Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-03-19
FoTf t enquirer
TO JOHN b FLaD, ESQ, GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA,
M


If you will turn the history OF the Revolution you will
find, in resoluonadoped BY the members OF the House
of Bugcsses OF Nrnnia the st OF August l74 the model
from which have taken of those proposed in my last
letter The and temper the same and the purpose
and language Of bob the mntatis nutands. The
phosophc who would interpret the present. and
read future by past will do we'll examine what
done that Let Southern politicians initiate the
prudent bodncss aid adopt the mild but decided of
fathers Let Norn politicians shun the example of obdu
racy arrogance folly then them by Great Britain and
all will be well. Iar from being dissolved weakened, the
Union will be confirmed strcnhened and pe-petuGted The
Constitution purified from corruption, and the rights OF
every part of this great Coniederacy mpegnably secured
este ppea will the prayer which every Southern heart
will send up Haven.
We By aane rnmindfu Of tho fame of fathers
and perhaps ppne celebrate terms of unmeasured
applause Yet will venture to say THAI the eloquent
defamation poured forth in honor of the authors and
conductors OF heRevouon speaks less for their glory than
the simplest hi5tdy Of those proceedings which drew from
the lips Of Chatham the highest panegyrc ever ;d TO
satcsmanke prudence, sagacity orbearance and rmness
In the assenbages Of all these great qualities
safety then and s only in the exercise Of The same that
shall find saey Walking by the light of their
ample shall walk securely and il God has given
Northern brethren u strong deusion that they
dcnce will be restored and "he light aflicton of the
will work at Tor u.s. happier prosperity and glory
eternal (for shch of the works of shall be
but which shall adure long people shall retain
enough OF the purity of their continue capable
OF tho high privilege, and the high task Of govern
mcnt.
II the OF August 77i, after the abroga
ton of the charte of Massachusetts, and the closing of the
port of Boston, the Burgesses of Virginia resolved
nerpose behalf Of their afflicted brethren of the North
Massachusetts, acken down by the blow and left without
government lifted up her voice and called all the other
colonies her aid in defence finer rights end their
own But lister 10 her language in this extremity She de-
clares that ~ meeting OF Committees the several Colo
nes OF this Continent highly expedent and necessary
consult upon hepesent state of the Colonies and the mise
res which the and must be reduced by the operation
Of certain ofPaament respecting America and de-
beale and determine wise and proper measures to be
By them recommended TO all the Colonies, for the recovery
and estabishmenof their just rights and liberties civil and
religious and the estoraton Of union and harmony betreen
Great Britain anohe Colonies MOST ARDESTLY DESIRED ~
GOOD MEN"
To this CALL Virginia responded thus.
Resolved UNANIMOUSLY, That il is tho opinion Of this
meeting that vii be highly conducive 10 the security and
happiness OF the British Empire that General Congress of
Deputies from all de Colonies assemble the ma
of their situations will admit consider of the most
proper and eecul manner Of operating the CONNER
cal connection of he Colonies with the mother country
procure redress for the much injured province OF Massa
chusctts Bay British America from the ravagc and
ruin OF arbitrary taxes and speedily procure the return Of
athermony and sioa, so beneficial 10 The hoc empire and
so drdsnHy desired BY all British america"
Let add the of the selected for this pacific
duty give then in the order in which they stand on the
WAsHISoToS Patrick Henry Richard Bland Benjamin Har-
rison and Edmun Pendleton"
The of all the other Colonies the Justice
all they asked and up that time and long after the
of harmony and union consistent with
justice was the s;eat end for which they lahored.
But the aarm VINO SnuQCers Al Inc pare name oil QlSu
nion and who regardless the Constitution seems eager
take any Union any terms however unequal unjust
and oppressive is frightened at the bare ausion to the
of which | have spoken Did "they not end
in revolution Z" he asks in dsmay Indeed they did
why For the that when of spirit has
done all that the spirit Of christianity could dictate all that
gentleman could expect WISH and all that honor will
permit gentleman 10 do, to avert quarrel, when, hav-
ing done all this, his adversary with insult
and new outrage, he feels compelled 10 fight But had
the King and people of Great Britain listened with proper
respect the unanswerabe arguments and the earnest
aicctonae and dutifu exposuaons of the Congress of
MA there be doubt that the Revolution would have
been Indefinitely postponed and perfect harmony for the
time least would have been restored The whose
names have given above not say thing,
while meaning anothcr-The unanimous language of the
Congress 10 the people of England that of brethren:
their language the King that Of loyal subjects The
Jealous champion Of the Union at this day cannot ex
press his attachment in stronger terms than those used
By these truthful nge-mndcd men manifest their devo
ton the Crown and Constitution of the United British
Empire. Their sincerity in all this, man can doubt,
without dshonorng which breath of man has
suied. Yet mark pray you sir and lei the people of the
North whom II most concerns mark WELL the part which
these same men, two afterwards were prepared 10 ACT
and did act.
They first calmly and cmperately laid before their OPP
pressors statement OF their Let US do the
They indicated their rights by unansweabe arguments
We prepared 10 do the They earnestly and aiec
tonaey eSpostuaed with the King OF Great Britain and
mpored him. King OF Virginia 10 interpose his authority
King of Great Britain to protect his subjects this side
Of the Atlantic, from being oppressed and robbed by his
English subjects. Let now mutatis mutandis do the
like Their repeated petitions the Crown only an
swered by repeated INJURIES So says their declaration Of
independence They appealed to the native justice and
ma nnnimty of the English People and they too,
deaf the voice OF justice and consanguinity" They
therefore declared themselves compelled acquiesce in the
necessity which denounced separation holding them like
the Of mankind enemies in war, in peace friends -
Let arguments exposluat!ons and enreaes meet the
reception and who will say that ought TO act
the same part2
Were these then the AUTHORS Of the Revolution p
By means. II was they declared forced upon them,
and they did but acquesce in the necessity" There was
day before the battle of Lexington when as these v
and honorable assured the King the revocation
Of certain specified and arbitrary Of Parliament would
not have Immediately restored the harmony between Great
Britain and the Colonies necessary the Happiness OF
1ot and ardeny desired By the latter Let US hold the
same language and give the assurance and Heaven
and Earth will witness that if disunon be the consequence
The &C; and fault will not no ours
But men, who otherwise think and feel az YOU and do
turn pale at the names of Washington and Hnry and cry
ieparngy Oh rise other suchn And will they not
rise when called or Is the blood of the men Of that
day in veins? Have free institutions quenched the spirit
Of Lberyl Has the gh, that Freedom has shed abroad
in the world darkened minds} Before the voice of
Henry uttered that first trumpet blast which shook the
whole earh and rom the reverberation of whitehall Eurone
now vbrates from the Atlantic the yoga even VIRGINIA
lid not know of his existence WAsHIyoToS himself was
only known as brave and prudent major OF militia
A forra