The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1913-05-23
zone.
ADDING Insult to Injury.

Acolng Insult TO INJURY.
Instead of real concessions there was
fresh menace. The ministry did, indeed
offer to exempt from taxation every
colony that would promise that by Its
own vote it would make proper contri.
button to the expenses Of public de-
fence and imperial administration
in the hope thereby to disengage the
luke-warm middle colonies from the
plot now thickening against the gov
eminent.
But Massachusetts was at once pro-
claimed in rebellion, every port in
New England declared closed against
trade, New England fishermen were de-
MED access to the Newfoundland fish
cries, and ten thousand fresh troops
were ordered to Boston.
Look for No Concession.
Neither the pleas Of their friends nor
the threats of their enmies reached
the ears of the colonists promptly
from over sea that spring; but they
were not slow to perceive that they
did not wait upon parliament in their
preparation for doubtful future.
Upon the very day the congress Of
committees. at Philadelphia adjourn
ed, provincial congress" in Massa-
chusetts, formed of it's own authority
in the stead of the house of delegates
the governor had but just now dis
solved, had voted to organize and
equip the militia of the colony and to
collect stores and arms.
Virginia In Arms.
Virginia had been equally bold, and
almost equally prompt, far away as
she seemed from the kings troops at
Boston. BY the end of January Charles
Lee could write from Williamsburg:
"The whole country is full of soldiers,
all furnished, all in arms. .
Never was such vigor and concord
heard of, not single traitor, scarcely
a silent dissentient."
Every county is now arming a
company of men for the avowed pur-
pose of protecting their committees"
Dunmore had reported to the ministry
before the year 1774 was out, and to
be employed against government if
occasion require. AS to the power of
government which your lordship di-
reefs should be exerted to counterfeit
the dangerous measures pursuing
here, | can assure your lordship that
it is entirely disregarded, if not Who'll
ly overturned. There is not justice
of peace in Virginia that acts except
as a committeeman; the abolishing OF
courts of justice was the first steI
taken, in which the men of fortune
and pre-eIainence joined equally with
the lowest and meanest.'
Washington Asked to Lead.
Company after company, as it form
ed asked Colonel Washington to as
sumo command over it, not only in his
own county of Fairfax, but in counties
also at a distance-and he accepted
the responsibility as often as it was
offered to him.
1T is my full intention" he said,
simply ito devote my life and fortune
to the cause we are engaged in, if
needful;" and he had little doubt any
longer what was to come.
Still Runs With the Hounds.
He found time, even that stirring
year to quicken his blood once and
again nevertheless, while winter held,
by a run with the hounds; for he was
not turned politician so sternly even
yet as to throw away his leisure upon
anything less wholesome than the hale
sport he loved.
On the goth of May, 1775 the sec
ond Vlrginian convention met, not In
Williamsburg, but at Richmond, and
it's chief business was the arming Of
the colony.
Maryland had furnished the ironical
formula with which to justify what
was to be done: Resolved, unanf-
mously, that a well-regulated militia,
composed of the gentlemen freehold
ers and other freemen, is the natural
strength and only stable security OF
free government; and that such
militia will relieve our mother-coun
try from any expense in our protec
ton and defense, will obviate the pre-
tence of necessity for taxing us on
that account, and render it unneces
sary to keep any standing army
ever dangerous to liberty--in this
| province"
Patrick Henry Declares War.
Mr., Henry. accepted the formula
with great relish, in the convention al
Richmond, in his resolution that the
colony be Immediately put into a pos
ture of Defense but he broke with
it in the speech with which he sup
! ported his measure of preparation.
In this there was no plan or pre-
tence of peace, but, instead, plair
declaration of war.
Once more did Edmund Pendleton
Richard Bland, Mr. Nicholas, and Col
onel Harrison spring to their feet tt
check him, as in the old days of the
Stamp act. Once more, nevertheless
did he have his way, completely tri
umphant
The War Party Trlumphs.
What he had proposed was done
and his very opponents served upoI