The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-02-06
f',.g1nia. Legislature.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
Taesday, january IS.

saI,i county And An act spprupr,aing part oi
the ssere ot certain @ anucs Tor the purpose there
III mentioned" =
They have also passed the bill and ryaec " Com
cernnx, Chaucery Courts" with amendments, in
whcri they request TIE concurrence OF the House of
DELE ,;ales---rhc House concurred.
, GA motion OF Mr.. Ruifner--An enyrosscd Till
Forming new county ont OF tain Iaits of the
.or,ues of kenawhs, Greenhrier aud Randolph,"
which lay on the table, token up-A motion was
made bv Mr.. Jesse, seconded by Mr. Goo!sn.,, that
the farther consideration uf the said bill he postponed
uni! 3tst day of Iarch next And the question be-
ing pat ,hereoon, determined in the affirmative
Ayes 75--Noss ~
An engrossed bii, ~ Concerning Oliver Pollok"
WAS motion of Mr. jackson, taken up, and read
81 time--and sandry blanks therein We're flied
The question then put the passage Of the said
bill, ard determined in the Desatve.--Aycs 67-
Noes -
A communication from the Governor was received
aud read, as foiioSs-
Council Chamber, Ian. 81.
SIR,
TIE peculiar posture Of our foreign re atoms, Ss
the still more serious consequences which may Ill
probability ensuc, have tailed to engage tic pro-
to,'nd attention o! thus department. upon which
dsvoive the high responsibility, Of Watching the
safety OF the good people Of the commonwealth. and
upon the alo ea 6 danger of calling forth al, it's
energies. reposc the most unlimited confidence in
the disposition Of the gener, government, to extend
e this stare ts full share os national protection.
Hut esyassos may occur III their nature so urgent
tc rPqui,c yromptitud ofexer'icn, which the u
n,,esl States government may lie unable eItc t.-
TIC theHY If the constitution Of the United States
as veil as the ictstcs Of seifpres vaton, incuicstc
the necessity 10 every state OF dcpe nng their
own resonrcesio the re,mlsion Of Sudden INVASION
When we cast oureye over the map at this state g.
discover from circumstances, too notorious to need
an explanation, hpw liable To invasion,
osrnot reasonably hope 10 be exempt from fun
share OF the ca'ain'es OF war, should war ens,e.-
Will not comport pith true policy 10 prepare for
any exigency, by placing ample means, under Oh
control ct this department. aud thereby snpercede
the necessity of converting th Legislature mt
Timely and iHcoHv, nent season. winch must take
place, If no provision he made for state of things
which prudence requires snould anticipate The
constitution aud the laws OF the commonweath invest
the executive with power call forth the nitis-
The state has likewise expenhe, large sums of mo-
ncy in the acquisition Of arms. Having now On han
IN The arsenal and in excellent ORDER 5000 stands
Of arms, beside very large number Distributed
also so pieces of orinsnce-l5ut in the munitions o.
war, particularly powder and the materials of Which
IT Is composed, we are extremely deficent-As also
IN pecuniary resources, without which all oti,sr
means become use.ess-This department feels that
itwod be wanting in its duty, il to call the
attention OF the representatives Of the people (whose
powers are alone commensurate with the provision
nj an ample remedy to this subject rendered high
~ interesting from the peculiar crisis in which
called to The legislature will also recoect
tlat phatever expense is incurred by the state, in
defensive measures, is finally nhursed by the ge-
neral government has been verified by the recent
Far the Interpolation OF the General Assembly, 7 en-
close Report of the keeper of the magazines. Since
the date OF ti;at report have contracted Tor and
received, salt petre, the full of the appro.
pyiation OF the last year. We have also on hand II
ltascraby good supply OF cannon ball. Connected
with t;ns subject the applications Of officers
mantng artillery companies, and who have been sup
piled with pieces OF ordnance, for hall. These
guess coming q parts of the State much expo
sef, tae Executive disposed to gIant--but the
Law having made no provision for such exercise of
power, AZ has become necessary to present the sub
ioet TO nc Legislature. The lie, section of law
which PASSED Jan. 2ist, 1907, enjcins it duty
thc Executive tn distribute the arms belonging to the
Eonplouwealti, whece they shall exceed certain
number, viz. 5000 musSets &e.--but the legislature
has omitted to appropriate money for that purpose
The consequence has been great accumulation of
arms in the Armory. The Executive cannot carry
this law into effect without money. The amount
eessary is perfectly conjecturai; but s $500 it is
believed is the least sum that will he commensurate
with the subject. 1t S submittcd to the wisdom Oi
the Legislature whether it will be prudent under the
present state OF things, to send our arms to the
ercm'tses OF the state, whose remote ituatiOn is
perfect guarantee TO safety. Whilst call I'm our
arms from thence would be accommodated with mucl.
delay and expense. BY the 9th section OF the gene
"a! militia law power is given 10 the colonel Gem
rnandanis to cal out their regiments where invasion
OF insirrccton shall actually have happened. bat no
power is given them (no matter how threatening the
dapger) 10 prepare 10 repcl them IL is believe,
This part Of the law might he amended to great adj
vantage By Investing them with that authority be
exercised under such regulations, the Executive
rnays prescribe, and under such penalties would
ensure obedience.
The 9th section OF the law concerning the militia,
Which passed Feb. 4th, 1906, empowers the Exeeu-
tise to organize the articsrs of the arnory with
view to the defence thereof. Bat the law prescr;-
bed penalty ior Delinquency the part of officers
men, and the law has heretofore not been eyecu-
ted 1t is 10 amend il, If its execution is
desirable, about S:lich it is presumed there can be
no difference of opinion. The law concerning pa
toics is a'-o defective rs it throws the whole burden
ofts important part NJ police upon tho poor s.
Ieho,ring part of the community, by prescribing
syaah ihc for ia,re in ilischargiag this duty
whist the conversation hcing for ~ hours, instead
of by the night, is b,t rare received.
am, viii, scntiine'.so M n IN respect,
Your fellow citizen,
IS. BARBOUR.
On motion OF itr. Joyn.s- grisred, That the
saii com rauniestion with the document accompany-
ing the same, be referred 70 select nnittec of
Nelsrs. Joyrzs, Leigh, # Oin,piAAs, Ice, IF Ntr-
f5lk thorough, Tyler Stdqard, If .Sbottsyfvania.
Haisston. Cor6if. Shield md Pryoy and that tie
said committee have leaye to report by bill, other
wise.
Wefpesday, January 90.
A communicative rom the 5cnatc by their clerk
The Senate have PASSED the bi'l " S>-a,shing
separate election on a., south side Of tic river Roam
oke in the county If Icckienburg"- Aud, The bill
Changing the times of holding certain courts within
the thirteenth circuits; with amendments in which
thev rc1'sest the Of the House of Dele
sa.cs---rhe house conct,sfel.
EngrosseI bills 4" Authorizing William McCiung to
buili Tol-l,riige over Big Clear Greek, =" An
ret confirming act of the county court of Prince
George snd declaring certain records thereof To be-