Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-01-18
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. JANUARY IS, 1915

New England the remnant of her resour
ces and she IS ready and able to defend her
territory, and to resign the glories and adj
vartages of the border war, to those who are
determined tn persist in its prosecution.
That acts of Congress in violation of the
Constitution are absolutely void, is an un
denia5le position. l. does not, however,
Consist with the respect and forbearance
due from confederate state towards the
general government, to ay to open resis
lance upon every infraction of The Consti-
tuition. The mode and the energy of the
opposition, should always conform to the
rature Of the violation, the intention of its
authors, the extent IF the injury inflicted
the determination manifested to persist in it,
and the danger OF delay. But in cases of
deliberate, dangerous and palpable nfrac>
lions or the Constitution, affecting the SOW
vereignty of a state and liberties of the peo>
pie /; II is MT only the ris hit but the duty of
such state to intcrpose its authority for
their protection, i'll the manner best calcu.
lated to secure that eud. When mer.
gencies occur which are either beyond the
reach of tho judicial tribunals, or too pres.
sing to admit of the delay incident to their
forms, states, which have no common en-
pire, must be their own judges, and exec
cute their own decisions. 1t will thus be
proper for the several states t. await the
ultimate disposal of the obnoxious measures,
recommended by the S crctary OF War. Tor
pending before Congress, and so co use their
power according u the character these
measures shall hnally assume, as efectualy
TO protect their own sovereignty, and the
right ar,l iber.:eS OF their citizens.
Inc next subject which has occupied the
attention OF the convention, is the means of
defence against the common enemy. This
naturally leads to the enquiries, whether a,
ny expectation can be reasonably entertain.
ed, that adequate provision tor the defence
OF the Eastern States will be made BY the
national government Whether the sew
erai states can, from their own resources,
provide for self defence AID fulfill the res
= inliions which are to be expected for the
n'n'onal treasury and. generally, what
course OF conGuct ought TO b. adOI ted by
chose states in relation to the great object
OF defence?
Without pausing at present to comment
upon the causes at the war, il may be asau-
med as truth, officially announced, that
TO achieve the Conquest of Madam ferris
cory, and TO hold it as pledge for peace,
IS the del'2c"a:e purpo OF DIN nstIat Hs
THIS cnterDriZc, commenced At u period
when government posse ,sed h adVantagy
of selecting the time and occasion for ma
king sudden descent upon an unprepar,d
enemy, now languishes ia the third year of
the war. 1t has been prosecuted with va
rious fortune, and occasional brllliaIcS OF
exploit, but without any solid acquisition -
The British armies have been recruited BY
veteran regiments. Their navy Commands
Ontario. The American ranks are thined
by tie casualties of war. - Recruits are
discouraged ~ the unpopularty Of the con
test, and by the uncertainty OF receiving
their pay,
In the prosecution Of this favorite war
fare, Administration have left the exposed
and vulnerable parts Of the country desti-
tute of all eff cient means Of defence The
main body OF the regular army has been
marched to the frontier. The navy has
been stripped. oi great part of its sailors
tor the service OF the Lakes. Meanwhile
the enemy scourS the sea coast, blockades
our ports, ascends our bays and rivers
makes actual descent in various and dis
tant places, holds some by force and threa,
tens all that are assailable, With fire and
sword. The sea board of four OF the New,
England states, following its curvatures,
presents an extent OF more than seven huns
dred miles, generally occupied BY COM
pact population, and accessible by naval
force, exposing mass OF people aud pro,
perty to the devastation of The enemy
which bears great proportion t. the resi-
due Of the maritime frontier OF the " States
This extensive shore has been exposed to
frequent attacks, repeated Contributions,
and constant alarms The regular forces
detaehed by the National Government Tor
its defence, are mere pretcxts for placing
officers of high rank III Comuapd. Inc,
are besides confined to a few PAGES, and arc
TOO insignificant in uumper to be included III
any computation.
These STATES have thus been left to adopt
measures for their owp defence. The mi.
litia have been Constantly Kept on the alert,
and harrassel Ivy garrison duties, and other
hardghps while the EXPENSES of which the
national government decline the reimburse
ment, threaten to absorb all the resources
of the States. The President Of the u
States has refused o consider the expense
OF he miliia de'acled ~ tat at 90.
Iity ior the indis ,jeusable defence ol tbe
state, as cnargeabie to the Union, ca the
ground Of refusal by the executive Of the
State, TO place them under the command a
hiCtas OF the regular army, DTtachme IT'S
of militia placed az the disposal Of the Ge
neral Government, have been dismissed ei,
,her without pay, or with deg rcctdtsI pa
per. The prospect Of the ensuing cam-
paisn is not enlyened by the promise Of any
alieviations OF these grievances. - From au.
lhentc documents. eXtorted by uec,sst,
from those whose inclination might lead