Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-11-23

the overwhelming tide of misery by wiz 81,
we are surroundes!-om manufacturers
withdrawing their remaining capitals from
engagements they find to be unproduc-
tive or ruinous--our artizaus and laborers
destitute of employment our workhou-
scs crowded beyond all precedent and
our poor rates swelled to an extent which.
ifnot speedily alleyiated, must have the ef-
feet of involving us IN total and irrrcme-
diable ruin III proof OF which we be.
leave TO inform your royal highness, thai
the current expenses of this incurred
in maintaining the poor, (the principal OF
whom are persons In the vigor of life, or
their families, and who possess thecapaci-
ty and inclination to maintain themselves
without this CALLING dependence on the
bounty OF others will exceed forty thou
sand pounds whereas, on the accession
of your ilustrious father to the throne of
these realms, the current expenses for the
same object did not exceed one thousand
pounds, on apopulation OF about half our
present number. And in order TO meet
this extraordinary and terrific demand, it
has been found necessary to assess the
town-lands at torty-fve shillings, and the
houses at thirty shillngs, i'll the pound.
That such state Of things cannot long
subSist must be evident To- the nearest
capacity; because, iii exact ratio of our
inability TO meet the expense, is the de
mand increased upon us. While thus la
meuting over our distresses, we cannot re-
train from again expressing to your royal
highneSS the firm conviction ot eur minds.
that all the misery which abounds among
the people at this time is to be traced TO
the usual andnatural cause ofsuch calami-
ties, at all times aud in all countries, the
misconduct OF the governmental sup
port of this assertion, sire, we beg leave
respectfully TO direct your attention TO the
system of policy pursuing By your high
ness m!pisters-an immense standing ar
my an time OF peace, consisting IF one hundred
and .toty-nine thousand naea, is an cviL of
sphich are loudly and .jrstiy complain; in the
year 1892, our military establishment con
sisted only of thirty-nine thousand men:
IN 1916, year OF peace, when the valor of
our arms has achieved whatever Is neces-
sary for our security or our honor, IL is
fixed at one hundred and forty-nine thou
sand, for purposes, we cannot but sus-
pect, Injurious to the rights of frecmen :;
and thus sire, 1t Is, that your ministers "a
buse the confidence of dutiful and loyai
people! But, be assured, sire, that they
are the greatest enemies your royal per-
son and government who advise YOU to
rely on the bayonets otG hirclins' soldiery, ra-
tier Man contide in the affections Of a generous
and icarm-hearted people. Bayonets NAV
be necessary for the protection of throne.
founded on the ruins of public opinion,
and established in opposition to national
feeling but they must prove destructive
TO one whose title to dominion is the ex-
press will of the people, declared at the
epoch ofthe revolution. Had Charles the
First, and James the Second, trusted more
TO the people and less to the army, the
one had not lost his head nor the other
forfeited his crown. Standing armies,
sire, are contrary to the spirit of our CON
stltutlon; they accord not with our ma
tlonai preiudlces, they exhaust our re-
sources, they are dangerous to our liber-
ties, aud ought not to be endured.
At a period of national distress, like
the present, when we are called upon 10
sacrifice the comforts of our families, 90
answer the demands of the government
when the iron hand of taxation is extort-
ing from the rich man his last guinea, and
stacking the poor mans scrip for his
solitary penny-to see q yoracious band
OF piacemen, pensioners, and siApcur-
lists, wallowing in the wealth thus wrung
from the hard earnings of honest indus
try, is a violation of common dccency,
without parallel in the annals of corrup-
ton (; nor can it surprise your royal high
ness, that your subjects m,,mnr, pih dis
cOntent, and demonstrate Nth indignation.-
And, surely, it will not be deemed ne
cessary, by the future sovereign of Eng
land, that IN order to maintain the dignity
OF his throne, II is requisite TO keep a
round him phalaux of corruptand PAM
pered mInl0ns, who serve but 70 intercept
the rays Of his bounty from falling on his
people, and whose INTEREST," it is, to stop his
ears against their complaints, and mislcad
bis Judgment by false representations of
their condition.
We do not, sire, wish to detract from
the reward of actual and meritorious SER
vice. He who has deserved well of his
country, is entitled to the gratitude ofhis
country; but we cannot view the enor-
nous sums, which are annually drawn
from the taxes, to CRAFTY the inordinate
cupldity of sinec0res aud placemen,
without protesting against their cOntinu-
ance; Tor can we behold the disgusting
tablet, on which stands recorded the
names of orr pcnSioned pears ;cih tier
wireS and mothers, and reflect how much
OF tue labour of our poor neighbours IS
thus consumed to foster a culture which
is tearing out their own bowels, with
out invoking your royal higilness's aid
to assist in destroying the monSterl
Whist, therefore, as LOYAL and dutifnl
subjects, we concede to your royal hirh-
ness, with pleasure, the exercise of y0nr
just prerogative, iii the reward of merit
we claim for ourselves the exercise ofour
x,