary for
| our own defence. But the utmost efforts of
| this state, under the most favorable circum-
| stances torraising revenue, would be hardly
| adequate to the costly operations of defend
| ing, against great naval power, a seacoast of
more than enc hundred and twenty miles i'll
| length. Much less, at this inauspicious period.
| when the distresses or the people are enhanc-
| ed by the embarrassments of our nonied in
| stitutons, and the circulating medium con-
/ stantly diminishing, Can any thing be spared
| consistently witt. safety. Yet the national
| government are booming us to enormous tax
| alton, without affording any just confidence
| that we shall share lii the expenditure Of tie
! pubic revenue. The inavasloTf OF Canada is
| less, and the treasures Of the country e2haus-
| tedon more favored points of the national
! frontier. To meet those demands, and ct
the time, TO defend ourselves, is impossible.
| Whatever we may contribute, we have no
! reasonable ground to expect protection in re-
turn. The people Of this stste have no disloyalty
| to the interests of the Union. ortheir fdei-
1 ny and patriotism, they may appeal, with con-
| fdence, to the national archeyes, from the
- &C ~
! achieving the Independence Of The nation they
bore an honorable part-Their contingent in
men and money has ever been promptly fur
nished when consututionally required. Much
as theX lament the prsiS pres sf:ey nave. w,r cha
racteristc obedience tolawttl authority. punc-
tually pad the late taxes imposed by th. &c
neral government. On every lawful demand
OF thd national executive, their well ,disciplin-
ed militia have resorted to the field-The
public enemy, when invading their shores,
have been met at the waters edge & valiant
ly repealed. They duly appreciate The great
advantages, which would result from the fe-
derai compact, were the government admins
tered according to the sacred principles of the
constitution. They have not forgotten the
ties OF confidence and affection which bound
these States to each other, during their tolls
tor independence, nor the national honor and
commercial prosperity which they mutually
shared during the happy years of a good Ad.
ministratlon. they are, at the same time,
conscious of their rights and determined To
defend then--ThoSe sacred Hberties-thosc
inestimable institutions civil and religious.
which their venerable fathers have beoueath
ed them, are, with the blessing of Heaven.
to be maintained ct every hazard, and never
to be surrendered by tenants of the soil. which
the ashes OF their ancestors have consecrated
In what manner the multiplied evils. which
we feel and fear, are to be remedied, Is oues-
tion OF the highest moment, and desc rves the
greatest consideration. The documents trans
United by his Excelency the Governor Of
Massachusetts present in the opinion of The
committee, an eligible method of COMBINING
the wisdom OF New England. in devising, on |
tdil consultation, proper Course to be adopt |
ed, consistent with our obligations to the
United States. The Following resolutions are |
therefore respectfully submitted.
Signed by order,
HENRY CHAMPION, Chairman.
General Assembly, Oct. 1914.
In the House Of Representatives, the forego- |
ing Report is accepted and approved
Attest. CHAS. DEN1SON, Clerk.
Concuired in the Upper House.
A true Copy,
Attest. THOMAS DAY, Sec'ry.
ReSotUed, That 7 persons be appointed |
Delegates from this state to meet the Dele |
gates oftbe Commonwealth of Massachusetts
and OF any other Of the New England States.
at Hartford on the 18th dav NJ DecennLcr |