The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-10-20
Cory of ne Secr~fary's Nps7.er.
DEPARTMENT. OF STATE,

DEPARTsENT OF STATE,
l7h September, 1914.
Sir have had the hon3r to receive
your Excclleney's letter Of the 7th instant
| The attack OF the enemy on baltimore, &
| probable cyentull attack on other places,
with the heavy duties incident thereto pres
sing on this dep lrtmert, have prevented my
answering it at m earlier date.
| 1t may be satisfactory 70 your F7cel.Sncy
Tor me TO explain the views and principles on
| which this government has acted, in regard to
| tine defence OF or eastern frontier.
II was anticip Ited, soon after the commence
| -nent of the W u, that while it lasted, every
! part OF the Union, especially the Seaboard,
would he exposed 30 some degree of danger,
| greater or less, according to the spirit with
| which the war might be waced. 1t was the
! duty OF the government 70 make the best pro
vIsl0n against the danger, which might be
! practicable, and 1t was proper that the provi-
| sion should continue while the cause existed.
The arrangement of The United States into
military districts, with certain portion of the
| regular force, artillery end infantry. under
! an officer of the regular army, of experience
| aud high rank in each district, with power to
| call for the militia, as circumstances might
| require, was adopted with view to afford the
! best protection to every part that circumstan-
| ces would Admit.
1t was presumed, that the establishment of
| small force OF the kind stated, constituting
the first elements Of an army, in each district,
| to be aided by the militia in case of emergen-
| cy, would be adequate to its defence. Such
| force of infantry AID artillery, might repel
small predatory parties, and form a lalvng
| point for the militia, at the more exposed and
important stations, in case Of more fOrmida-
| bic invasion, a REGULAR officer of experience
| stationed III the district, acting under the au-
thorfty, and pursuing the will eft the govern
| ment, might digest plans for its defence Sc
lect proper points for works, aud superintend
the erection of them, call for supplies of ord
nance, for t@nts and camp eouipage, for small
arms and other munitions of war ; call for the
militia and dispose of the whole force. These
duties, it was believed, could not be performed
with equal advantage by the officers of The
militia, who being called into service for short
terms, would not have it in their power, how
ever well qualified they might be in other res
poets, to digest plans, and preserve that train
o. cOnre ction and system in the whole business,
which seemed TO be Indispensable.
On great consideration, this arrangement
was deemed the most eligible, that could be
adopted under the authority of the United
States. Indeed none occurred that could be
placed in competition with it. In this mode
the national government acts by its proper or
ganS, over whom it has control, and for whose
engagements it is responsible.
The measures which may be adopted by
State government for the defence Of State,
must be considered as its own measures. not
those of the United States. The e. penCes at
tending them are Chargeable to the State, and
not to the United States. Your excellencv
Will perceive that 4 different construction
would lead into the most important, and, as is
believed, into the mos ernicious consequent
ces. 1t State could call out the militia, and
subject the United States to the expence of
supporting them, at its pleasure, the national
authority would cease as to that important ob-
ject, and the nation be CHARGED with cxDen-
ces, ~ the measures producing which the "a
uonai government had no agency, and over
which it could have no control Ihs, how
ever, though a serious objection to a4ch q CON
strucuon, IS not the most weightv. Nv taking
the defence Of the State into its own hands 3
ont OF those Of the general government, po-
lcy Is inUoduced on the teIrency OF which 1
torbear 20 Comment. ! shall REMARK ONLY.
that II close union Of the States, and hay
momous cooperation between them and the
general government, are at any time necessa-
iY tor the preservation Of their independence,
and IT those incstinable liberties which wert
achieved hv the valour and blood of our ances-
tors, 1hat time may be considered as having
arrived.
IT follows from This view Of the s,,lect
shat if tic force which has been put into SER
wee by your eXcellency has been required by
MAJOR 5enefal Dearborn, or received by him
and put under his command, tfat the exDen-
SIS attending it VIII be rayed ~ the United
States 1t follows likewise as a necessary
Consequence, that If this force has been called
into service by the authority of the state, indie
pcndeutly # Maj Cen. Dearborn, and be not
placed under him, as Commander Of the dis
tr'ct that the state 6 Massachusetts IS
chargeabie with the expense and not the Uni
tea StateS~ Any claim which the state may
nave TO reimbursement, must re Judged Of
hereafter, by Che competent authority, on
tut view ot ~ lie circumstances attending If
1t is a question which is BEYOND the authority
OF the executive
fcur ETceicncy will perceive that this o.
vcrnmeut has no other alternative than 70 Adj
here to a system Of defence which was adopl-
ca on great consideration with the be,s view
to the general welfare, or 90 abandon It and
with #, principle held sacred, thereby shrink
ms from IFS duty, az a moment of great perl
weakening Che guards deemed NECESSARY fp,
the public safety, & opening the door 20 other
consequences not lees dangerous
~ these remarks 1t is not intended n rom
vcy the ide1, that militia officer ola erre-
nor grade regularly called into service
shall not command an officer of the rea,tsT
arnY, q n5cri0r Grade, when acting together
10 SUCH idea is entertained by the GOVERN
nent. ! hc militia are relied upou essentially