Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-01-22

ply arose 10 Slale TIC cause
that if ] had lecn present should nave 'o'eu
for the bill. respectfully nsk thai his 'act
NAV be su stated on the Journal.
Public Meeting In iIcnrico.
\. a ycry large and enthusiastic meeting OF
the propIc OF {Ieurico county, irrespective Of
party. held at the Court House, on Wednesday,
the 10Th day Of January, 1851, IN accordance
with n notice previously published by order Of
the County Court, composed 0! ali the justices
'lor the purpose Of considering the question
Of ,oernprializing the Legislature to authorize
said Court to levy on the people such amount
ne might be necessary 10 put the county III nm
Efficient state of defence; and also authorizing
In, President Of said Court to convene the same
immediately TO lay such levy" on motion, DR..
.Iobn p Garnet was called 10 the Chair, and
j. II. Sands appointed Secretary.
The Chairman explained The object OF tile
meeting in Il very appropriate MANNER atIcr
which. Col. j. Lucius Davis made Il brici and
stirring speech, urging the necessity Tor lnmc'
date aud decided action in the premises.
Cant. J. ". Atkinson then read the report oi
the committee, previously appointed " the
Court showing that it would be requisite 10
raise the sum Of 50, 800 10 purchase the neces'
sary arms. in addition TO those that could be OBJ
tanned from the State.
MI. WINS. C. Wickhaln Senator from the
District stated that he was satisfied that tile
State would, rs it ought to do, furnish all arms
necessary, and advised that 10 money sHculc
be appropriated by the county.
Dr.. Z. S. McGruder, delegate To the Legs.
lature from the county, next sac ne woulu
abide the action Of the meeting.
Col. Shcrwin Mcltac then offered certain re-
solutions. accompanied with L wcll.timed all
dress, proposing to RAISE the amount as report
cd br the committee III the manner indicated
By the Court. NJ. franklin Stearns said he
preferred to raise The amount necessary to arm
the county bT subscription, is lie doubted The
right TO tax the people in the manner Indicated
by the resolutions. and proposed Il resolution
to that elect. At this point, Mr.. o. Jennings
Wise, who was present, being called upon,
made Il speech Of much force III favor ut arm
ing the county. Alter he concluded, Mr, Il. y.
Mavo proI,nScd Il resolution similar 10 the one
offered by Mr.. Stealns, Garoring subscription
Capt. John u. Young, Capt. j. W. AtiiHson,
y. r. Bowe and W. r.. Cooke, EsqS.. spoke IN
favor of the resolutions, and j. !. InSSeT,
Franklin S,earns and Garland ~llaincs, E>qS,
against them. The following letter from James
Lyons, ESQ, was Their received. and read 10 the
meeting:
TO TIE PEOPLE or TIE COUNTY OF HEN
RICO.
rc-rct. very Gccply, icllow-ci;izrns. that my en-
sascuicl:ls in The Court OF Appeals TO day. uo not
permit me % be with YOU il your meeting, regarding
l., as I do, ~ Il meeting Ut great Importance
Though not personally present, ! sinai! hc WAN You
in spirit. The object OF the meeting Is, ! understand,
10 determine whether the cOrity Cont shall b Ia" ur
author zed 10 pur:Eascarn. for the use Of the county.
You will, I earnestly hope, decide thu: question III
the affirmative, Gssociating, rs l think YOU ought ~
do, nc least two citizens from each MnGlsterlIl Dis
tr!c, 10 nct with the Magistrates IN the matter. Altar
having been wrongcd IN Utmost every conceivable
form without ote;!cc Of any kind on Their part, the
people OF the South hGrc bccn i:isultci ana con-
icnned rs sell aS ~icarfGl!v threatened by the election,
by Il sectional vote. vi T. man - the Presidency, who
wa-.unkEown to fame except ny the declaration
tlIut the conflict with us Was irreprcss:oic, ahd
slavery could not be tolerated III Tie Cntoh :
that the Country could not be hall slave aLIC Hail Tree;
and because the Southern States have refused 10 sub
nit % the government Of such II party, under such Il
leader, who nas now taken Vim. II. Seward rs his
chief adviser-Lis Secretary o! Sia;c-a man more
infamous than John Brown, infamous rs he wRs; for
II. SUGGESTED the work which Brown WIS tool enough
20 uttrtnI,t to execu.e-u lnaa with tho spirit, but
without tho nerve OF m assassin the suggestor oil
instructions H. q remedy tor our Ills and the preScr-
vuuon OF tine Union, who's alior. tlmc since, pro-
claimed his purpose 10 disband Tie army and navy,
because they protected you, Is lie sud, against your
Slaves, md now proposes 20 Keep them md Liirl
their arms on You. the masters O! those Slaves. Ilicy
are threatened with var; and the army "nd navy,
once Of the United States that heroic army and navy
winch, in defence Of the right, haze acquired 50
much renown--are to bo converted into the mcrcera-
ries Of the Black Republicans. TO make war upon
YOU; for By mono others than tue Black Republicans
will they be paid or supported, although led OH and
directed, l gr;c"c 10 say, by one who owes !iis, birth
to virginia. At such u momcrt, the people should
be armed Tor their defence. Every mum should he
prepared to defend his homo md slay its invader,
j I-I- - =. l.,tI, trnp, ,,Iap t... mad
tyranny Tor ii it is not defended, y tyranny, 4 mill.
