Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/458

 vi APPENDIX.

sensible many who are worthy of command have been passed by, and others less fit for office, may have been commissioned. And notwithstanding- a close attention has been given to this business, many of the counties have not yet been officered, for want of the recommendations of captains and subalterns.

Finding that the arms and ammunition directed to be purchased, could not be procured except from beyond the sea, application has been made by me to Mr. Jefferson and the Marquis de la Fayette, requesting their assistance to Mr. Barclay (who was commissioned to make the purchase), in accomplishing this important work ; and I have the satisfaction to find, that the affair is in such a train as to promise the speedy arrival of these much wanted articles, Formorefull information respecting this transaction, I send you sundry letters (No. 2,) by one of which you will see that our noble friend the Marquis, offers us his services, if there shall be occasion for them.

I transmit, herewith, a letter from the honourable Mr. Hardy, covering a memorial to congress from sundry inhabitants of Washington county, praying the establishment of an independent state, to be bounded as is therein ex- pressed. The proposed limits include a vast extent of country in which we have numerous and very respectable settlements; which, in their growth, will form an invaluable barrier between this country and those who, in the course of events, may occupy the vast plains westward of the mountains, some of whom may have views incompatible with our safety. Already the militia of that part of the state, is among the most respectable we have ; and by these means it is, that the neighbouring Indians are awed into professions of friend- ship. But a circumstance has lately happened, which renders the possession of that territory, at the present time, indispensable to the peace and safety of Virginia : I mean the assumption of sovereign power by the western inhabi- tants of North Carolina. If these people, who, without consulting their own safety or any other authority known in the American constitution, have as- sumed government, and while unallied to us, and under no engagements to pursue the objects of the federal government, they shall be strengthened by the accession of so great a part of our country, consequences fatal to our re- pose will probably follow. It is to be observed, that the settlements of this new society, stretch on to great extent in contact with ours, in Washington county, and thereby expose our citizens to the contagion of that example, which bids fair to destroy the peace of North Carolina.

In this state of things it is, that variety of informations have come to me, stating that several persons, but especially col. Arthur Campble, have used their utmost endeavours, and with some success, to persuade the citizens in that quarter to break off from this commonwealth, and attach themselves to the newly assvuned government, or erect one, distinct from it. And in order to effect this purpose, the equity and authority of the laws have been ar- raigned, the collection of the taxes impeded, and our national character im- peached. But as I send you the several papers I have received on that sub- ject, I need not enlarge further than remark, that if this most important part of our territory be lopped off, we lose that barrier for which our people have long and often fought, that nursery of soldiers from which future armies may be levied, and through which it will be almost impossible for our enemies to

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