The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-04-29
VOL, tf.---NO. III.

ther we will suspend, for tine, the eXer
case OF the latter, that we may secure the
permanent enjoy ment Of the former Is it
wise, in such 2. moment, to sacrifcethc spir-
1t OF the laws 10 the letter, and by a6herinC
too strictly to the letter lese the substance for
ever, III order that we may, Tor an instant
preserve the Shodoso II is not to be ilnagt,-
ed that the express provisions of any written
law, can fully embrace emergencies, which
suppose an occasion OF the suspension of all
law but the highest and the last, thatof
self preservation.
NO right Is more precious, ~ d freeman
thanthat of suffrage, but had yo.Ir election
taken. place on the Sth of January, would
your declalmers have advised you 70 abandon
the defenCe or your country, III order 90 ex-
ercise this inestimable privilege OF tile polls
Is 1t to be supposed that your General, ifhe
regarded the important trust committed 10
his charge, would have permitted vtu 10 pre-
serve the constitution. by an act which would
have involved constitution, country and honor,
in one undistinguished ruin ?
What is morej justly important than person.
al liberty yet how can the civil enjoyment
of this privilege be made to consist with the
order. subordination * discipline of a camp ,
Let the centipei be removed by Su6t.fnc
from his post, let wrts of hlldeas cosjfus- car.
ny away the officers from the lines, and
the enemy may conquer your Country, 5y On
" employing lawyers TO defend Jour coustitu-
ton.
Private property is held sacred in all good
;overnm ntS, and particularly in our own, vet
shall the tear of invading it, prevent a Gen
eral from marching his army oYer cornfcld.
or burning house which protects the enc,
mys
These and a thousand other instances
might be cited to shew that laws must some
siH,es be silent when necessity speaks. The
only question with the friend OF his country
viii be, have these laws been made to be ST.
lent. wantorly and unnecessarily> If necos-
sity dictated the measure, if resort to il
was important for the preservation OF those
rights which we esteem so dear, and in de-
fence OF which, we had SO willingly taken
up arms, surely it would not have been be-
coming IN the commander in chief to have
shrunk from the responsibility which it in
VOWED. In declaring martial law, his object
and his only object, was TO ernbcvy the whole
resources of the country for its defeuce.--
That law, while it existed, necessarily sus-
pended all rights and privileges inconsistent
with its provisions.
1t is matter of surprise, that they tyl,
boast themselves the champions of those rishts
ana privileges, should not, when they ,ssre.
first put in danger by the proclamation f,t
martial law, have manifested that lively sen.
slbility of which they have since made so os-
tentatlous display So far, however, was tn :
| from being the case, that this measure not oniy
!net'then, the open support of those who whei,
.helr country was invaded, thought resistance
virtue, and the silent appreciation Of all
put even received the particular recommen-
cation and encouragement of rnany who now
\ inVelga the most bitterly against it. .It was
| not until victory secured by that very mea-
sure, had le5sened the danger which occasion
ed resort to it, that the present feeliur
guardians Of our rights discovered that the
4 m n (fInr- a-.alx
| ms posts to be abandoned through the inter
terence OF foreign .agent---his ranks to be
thinned by desertion, and his whole army TO
| he broken to pieces by mutinyl; white vet a
| powerful force OF the enemy remained on onr
coast, and within few hours sail Of your
| city.
thought and acted differently. Tt wes
not until discovered that the civil power
| stood no longer in need Of the military for
support, that restored to it its usual func-
tons and the restoration was not DELAYED
moment after that period had arri7-
! ed.
Under these circumstances, fellow soldiers
your resolution to let others declatn about
privileges and constitutional rights, will nev-
er draw upon you the charge of being indif
! terent to those inestimable hessines--vorr
attachment TO them has been proved by a
stronger titie--that Of having nobly fought to
! preserve them.
You WHO have thus supported them against
the open pretensions of powerful enemy.
| WIZ never, trust, surrender them to the nm
| derhand machinations of men who stand aloof
III the hour OF peril, and Who, when the dan
ger is gone, claim TO be the "dcfenders Of
your consultation"
An honorable peace has dissolved our mill
tarY Connection; and in few days, | shall
quit country endeared to me by the most
pleasing recoliectons. Among the most pro-
hihent OF these, gentlemen, are those shall
! ever entertain of the distinguished bravery
the exact discipline, the ardent zeal and t6e
important services OF your corps. The offer
ed friendship of each individual composing IL.
l receive with pleasure, and sincerely reel,
! Procate. shall always pride myself on q
fraternity with such men, created in such g
| cause,
AND. JACKSON.
| MAJ. Gen. eou'dg. IN MI. Dist