tvrv dcsI,otism the most odious which ever cursed
anv land, will Cypress, ruin aud degrade yon. Even
now the Government Is 4 military one, ald The siiris
OF Robcspierrc and Mara: rules al " aHhington. Inc
aclugl comuandcr-;n cl!ct OF the army directs it,
movements TIE troops "hiclI garrisoncd the forts q;
the far West have beeII withdrawn from them and con-
ccr:;ratcd q, Washington or i'll rs ncighoorhood; ard
tlr batteries which acquired siIch rcnuwn upon the
bat;le-iiclds Of Mexico, under the gallant Mugrudrr
AMI Duncan, when commanded by Gen. Iuylor, are
to bc used, under Scott, 70 shoot down orr
own people TT the inauguration OF the Black
Republican President, II nccll be; aud thus,
in the midst nt cnlIn0n, md surrounded by bayG-
net., the President g! i Republic OF iree-mcn is
% bc elevated 10 his Office. What 4 spectacle in II
Government called II Republic: forthe contemplation
OF men called free THUS it was thut the first MI.
polcon slaugE;ercd.the people Of Paris ai!d suppress
scd the VOICE Of liberty. But even this is not all.
|, las been openly proposed by resolution il Con-
gress, 10 overthrow the Constitution, to preserve
which they prctcnd it is tha. they make war on tho
South, aud 10 constitute the Lieutenant General Of
the army military dictator oftas land; aud the Gov
crDment at Washington Inns, utter the manner OF the
worst d~e>potism OF Europe, determined and attempt
cd 10 destroy tho liberty OF the press, by formally
I ordering MI Government printing to bc withheld
from the newspaper called Tine Constitution, u be-
cause it found fault with the conduct of II Secretary
who violated the fifth Of the Government; mud the
Northern States, and especially New York, are ten
| dering men and money, without limit, 10 subduc the
South, Hinder -urh n GOyrrumpn. IL /, lut the form
of liberty which yoH enjoy, and II you do not pre-
pare 70 defend yourselves, You will not enjoy that
inrm long. | pray yor. then, 10 arm yourselves!
! The crv ITO Arms" should rcsound from every
| hilltop and i'll every vale in Virginia. In whatever
you do, count me in for my .illl share OF the cost 81
il; md If tue wur does come, l will he with you in
youa camp, to conquer or to die with YOU.
Most respectfully, yonr humble servant,
JAMES LYONS.
LAprESrI, January Is, is6l.
The following resolution was then offered
by Col. John ?. Harrison as a substitute for
the original resolutions, which were then
withdrawn:
Resolved, That our Senator and Delegate in
the General Assembly Of Virginia be requested
to frame and put through the Legislature, n
bill authorizing the county Court Of lIenrico
to raise by loan $500, for the purpose Of
armins the county, said act shall be submitted
to a vote Of ihe people Of The county; for ~ratiica-
ton or rejection within five days from its pas.
sage.
The vote being taken on this resolu.
ton, Hon. A. r. Holiday and Franklin
Stearns, Esq, acting as t%elIers, announced
the result to be 100 for, and 81 against it
Mr.. K 4. Mayo offered the following rcso.
luton, which was adopted;
Resolved, That n committee OF five from
each magisterial district lie appointed 20 raise
by subscription fur the volunteers Of the