Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-01-30

Reso!uti0Hs of the Select Committee. till fine
3lst OF March.-Mr. MERCER (of Lou
doun,) rose to address the House.
Mr.. MERCER said, ii was with unfeien-
Ell regret that he saw the member from
Norfolk perseverlng to-day in the motion
which he submttedto the iouse on YES er-
day, to postpone indefinitely the further
consideration of the Report of the Select
Committee.
In pursuing bis avowed course. he
clearly. perceived that he OR TazewelD
would involve himself in inextricable dil
ficulties.
listened, (said MIR. NJ Ibis House lis
tened, with pleasure, TO the eloauentmem
Der on former occasion, when he com
batted, with irresistibIe force, a similar
motion IN relation 10 the petitions of the
veryipeopieupon whose rights we are now
aboutto pass our Judgment. They sought
tile establishment OF Banks, a measure of
mere eHpediency, an exercise of ordinary
legislation, conscientiously regarded by
many, as OF doubtful policy. The gentle
man from Norfolk then protested against
refusal OF the claims ofthe western peo-
pie. against slamming the door offbis
llalin their faces. They nowseek. what
The recognition OF their dearest DoIjtlcal'
rights, and what does the member from
Norfolk, but move, himself, the indefinite
postponcment OF the consideration Of
these Just claims? Yes, Sir, tie petitions
IN favor OF a Convention, which crowd
your table, the Staunton Memorial I'm he
nail OF tie representatives of SO counties
OF this Commonwealth, are subscribed bv
the names OF the fathers, brothers. sons
and neIghbors of those very men 10 whom
the member from Norfolk recently ac
knowiedr.ed, III strain OF pathetic eio
quence, ms wdrmest gratitude.
!, too, Mr.. Speaker, an bound bv du-
ty, and hayea right to say sometime I'm
their behalf. Bornin the low lands. Pro
violence has transferred my lot to the
mountains; but, with no feeling of hosfil-
ity to my natal soil. The river IN which |
hrst baihed my limbs, is sweIled with the
TIDE, ana laves, MIR. Speaker, the shore of
tiIe county winch you represent. Il has
been since Ey fortune TO be the compani
on In arms OF many of these petitioners.
to command, at different times. fifteen
hundre'l men, porn IN the country from
"ilch these petltions come, inhabitants
OF the mountains, from Washington TO
+ Frederick. Though constituting the elite
OF The army, their lot al Norfolk was moi
envlable. Stationed at the ouf-noats az
me garrison, and fed on bad pyoVisjons-
bread llghtened with quick lime. and pars
which tell to pieces at the touch-Yei but
one solitary instance occurred. i'm their
whole service, of d complaint from A CHI
zen OF Norfolk or Princess-Anne IF th.
mraciion Of his rights by one of These
soldiers. IL was for faklug some fruit
iromd deserted gardenin theicountrv. tine
of Which had removed for the
summer to his house in town. A field oil
corn ripened ia the vicinity of their camp
ana not silk OF il was disturbed bv the
hands OF these suffering soldiers. The,
were truly the protectors of the country
winch they were called 10 defend Did I
say, they suffered muchi Five thousand
OF them perished, not on the field ofhon-
or, where The flush ofTenOWn supplies fbe
place OF those tender endearmenfs which
surround tie sick mans bed, at home. 81
smooth Ills descent to the tomb of his ia
therS-but OH sacks OF straw, or the damn
earth, remote from their mothers. their
wives, their daughters and their friends
30 iast did the ranks Of death thickeu A.
round lhem, tliat fTest-dug graves were
stolen by tie weary soldier for his 1epar-
tea conrade. hiany thousand little hill |
lochs rise upon the fields which environ
Norfolh. ami denote at present all that
remains otthese once hardy m0untaincers
The petitions on your table, Mr.. Speak. !
-r, ! repeat, are from the relations. friends |
aud ncighb0rs of these deceased soldiers
ron their surviving comrades in arms |
rola TIC VIZ same persons m whose be- |
lalf ..e g,uaef from Norfolk 50 recent |
y wanned ny heaIt but whom he iS now /