Winchester gazette. [volume] (Winchester, Va.) 18??-1826, 1822-01-05


TIE Hon. the Speaker OF the2
House Of Delegates.
To the Honorable the Speaker and
Members # both Houses of the &c.
neral Assembly Of Trgin;a.
The undersigned, members of The
Privy Council have deemed it proper
TO offer to you the following represent
alton, which has been drawn from them
by the very unusual Address Of the CO.
vernon announcing to you the accept.
ance OF his appointment.
In our adoption of this proceeding
we have been fully aware Of the sno.
ma'ous character Of an appeal from
Que co-urdioate branch of the govern.
ment to aucshers nor do we here intend
an otlfeiai Vinaica,ion Of our conduct;
but we too, may be permitted to feel
that we are citizens of Virginia, com
patriots with the members offhe Gene.
raj Assembly, ard we are inclined ia
practice, aud from habit las political.
~ we are often bound to do) to respect
the decisions OF their iud gment. In
"ur sincere regard for the opinions of
yourselves and of our fellow citizens,
generally, - to lie found The true mo.
tive of this tilnrt TO demonstrate, that
there is no danger to the Republic like
~ to arise from the introduction on our
part of move, and extravagaut nrinci.
pies. at war, either with the theory or
with the !ime.tested execution of the
government. ihe compliment of spu.
rity OF paGlic intentions bestowed by
the Governor upon the members of his
Couaeil, shoald not induce in those in.
dI'lcnals, an acguieseence under the
wt'Sh'y accusations coxIained in his
letter; nor indeed should i, shield them
from the meriteG consequences of cpl
MONS nnd cnndGct such as he has laid
TO their charge; for, in TO community
has social mischief obstinate and sys.
temetie mischief especially been ever
tolerated., IN consideration Of the sins
cerity ef those whom folly or bieotry
aad perverted; nor can it be so tolera-
ted consistently with the plainest rules
OF seit'Ereserration. We claim not,
indeed, the slightest protection from,
this courtesy in his Exeeliency: we in
vite our countrymen to the closest scru
tiny, and are cot afraid 10 affirm. that
The construction which we have given
to The constitution and laws of this
commonwealth, is the true enc: that if
IS the only practical or practicable ex-
pos'iinnof which these instruments are
capab'e; that ii is moreover the inter.
Pfe,ation 'bey have received BY the Pc.
trIot- who formed the constitution. and
1ntroiserd it into Practic-; that it is in
fact the Interpretation which has been
given both 10 the laws and the ean.,i.
iuiIoD, from the commencement Of the
government, down to the admioIstra.
ton Of the present Governor.
Upon t!iat portion Of the Goyernor,s
letter which asserts his RICH, TO cpm-
mand The militia Of The State. Wa are
at loss what COMMENT to make. That
The Governor is commander Of The mi
iitia when embodied in the mode PRE-.
seribed by the constitution aon laws,
has never, that we are inforr,s;.., been
Questioned 10 Council or elsewhern,-
we cannot then perceive the scope and
object Of the Governors remarks in
this instance, unless they may be de-
signed TO embrace some attempts on
occasions Of holiday and public Fesii-
val TO introduce the public guard. and
the volunteer companies Of The Metro.
polls, comprehending cavalry and ar,il.
lery with their usual attendant co.,
course, within the public square: at-
tempts always discount enaneed by the
Council as certainly destructive Of the
improvements upon The public grounds,
in their present situation, and which
had been effected a, much public cost.
Upon these occasions it has been in,
sisted, that such voluntary assemble.
ges OF men for paSeantry or amusement
did not constitute them the militia of
the state within either the terms or
spirit of the constitution and laws; and
that iftbe Governor could, by placing
himself at the head Of such multitude,
become thereby actually in command of
the Militia, there couIa be no body of
men who might assemble themselves
under exeitemeDts however violent or
criminal, Of which the Governor might
not become the leader For, When as
ssmbled, not usder the provisions, nor
in the modes, nor at the periods speei.
fed in the constitution and laws of the
state, there is no difference in the IT..
gaiity Of the array, between company
of militia and any other crowd. Let
it be remembered, that these remarks
were drawn forth by an iptinali9R from