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

RICHMOND, DECEMBER "a, lsiG.
EXPENCEs OFTHENiILlTIA.


or i'll case his power is defective, OF
Congress. u reimbursement of the exnen-
ces she sustained during thel late war witt!
Great Britain.
Suppose these agents fairly at Wash
ington, pressing their claims before a
committee of Congressional would
they urge2 The whole negotiation may
be put into nut-sheil-The course
of argument would be something like the
following:
Upon what ground, Sir, do you claim re-
endorsement?
Rcpiy-upon that of the constitution.
The United States are bound to provide
for the general defence; that is, of all the
States-and these expences of which we
speak, were incurred for the defence OF
Massachusetts.
True, gentlemen, we admit that the
United States are bound 40 defend you;
but, Won must also confess that as
tar as they can, they are TO be judges
hor this is to be done-We say asfa1 as
they can, because if any new case OF dan
ger occurs which they have not foreseen:
If an enemy comes suddenly upon YOU,
before you have time TO consult the Uni
ted States, you must defend yourselves,
and we are equally bound TO pay for this
eXpence, as if we had ordered it before
hand-Thls point you must confess to be
too clear To require any proof-We are
then bound TO defend YOU, but if we
know of the danger, we must do If in our
own way. You have a right to the de-
fence; butwe have right to the means
OF making if for vou-'i'he principle then
being so plain, all we have TO do, is TO
see the facts. Were these troops then
called out by the u. S:ates?'
No.
"What! did they call out no troops for
your defence?"
They didn't governor Strong would
not let the troops go out-Iie did not
think that the United States had any
right TO call for them at that mo-
ment.
+" Who did call out these troops?"
Governor Strong.
& BY his own authority or at the reuui-
sition OF the President of the United
Statesl"
Ills own authority.
" Aud vet il he had al first called into
the field, the troops the President had
asked for, there would have been no oc-
casion for ourgovernor to have called anv
II imself"
1t is certain there would not.
With what face then do YOU Law your
finger on a constitution which YOU have
disobeyed? How can you ask of us 10
defend the state, when YOU would denv
us the means? How call upon us now to
pay for troops, which we not only did not
call out, but which you yourselves called
out in the teeth of our authority? Would
YOU have us hold out a premium 10 re-
hcllion? Go back and tell Massachusetts.
that she is not TO profit by her own wron Q
that when she obeys the law, she NAV
appeal to it for indemnity"
1t these Commissioners then be hardy
enough to say, that they only ask what
has been granted TO others; and that
Virginia, for instance, has been paid for
troops which she herself called out, we
do not ask Committee of Congress 10
point out the difference between the two
cases. Our own commissioners have al
ready defended our claims TO indemnity
i'll the following lettcr-and as this docli-
ment. has never been published in a
newspaper, and puts TO flight all the cla-
mours and caviis which have been raised
against our claims, we but do them
mere justice III laying this letter before the
world.