THE
SPEECH
Of the Honourable
WILLIAM GOOCH, Esq;
Gentlemen of the Council, Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Burgesses;
AS I am entrusted by His Majesty with the Care of this Colony, and think it my indispensable Duty to direct my Conduct to your Safety; it is a very sensible Pleasure to me to find myself, on this Occasion, surrounded by Persons, as well by Interest engaged, as by Prudence and Inclination disposed, to promote the same great End. And though many Circumstances unexpectedly arise in this variable World, that deserve your Deliberations, and may require new Determinations; yet the Security of our Country, comprehending every Thing that can be dear to us, I dare say, in this Conjuncture, will have the first Place in your Thoughts.
IT has, no doubt, been anxious to His Majesty's great and generous Mind, to hear his Subjects suffered in any Measure the Calamities of War, while Peace, by the most solemn Engagement, seemed to be established: And had it not been for Consequences of a more grievous Nature, his Subjects would have been liable to; if the arbitrary Proceedings of a Rival Neighbour had been immediately humoured with downright Hostilities on all Sides, his Roial Heart had been fired with just Resentment, and the Agressors had sooner felt that Vengeance, which only the Love to his own People restrained him from; until finding neither Justice nor Equity could prevail to fix the Object of his Desire, a lasting Friendship, consistent with an uninterrupted Commerce; the Appeal is made to Heaven, and the Sword must give the decisive Stroke.
IN His Majesty's Wisdom then we repose our Trust; who with paternal Tenderness feels the Injuries done his Subjects; and by his steady Councils, with equal Fortitude and Firmness of Mind, determined not to give Umbrage to any other Powers to distrust or disturb him, in the last Method for obtaining Reparation and Redress.
THAT we, therefore, during a War carried on in this Western Quarter, may be prepared to maintain our Character, I must earnestly recommend to you, the framing of a Bill to put our Militia upon such a Footing as will best enable them to contend with regular Troops, who excel other Men only by their exact Discipline: Do but consider what a lasting Disgrace it would be to our Name and Nation, if the personal Bravery of our Inhabitants, for want of being united under some such Influence, should be forced
to
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to yield to the orderly Disposition of Adversaries, whom Man to Man they would Disdain. And I am perswaded, as the Authority I plead for, may be granted to our Officers by a temporary Law, you will judge it adviseable, effectually to provide for the Defence of your Country, against an Enemy, at present rather inclined to seek Revenge, than make Satisfaction.
AS this is the only Method we can take to secure our Sovereign from being insulted by an Attack upon this Dominion: As it can't be reckoned an Encroachment upon Liberty, when meant to guard us against Dangers, however distant they may be thought, which threaten no less than our Lives and Properties; you will forgive me, if, after applying to your Prudence, I suggest to you, that in case of an Invasion, as I must lead and conduct our Arms, so there is not any one of you without a Chance of having your own Honour concerned in the Event.
I am also to put you in Mind, that whilst Affairs are in this Posture, the late and uncertain Arrival of the Ships, will make it necessary to allow the Planters longer Time for bringing their Tobacco to the Publick Warehouses.
THESE, Gentlemen, are the Inducements I had to call you together and I believe you will agree, they are of sufficient Importance to merit your Concurrence.
AND if, in your Confutations, you desire my Advice to form your Resolutions, or any Confirmation from me to make them more effectual; as I deem the Interest of Virginia to be strictly my own, I shall be forward to do my Part, and think I am men rendering myself most worthy of the Roial Favour of the best of King: When I am serving, why may I not say, the best of Subjects.
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