Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-03-12


are twenty thousand OF them under drill in Canadl:-
why has she pursued tie policy in The West
indies: We threatened from both SIDES Of the
onmn, and We should prepare 10 meet the worst
II we should be involved in war, it must be obv
Gus That We shall te assalled in the most vulnerable
points Virginia Will be the theatre of the severes
r,ais, where the heaviest blows will he aimed and
leit 1haTies!on, Pensacola Mobile and New Or
leans NIL be points Of attack, and probably Of
temporary occupation. But the object OF frs; con-
sequence VIII be Virginia Here enemy may
man exempt from the havoc of Southern fever, here
her Suppes may easily reach her, and here if she strike
blow, It will be felt throug bout The Union for Vrg-
ma from her position, the key al the Federal arch.
Apart from considerations of the defence OF Virginia
Inc connecting link between the South and North in
The Federal chan she is subject of speca! with
her own citizens 1t is in this latter point Of view that
intend to presenta plan for organizing and ad-
dtona force for her defence The Government of the
l. 3, If the Abolltionisis should leave US one, will
aoaPt her measures to the necessity OF the case.
order then to provide for the worst, whether it IS
TO be inflicted by Great Britain alone, or by her Ame
rlcan allies, negroes aud Abolitonis,s let if
any thing can be done 10 increase military force
and give greater security The present strength of
virginia IS about hundred thousand fighting men
ms force, with the aid OF our mountains, would enable
us TO defend The Commonwealth against the most
powerful nation the Globe, if had no other occa-
sion for But the most assaable portion OF
me State Is that in which there are near half million
OF slaves. II general lnsurrec;on or welliounded
apprehens!ons OF 1t should exist, should not have
man 10 spare East Of The mountains to repel nvason
until new organization of the whole force of the Com
monweah should be adopted and put into requisllior
for the protection OF fathers and mothers, wives
and Children haba,ions and our food. The panic
created by the existence or Apprehension OF serviic
war Will require for the protection Of his family the per-
sonal presence Of every until general plan shall
be adopted for their security and the punishment OF
thplr
already upon Us before we make pre- paration to meet
them: Is such moment fit for deliberation-can We
then deliberate: No. no, that will be no time 10 digest
plans for complicated military neutrality-suspicious.
against the disciplined baaltons vi foreign invader,
and the guerilla and scyihe Of the slave rssed 10
murder dr.enceless and children While
then all minds, will of necessity, be turned to the
protection 81 Their families against the numerous and
desolatng warfare OF the slaves, foreign army Will
sack and burn your towns and penetrate the heart OF
the State meeting the slaves 10 holder exertoGs, nis
ing confidence into their bosoms by their presence fur
nshny arms and munitions of and atiording them
shelter from our pursuit. THUS the pos,ponemen. Of
the organization OF the hole force vi the State I'll! snch
crisis will afford the mos, efficient AID towards the
compIishment Of the deadly purposes Of our foes. II
conducted by the cooperation III the slaves with
foreign enemy should exist it viii be too late to be
take ourselves 10 duties demanded OF US. We
shall not be, is true q conquered people before
proper system be adopted, but before our hands
will be tree 10 operate against tue invader, we shall be
driven "a i war of determination against the slaves,
and shall find the Common eah prnstEate desolate and
wreched, beyond redemption by our unated arms.
Remember il is with sagacious and unscrupaous Eng
land we 10 coDend-that she presdes at The head
Of the Christian Laague-that influenced By senti-
mens nimca to African slavery, she has, by an enor-
appropriation Of her treasure, aud the sacrifice OF
the staple Of her West India labor and trade manumtted
the slaves in that quarter Of her empire Let rot
toryp the q
with her in commerce., manufactures or navigation );
that large portion OF her population are out OF EN-
plo yme and without Bread that she has two hundred
thousand well trained soldiers idle IN their barracks,
aud hundred ships nf war, exclusive OF one hum
dted Steamers TO transport them 10 any quarter OF the
world here her hateful jealousy debaucbed cupdity
Indicate theatre for the oppression or plumber oil
q RIVAL. Let il too be kept prominently in mind, that
in fifteen days from their departure from England, IN
six from Canada, and four from her West Indies, she
can land oi her white and black regiments iiily thou
sand men any part OF our coast. Win these I'M
mense military preparations, and such evidences OF APP
preaching conflict how criminal the supineness which
should omit the necessary measures TO meet Tie event
II may be asked, what can we do except through The
regular militia Who already organized, answer,
relieve the regular militia from the necessity of doing
duty n, home IN of instruction. Can this be
done without abandoning the people To the horrors oi
such war Yes organize all persons from ID to IL
wears of age, and all over H. who are not physically
i
panzed as local militia, under officers appointed by
Commandments Of regiments Of regular militia, would
afford IS ,.ctual security 10 county against insur-
rection Is the nature of things could be expected
Ii would 10 5000 and beng organized, would
d, the FIST alarm. be ready for efficient duty Intended
only for county defence there would be no other cuv
for them perform than 10 keep watch, and suppress
the first efforts Of ,Gsurrecon: and acting IN concert
would be able 10 collect and protect The deenceess and
ress, all efforts upon domestic quiet, Upon alarm be.
ng pven the first duty of this force, which shall call
orai ,niiitia would be forthwith assemble at the
Court Of the county, unless there be two or more
regiments the county when the regiment within the
bounds OF WHICH the Court house may be situated,
should assemble there, and the others where reg,-
mental mus,erS held where such arrangements
would be made occasion required. The local mlli-
TIA once assembled would afford protection wherever it
might be wanted, by despachng the more active part
of their numbers to such places such duties rs
mIph require their aid while the more inert would re-
main in station to protect the women and Children
It is unnecessary for 10 specify the services they
could perforn-they must occur TO the mind of every
nan-jt only b. necessary 10 show the efficacy OF
this plan OF organization TO insure It's adoption IN TIE
fra; Mace the local militia will be organized and act
in concert from which springs the value Of all move
ment Of large bodies; the next is, they viii act prompt
In \ matter Of the highest consequence III sersIle
war the last is, they will disengage the regula. m'l'
tia or nearly all OF them, from the necessity oil at
,ontinr TO the duties which the local militia are
designed to perform. | Go not enter into The re-
Guisite details and regulations for the management
Of the local militia, such requiring them to
he trained twice. year, &c' &c These will ne e.
cessarv follow their organization If the remark OF
n, Burke be applicable to Virginia, "if the days Of
chvalry are gone and those of economists have sue.
cecdet., can say to such prefer the spilling of
innocent blood to the expenditure OF money to prevent
+ hat this plan VIII make dra: upon the State Tfea-
snry for the services of the local militia; zone for camp
eopare none fer their ra,ons, and for any pur-
pose. unless occasional supply OF arms and ammunition
he necessary.
The effect Of this preparation for the defence OF our
domicils will be TO intindlte tie slaves from Irregular
efforts b. making manifest To them that although The
whole Of the regular militia should be called to the
field against another enemy, organised force sniff
.c;pni 10 nut them down still remains. And other enc
mics viewing our readiness TO meet all the dangers
which threaten Us, viii advance with caution into
country whose people have evinced temper and pur-
pose to maintain themselves while 4 man survives
The spectacle Of whole people, boys men, and hoary'
headed fathers armed cayapie TO defend their country
and lis Institutions will teach any invader, that to con-
quer such people he must STAY them all.
-. II