Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-12-14

ton oil tie Governor. The same gentle |
man IN his letter OF inc next day, Sept |
lst. No.cl apprises the Governor that |
Richmond was known 10 be one of the |
cneny's objects, and closes his letter
with these emphatic words, g con Your
guard, prepared a, every point, and in all
circumstances 10 repel the invaders"
In what light is it possible TO consirue
these words, but as Il clear and explicit
recognition of the principle, that the gen
eral government placed the defence OIL
State of Virginia and lis metropolis at the
discretion of its Governor! The letter
| of which we have Just quoted an extract
was followed by the Presidents procla-
nation of the SCI ofSeptember, calling, in
terms which no American bosom could
resist, upon all Officers civil and military,
and upon the nation, 10 rise TO arms and
eXtermmate the ferocious and sanguina-
| ~ invaders. The effect ofsuch procla-
nation onsuch a State as Virginia. will be
easily concelved byyou, sir, when YOU Gene
| to rcperuse the terms OF the proclama-
| ton, and bear in mind the character OF
! the State which YOU so we'll know. The
! stroke was electric and universal. The
! Commonwealth rose en- maSSe. Ifermoun-
| tains, fields and forests, poured forth their
| armed multitudes, who rushed from all
| directions TO surround and cover their
metropolis from British outrage and pol
| luton, and cbastise the insolence which
had just trlumphed over Washington. 1t
was no doubt the presence OF this hume
rous concoGrse at Richmond, or upon
| their march TO it from the country.
| which has produced the impression lhai
the Governor had made an ndiscreet
use of the power obedience with which
he was lntrusted. But this is not the
fact. The concourse of which we have
| spoken form no part of the charge
| which we now have against the United
States. They were not kept in arms
| Their services were not accepted. TWAS
| indeed, with infinite difficulty and infinite
address on the part of the Governor, and
with the most painful reluctance and even
| tears OF regret on theirs, that the generous
impulse which had brought them toge-
ther, could be so far repressed as that they
could be prevailed upon to return to their
homes, and trust the defence and honor
OF the State TO the troops which the Co
vernon had already embodied. But they
did return the sense of duty and order
which forms no less honorable part of
then character than their ardor of patriot
Ism, prevailing over every consideration Of
personal feeling.
The next direction which the Governor
received from the Department of War.
was the Secretarys letter herewith (No. 81
| OF the 9Th Sept. announcing that the enc
my had received reinforcement at the
mouth OF the Patuvent, that the united
squadrons were descending the Bay
that richmond was one of their objects
aud repeating again the solemn inunc-
ton, be prepared TO meet the enemy"
Thus IN every instance, the Governor
OF Virginia IS thrown by the General Go
vernnent upon his own energies and own
judgment, without any notification of the
enemy strength, or the quantum of re-
sistance which il would be expedieut for
him tc caIlinio the field.
10 meet the advance guard, as If NAV
be called, Of the same enemy, the Presi-
dent of the United States acting with the
advice of his council, had made call in
the month ofJune or July, unless we are
mIsuniormed, of 1900 men, to meet the
united squadrons at Baltimore we are
ADVISED that from Is to 1000 men were
called TO the defence of that place. To
meet The same enemy, at the same crisis,
me Governor of Virginia never had in the
held more than between II and 1900
men. We hand YOU herewith the several
general orders calling out troops on the
Va 'iiC iiiSl dppTOdCn Oh ifS enc
my within our Capes, asalso after the fall
OF Washington, numbered 4, s, and 6.
and submit with confidence to youriudc-
ment whether these calls can be consider
ed as indiScreet. Whether YOU take the
standard of the call for Washington or
that Tor Baltimore; or consider the aces
sibility of Ri hmond by the Channels
either OF York or OF James Rivers, and
the consequent necessity of guarding
with equal strength, both these avenues
OF approach; of guarding them too, with
raw militia against veteran and highly
disciplined troops, Injured 10 victory it
seems very clear that those calls, ifccBsu-
rabie at all, are rather censurable for their
moderation than their excess.
10 these documents we will add only a
letter from the Secretary of War of the
2iSt September written with free know
ledge ofall our preparations, aud when
they were at thc highest; in Which letter
SO tar IS he from censuring The magnitude
OF those preparations, that he is consider
ed thereby as having approved and sane
toned them.
If this construction be right, there will
be no occasion we trust for giving YOU a.
nv further trouble on this branch OF the
claims of Virginia for mbursement.
We are, sc. &c.
(Signed) Wa. WRIT,
JOHN CHEW.
Hon. YIN. II. Crawfo1d,
Secretary of War.