Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-01-18


country had derived so much prosperity and
happiness. These sentiments still act,,oted
many OF the leading members of the conyen.
ton otl775-they could not part with the
fond hope, that those peaceful DAYS would a.
gain return, which had shed so much lirht
and warmth over the land and the report of
tue Kings gracious reception of the petition
from Congress. tended TO cherish that hope
anu TO render them avcrSe TO any measure
of violence-but Mr.. Henry saw thiugs with
steadier eye, and deeper INSIGHT His
Judgment was too solid TO be tlupcd by
appearances, and his heart too firm and
manly, 10 he amused by false and Gathering
hopes.-ieha bad long since read the true cllarac-
terror the British court, and saw tiat no alterna-
reniaiued tor his count ~, but ahlect submis
SION, or heroic resistance. II was not for Il
soul Ike Benrys, tn hesitate between these
courses. lie had offered upon the altar OF ibcr-
tyno divided heart. The gu'ph oewar which
Nawned before him, was indeed fiery and
fearful. But he saw that the awful plunge
was inevitable. The body of the convention,
however, hesitated. They cast around ''iong-
ng lingering look" to those howery fields, on
which peace and ease and JOY were still spor-
ting, and IT required all the energies Of Il Men
tor, Ike Henry, to push them from the rrcci-
pice, and conduct them over the stormy
sea OF tile revolution, TO liberty and glory.
Tue convention being formed, and orga-
MED Tor business, proceeded i'll the first place
measures of Congress, and to declare that
tiiey considered this whole continent as un-
der the highes, Obligations 30 that respectable
body for the wisdom of their councils, aud
their unremittcd endeavours tn maintain ald
preserve iny;oate, the Just rights and liner
ties oi ms majesty's dutiful aud loyal subjects
in America.
They next resolved, " that the warmest
thanks OF the convention, and of all the inha-
bitants of this colony were due, AMI that this
Just tribute of applause, be presented to the
worthy Delegates, deputed BY Il former con-
yyenuon to represent this colony in general
Congress, for their cheerful undertaking, and
faithful discharge of the very important trust
reposed in them"
The morning of the 2Sd of March was o.
pened by reading a petition and memorial
from the Assembly of Jamaica, to the kings
NEST excellent Majesty whereupon il was
resolved q" that the unieigHed thanks, and
most grateful acknowledgement OF the con-
ventiOn be presented TO that very respecta-
Die assembly, for the exceeding ger erous aud
anecuonate part they have so molly taken,
IN the unhappy contest between Great Bril-
tam and her colonies, and TOR their truly pa
tuotic endeavOurS to fix the Just claims Of the
coionists upon the most permanent conStitu-
honai principles that the Assembly he
assured, that ii is the most ardent wish of
this colony (and they were persuaded, of the
Whole continent of North Amcrica) to see
speedy return of those halcyon days when
we liveda free and happy people"
These proceedings wcreno adapted to the
taste of Mr.. Henry. On the contrary they
were gall and worm-wood" TO him. The House
required TO be wrought up to bodertone. lie
rose, therefore, and moved the following man
~ esolutions:
RESOLVED, That we'll regulated militia,
composed ofgentlemen and women is the ma
tuiai Strength and only security of free gov
ernment; that such n militia in this COLONY
mothercountry to keepamoDg us, for the pur-
pose OF our defence, any standni army Of MGR
cenary soldiers, always subversive ofthe quiet,
and dangerous to the liberties of the people,
"A 10 Qfpf 81
their support.
" That the establishment Of such militia is,
at THIS time, peculiarly necessary by the state
OF our laws, Tor the protection and defence Of
the country, some of whichare already expired
and Others will shortly be so and that the
known remissness OF government, in calling us
together, III legislative capacity, renders il too
Insecure, in this time of danger and distress, to
rely that opportunity will be given of renewing
them, in gsneralassembly, or matiHgaay pyOri-
SION to secure oar iRestimabte rights aud liberties
from those further UiOlatios ,oith ,chich they are
threatened.
Resolved, therefore, that this coloay be I'M
mcd'atey put INTO state of defence, and that
bed committee TO prepare
pan for the enbOdying, dIWling and disc;plininS
srcii nxDl5er Of men, may be Sufficient for that
purpose"
The alarm wticl, such proposition must
nave given to those who had contemplated no
resistance, of character more serious than pc
tinon, importation and passive forttude,
anu VINO still hung, with suppliant tenderness
on the skirts OF Britain, III the hope of seeing,
once more, her maternal smile, will be readily
conceived by the rejecting reader Theshock
was painful: it was almost general. The reso-
luti0ns were opposed, as NOT Onlv rash in poll
cy, but as harsh, and well nigh iinpious, in point
OF feeling. Some of the warmest patriots of
the convention opposed them. Richard Bland
benjamin Harrison, and Edmund Pendleton
who had so lately drunk Of the fountain Of pat
rOtism, in the continental congress and Robt
L. Nicholas, one of the BEST as well as ableSt
men and patriots in the state, gave them all
the resistance of their great iniiuerce and abil-
ties. They urged the late gracious reception
OF the congressional petition by the throne
ihey insisted that national comfy, and much
more, fllial respect demanded the exercise Of
more dlgnitied patience that the Sympathies
OF the parentcountry were now on ourside that
the friends of American liberty, in parliament
wero still with lis, and had, as vet, had no cause
10 blush for our indiscretiOn that the manutac-
turing interest Of Great Britain, already smar-
ting under the effects of our n0n-mpOrtation.
co-0perated powerfully towards our relief:
shown that he looked upon oHr sufferings with
an eye of pity. Was this the moment thew ask
ed, TO disgust our friends, to eXtinrnish all the
c0nspiring sympatlies which we're work inc in
Our favour, to turn their friendship into hatred
their pltyint0 revenge? And what was there.
they asked, IN the situation of the colony. to
tempt us TO this Were we Il great military
people We're we ready for war; Where
were orr stores-wheTc were our arms-Svhere
our sOldiers-where our generals-where our
money, the slneWs of war? They we're u,
where to be found. In truth, we were poor
we were naked-wc were defenceless and vet
sc talk OF assuming the front of wari-of assn
mug It, too, against nation one of the most
formidable IN tie world Il nation, ready and
armed at all pOiufs f-ber uayias ri,lin.