Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-05-24


votes tor the officers of the State govern
ment were counted. and the following PER-
sons were declared duly elected to the of.
hces set 70 their names, viz.
His Excellency JOHN CorroN SMITH,
Governor.
His honor CHAuNcEI GooDaIcH, Lieu.
tenant Governor.
The Oofes for Governor stood as follows !:
For Gov. Smith. s,zs
b'yan ooardman, demo. 1876
Majority for Gov. Smith. $500
On Friday His Excellency CIV SMITH
delivered the following
SPEECH.
Gentlemen ofshe Council,
Mr.. Sneaker, and
Gentlemen offhe House of Rehr,seu,o,i,,..
fOO VIII accept my sincere congratuIa.
.,ohs on the restoration Of peace between
.ae United States and the United kingdom
o, Great"britain and ireland.--I shall ,rou-
o'e you with no remarks upon the par;icu>
'ar provisions of the treaty, The silence
ofthat instrument on all the alledred noin,s
of Controversy furnishes its best comment,
ana unfortunately affords too much reason
10 conclude that the real obi ccts of the war
oaye not been avowed. Neither am dis.
posed 10 dwell on the multiplied evils
which nave resulted from a precipitate re-
'ort 10 arms; The Improbable contest is
cVer, and although It's unhappy consequent
ces must be long felt, we owe il to a Bene6-
cent providence that our national independ,
ence, our union and the essential rights of
'he s'ate government are preserved.-In
reviewing however the scenes of suffering
aaa o1snay which were thus in,providept-
Drought upon the country. we shall re
soen'ze with just pride, the uniform gal.
'an'ry OF our seameh. as well as the intre-
t,ia spirit SO generally displayed IN the de-
lence OF our soi. The American People
nus' perceive that If the principles of vir-
e ous po'icy forbid them to engage in wars
VI conquest or ambition, still bya pror
use OF the means which God has piv.n
.hem' they have little to apnrehend from
the results Of any foreign power.
you will also reflect. gentlemen, with pc.
canar satisfaction on the magnanimity and
pa.iotism which the people CT this State
uave manifested, during season of such ex,
,raoroinaIy trial and perplexity. Firmly
oSie'ing the war to have been unnecessary
possessing an extensive frontier con,inu.
any exposed 20 its ravages---a NATIONAL
squAuron IN oar waters soliciting protection.
instead OF aifording 1.-THE expenditures
Ior cetence thrown upon the limited re-
sources OF the State, whose rights in We
ny important respect were at the same time
eIiied IN question: was under these and
osher paintoi circumstances, that our ci-
i@enS nave faithfully discharged their Giuty
~ ne confederacy and TO themselves And
y ought to be acknowledged with devout
e'3 i'uae' that of the numerous bodies of |
ouI troops successfully employed for our
protection. and amiS,, repeated conflicts |
:, Witn the enemy, so few have fallen either |
py disease or the sword /; and that notwi,h.
standing the large and unexpected de
names nanos on the treasury our whole debt it is
peheVed will be finally satisfied in the
course OF the following month, without en-
TIE Sit te
ne commissioners appointed in pursu
ance OF resolution of the Assembly. TO |
conciude an arrangement with the general |
t'overnme1t relative to the defence OF the I
state. entered without delay upon the ser
vice assigned to them. Their renort viii |
be laid before you. A PRINCIPAL object IF |
the mission was fortunately attained by the ]
seasonable arrival of the treaty of Peace |
and the consequent termination Of the war. |
Immediately after the ratification of the |
treaty was announced orders were issue.I |
for the payment and discharges Of the troors |
then on duty under the authority Of the |
State, and for the preservation OF the public /
property at the several posts. rhe same |
event also. from the terms of the respective
ctsunder which they were organized put
q period to the ser ice of the /" Military |
Corps" and the Corps of " Volunteer Elk. |
empts." The militia. state troops, aud |
volunteers deserve the highest commenda-
ton for the alacrity with which they have
on all occasions obeyed the call oil the State,
and for their uniformly spirited and hon
Durable conduct. I feel it incumbent upon
me to observe that OF the forces liable by
law to he summoned iato the field whether
state-troops or militia. some have been com.
pelled, and the events ofthe war rendered
1t unavoidable, TO perform more duty and
to make greater sacrifices than would 9th
erwiae have fallen to their Just proportion.
" no other equivalent can be provided for
these extraordinary services, those who
have been thus distinguished are at least en-
titled in superior degree to the gratitude
Of their country.
trust gentlemen, YOU will avail yeur-
selves OF the present propitious moment 10
revise the several acts for conducting the
Military force Ut the State" and to intro
luce improvements as recent ezperi-
haur =. n z. l