Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-06-03

behind. On reaching lie ground demand was made
throuuh an officer, for the surrender ol Tue arseHa'
which wa, answered in the negative. Great difficult.
and DELAY occurred in bringing the guns INTO The posi-
tons DESIGNATED for them, III consequence OF dehs'
fnp in winch we enveloped ana whicn prevented
the dscernuent Of objects beyond short distance
The Advancement of placing the pieces al distant Pon
from each ether was changed IN consequence; ant
,bcv were brough, into position at point North
east from the building, and within close range o
,he artillery In the mean tine the companies com
posing our force had become separated ana party ns
orranlzed. In consequence o lhe confusion mus &c
casored the transmission of orders was interrupted
and had To regret the early absence OF one or mor
officers from the field, whose presence was OF mP"rt
once 10 the exc cut of the plan propose was un
der the necessity Of raversng The feid 10 ehceaVor
bring the companies into Their position; anu 10 resor
them to their proper order, with partial success An IN
eeacnsl ATTEMPT was made 10 fire the pieces OF artillery
which were flashed only. They were properly ioadet
and served for the occasion by men OF undoubted bra
very and competency. Such n failure was matte
If surprise 10 ALL have since been informed that tht
Guns after the return 10 head quarters, were found IL
lie plugged with wood and Fon-py "hoHi II IS no
known certainly not by any one IN charge of them
DavlirM was now approaching, TO disclose The scat
tered condition of the men; and, upon the suggestion
of tie officers who deemed 1T improper TO press The al
Tempt further at present, an orner WAS gwen 20 WIN
draw the guns with the understanding that The aefnP
rhis was demanded by the Office and men, no were
brave and true but wanted only more thorough exam
nation The greater part of the men separated Tor The
nresept on leaving the field the remainder accompa
MED me 10 head quarters
In(nrma,ion was soon received that an attack upon
ne was pros cled and would be attempted early in the
forenoon No time was lost by me IN making all the
prenarations to meet il etfectuay Several gentlemen
Of known experience accepted appointments ior the
time to aid in The defence The officers were directed
10 place their in the proper stations to protect the
artillery and six guns the agreed signal for rally al
beod ounr,ers were fred at seven o'clock. The failure
of the attempt upon the arsenal was cause OF mo-
menlary Encouragement; but our men nj head quar-
ers soon recovered from it, and had no DOUBT tlat
upon the re.assembng OF their companions by The sig
nal guns such an attack won'd be prevented, or thai
successful resistance would be made 10 all the forces
that could be brought against our position but, con-
rary to my expectations, few only oil our trends,
in the course OF the hour ensuing, responded 10 Tie
call which had been made upon them.
principal cause OF their absence was, as IL after
wards appeared the publication OF handbili bearing
the names of two Senators and of nine Representatives
of the city of Providence, (al who had not before re.
spned in which they resigned their Offices, protested
against the employment OF force ny the ires'"en'
against the people, and also condemned my proceed
irrs AS deporabr" and 4" destructive to The cause IN
vf;rb we have been engaged" This handful was
widely circulated among our friends throughout Inc
city II was headed, "Rcsignaon ot ALL tiie oihcPfs
under the people Constitution The course which
the sgners had ii; TO adopt was made known 10
me at clock, in letter, written ny Col oainuci II.
Wales dated Nav 18th lSI2 and signed by hun aud
Eli Brown, William Coleman, F. l.. Beokford, and
John A. How land, all signers of the handful ihey
stated that the Senators and Representatives mad De.
ermined resign instantly that they disanpoVed oil
my proceedings; and That their men Wouu NOS oe'
against their own citizens.
The difficulty of my position was also increased oy
the general circulation of report, Originating, as
supposed, with our oPPonents,) that all controversies
had been settled by compromise honorable 70 oo'h par
ties for which there was M foundation III TACT some
Of the friends Of the Peoples Constructor were de
ceived BY il. and aided in extending il. 1t is hardly
ssrv for to repeat that have neither made nor
attempted TO make compromise OF your Constitution
or of your rights had neither the ahiity, from the
powers conferred upon me, nor the disposition to make
such compromise Wilton, claiming for the People
Constitution any exemption from the defects which be
long to all human institutions, have steadily Kept IN
view the great principle Of American Democracy m
volved in this case-the righ OF the majority OF the
whole people to change their form OF Government
without the permission consent oil existing author
ties If this principle fail now, not the author oil
the sacrifice.
You will readily appreciate the painful responsibility
which rested upon me, at The point of time which
have entioned, of deciding the course which duty re
quired of me.
| had endeavored to bear up, with becoming spirit
AGAINST all the power and influence of our opponents
but our movements now paray sedby our friends
most of whom six days before, had united IN the so
lemn determination of the mass meeting to which
have alluded, 10 defend their Chief Magistrate ut al
events Some of them dsapproved the military opera
ton proposed on Tuesday evening; but the first inior
nation of an open opposition and general resignation
was received By already stated, on "Wednesday
morning To this must add, that before the receip
of Col Waless letter, Mr.. Anthony requested me no
TO make his house the scene oft hostile encounter.
hon and from
firing of the signal guns, and ranks had been in
creased by but few additions from the city or country
About sixty of all arms, including the arterists
as nearly as could ascertain were now at the head
quarters That those who remained would have sccri
feed their lives to man, for my protection did moi
doubt, and their subsequent conduct fully contrmet
their sincerity cannot express the feelings OF CRATE
full obligation which entertain towards these brave nnt
noble men. They could not have been mastered by
their opponents without great destruction OF e; ant
they would have fallen, in the end, before superior
force of 500 strong deemed it my duty, under al
the circumstances moi ask this sacrifice at their hands
called 10 me the Colonel in command, and commnn
Gated TO him the state of affairs His reply was, 1.-The
men are leaving u.s." directed him to fall bak with
his command, or to give such other order as circum
stances might require AT half-past o'clock and
with regret for which there words, withdrew
from the head quarters TO the town of mberand-
OF subsequent events you are we'll Informed.
| In the assurance that have never compromised
vour rights and have returned TO friends and oppo
nents Uniform reply adverse 10 the abandonment
of the principles Of popular soveregnty.and of equa
rights, involved in the support of your Constitution
allow me to add that have never compromised my
own right to serve yonr cause. Having slncerel;
devoted TO that all the abilities possess, and
having in your service sustained the loss oil all lhns
but honor, may safely commit to you fcIow-ctzens
my vindication from ell unjust or ungenerous mputa
tons, either upon my motives conduct
| cannot conclude this communication without re
mnding you that your Constitution, being founded IT
right and Justice cannot be overthrown by future
arms or by The resignation Of those elected TO Office un
der it, and that the duty 10 maintain it has not been at
| iectcd by recent events
have addressed to you nothing in the spirit of &C
cusaton Of censure and my sole object has been tt
place before you the facts which have occurred that the,
may receive the impartial judgment OF my poor fellow
citizens and Of all who have expressed interest IL