Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-11-12

\ i5iitihDeied that the defence ofonr cour-
try depends III a great measure, upon the
| Militia, and that the genera, defence was
a primary object IN the establishment OF
the constitution of the United States. Ii
appears to me, that this is the moment
when new organization of the Militia
should be attempted. Our late experience
OF the defects of the existing laws, enable
us to provide the remedy, and new or
ganization being made in time of pea e,
takes away all pretence of inequality and
hardship. If, from the diversity of views,
situation and habits i'm different States,
| Congress camot agree upon general Mi
iiiia-system, acceptable TO all the States,
Ii would secmto be necessary that, by III
amendment TO the constitution, the pow
er OF organizing the Militia should be res
tored to the States, leaving 10 the Gener
al Government the power necessary TO
employ that species of force i'm the man
represented III the constitution of the
United States.
The enclosed papers (markcd No. q
are copies of my letters To the President
OF the United States, to the Governors of
the States, interested in the navigation of
the Chesapeake, and to the members Of
Congress from this State. upon that high
ly important subject. There cannot be
doubt, but that an object, SO deeply in
terestlng to so great a portion of America,
will be pursued until it is attained. am
sure Pennsylvania, Maryland, Nortll-Car
DINA, Virginia, and some of the Western
States, should never lose sight oft. From
the Presidents answer, il will be seen that
he concurs fully in the views of the Gen
eral Assembly.
Believing the public property directed
10 be sold for the improvement of the
Capltol-Square, and the repairs of the
Capitol, would not, if sold for cash, com
mand lis value, i. was Diet rmined TO sell
that property upon credit.
Owing TO this circumstance, we have
not been ableto proceed with the improve
ments as rapidly as il was wished, as
most OF the work required prompt pay
ment. Contracts are, however, made, the
materials preparing, and IT is expected the
Whole will be accomplished III the course
Of the riextyear. The expenditures that
have been made, were betrayed by advam-
ces made by the Banks, uponan assurance
of reimbursement out of the money, for
which the property sold. The Com
mon-Hall in this City, has done every
thing in its power to facilitate our opera
tons, and contributed largely to the
executing the law "Toprovide ac-
curate Chart ofeach County, and Gene
raj Map of the Territory of the Common
wealth." no progress has been made in
that part of it which relates to County
Charts. The contracts entered into by
the County Courts, have been at a rate
far be- ond what was believed reasonable;
and the greatest disproportion appears i'm
the compensation allowed in different
counties. There are few contracts below
$1,000, and most of them from 1900 to ST.
600. These prices were believed to be
greatly more than the value of the service,
aud vastly more than the Legislature con-
templated. Many of the Courts have not
vet forwarded contracts The time allow
ed by the law TO make engagements for
the Charts, not having expired, it was
thought best that the Executive should
delay the execution of the power given TO
them in case of the contracts not being
confirmed, until all should be received I;
because il was believed itwould be better
! TO contract with the same person TO make
the Charts ofseveral Counties, both with a
viewto accuracy and economy. The sur
veys of the exterior boundaries of the
State, The rivers and principal mountains,
have been contracted for and are in
course OF execution, except III the north:
western district.
lost no time in communicating to the
Honorable Bushrod Washington, the re-
quest of the Legislature, to permit the re-
mains of the late General George Wash
ingtOn, to be removed from the family
vault at Mount Vernon, to be re-interred
IN the CITY of Richmond | regret eX-
tremely that Mr.. Washington was CON
strained, by sense of duty, to his illus
trious uncle, 10 withhold his assent TO the
request, and beg leave to suggest that
TINS circumstance need not, and hope
that it will not, prevent the Assembly
from erecting the Monument, and that
it will be done in the manner proposed !:
that every Virginian may have the high
qualification of contributing to " this
spontaneous offering of d nations graft
tude." No. contains my correspon-
dence with Mr.. Washington.
Yourvote of thanks to the officers OF the
navy and army, who were natives of this
state, and distinguished i'll the late war,
was communicated TO them. The papers
marked No. 4, are my letters and their
answers.
Under the superintendent of Mr.. Chew,
the settlement of our accounts with the
United States is going OH at Washington
From the mass of similar business, and
our accounts being so voluminous, it has
been impracticable to give such dispatch
as was wished. understand that every
facility is afforded on the part of the Uni
ted States that we could expect. A fur
ther advance of $3.50, 200 has been made
by tile United States on account.--tn