Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-01-13
Virginia Legislature.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
,S,fgur,iyu I,,,,,,,,.,. IN

hao passed the bill entitled act TO incorporate
b9okers Gold Mining Company, with amendments
winch were concurred III by the House.
me House. according to the joint order of the day
proceeded, by joint vote with the Senate TO the cleo
uon oil Brigadier-Gencra of the 9th Brigade to
neral John Hodges "
MIR. Watts of Norfolk countv rose md .;J =.
MI speaker, tor the purpose of nominating TO the Office
IN question; gentleman who, ifmtary ardor-ifa lone
ana active service IN the militia of the Stale
pom III war ana IN peaceif talents, which are peculiar
~ adapted TO command-and if the highest eneroies Of
poh mind and body, evidences of merit and CONNIE
Whcy-ls both worthy and amply qualified for the dns
Oh that important trust-l say important trust sir he
cause do believe that i'm the Eastern part of Vrgn;o
and at point exposed as Norfolk is in Time of a
Is not only necessary TO have wellorganized militia
orce at all times ready but it is also important TO have
anie and eic,ent officers to command that force Such
an officer is the gentleman TO whom audc-Capt John
Capron, Of the Borough of Norfolk
II Is perhaps due, sir, to other gentlemen in the Bri-
gade, who have filled higher Offices than Capt Capron
TO say that this nomination grows out of the peculiar
merits OF that gentleman and relation he now sns
tains to the Brigade as an ex-ofiiccr and soldier.
capt Capron commenced his military career in comma
ny OF Independent Volunteers which was raised i'm the 10
rough OF Norfolk, and composed eoodly number of the
@e OF that place In this company lie first appointed
Ensign ana IN that capacity, with the additional appont
ment of Adjutant he for period of nine months
during The goomest period oftbe late war lie was then
regarded as valuable and efficient officer Succeed
ing 10 The command of the company after the war he has
served IN The line for period OF twentyone wears His
reputation as am officer became known throughout the
brlgade ana no one who knew him. doubted the testny
ms talents dcscrved and, Sir, promotion was oti;rd
him again and again He holds now i'm his possession
the several commissions Of Major and Coon.i a., I;ob
ne declined qualifying, for the audable purpose of sus
tanning that arm of delence which is known as the
volunteer Militia of the State Had he accepted OF pro-
motion wen offered to him, he would now have been the
Oldest Colonel III the Brigade His decinin Tins In
Tor so audabe purpose ought now to exclude
MN from the right OF promotion.AIr Speaker the 9Th
brgade mas inc right to ask of this House commander
III whose skill and experience an officer they have h
most unwavcring confidence.
Mr.. Watts here submitted some rccommendatory do
Mr. trump nominated Col. Henry Woodhouse-
marks and documents. -
Mr Cunningham said he had risen not for the purpose
aouiig TO the nominations which had been made by
e giteiia1 rom Norfolk county andby the gentleman
rom oufry although there officer of the 9th Bril-
gade, whose election without intending the SLIGHTEST
uspaLagencnt OF The gentlemen now in nomnation) he
Wouo prefer to that OF either of those gentlemen 10 wit
Colonel John Singleton Aillson of the Borough of Nor
iok. Col Alison the commandant of tho
htty-tourth Rcgimcnt-was a lawyer of hgb nro,;
siolai standing, and of varied and extensive acquire
ment-but, sir, said Mr.. c., Colonel Millson with a
lnoaesty as comnendable it rare had expressed
wish, IL Col w dollhouse should be in nomination that
ms name might not be brought forward in opposition to
NM lie was therefore compelled TO foreGo his own
Peuecuons ana decide between the persons in no
inihat@n. MIR T. said, he we'll acquainted with
Capt Capron they citizens of the same Borongb
and were personally friendly and he might even saw In
innate, but that he could give him his vote ON This
occasion Capt Capron had been the commander of The
norfolk Independent Volunteers but had resigncd his
commission, and was now private. Col. Woodhousc
WIS gentleman (as the officers of his own re-
gmcnt, who he presumed knew him best had in
% e r Ilouse IN The paper which had just been
Iea1) oil experience and of long military services
ana OF great moral worth. He could not there
loe' AID IN breaking down the Militia System OF the
COMMEMORATIVE, by promoting Captain Capron over the
heads of all of the officers oftRe OH brade He cond
not consent to go into the 54th REGIMENT and aid i'm o
m me private over the head Of his own Colonel
Inc Coiohcl Lieutenant Colonel and Major OF the 54th
were all gentlemen of education of talents and of hgb
slmu,ng ana ne could not sit by and them
sIaughed Mr. &. said he would bear testimony to the
moral worth and qualifications of Captain Capron as he
would to tlat OF any other gentleman with whom lac
was as wen acquainted but that lie could not support
MN Tor inc Office Tor which le now i'm nomination
MT Collins remarked that if he rightly understood the
gentleman lrom the Borough Of Norfolk he declined no
nniiiI1Iung Col Millson. Mr. Cunningham asserting.
hr' collins Observed that the great interest felt by his
constituents IN the appointment about to be made
induced him to offer few remarks to the consideration
OF the House The appointment of Breadier- General
lor the In Bligade, was probably the important
mlay appointment that could be made by the. House
anu ts was owing principally, almost entirely TO Che
peculiar situation of that portion of the State Shoud
me United States become involved in war will, anv
foreign natonwhich, from the present aspect of frs
might be the case, the militia of that broade would Inc
,nc Hrst called INTO actual service. IL was therefore
nghy important that the command of that portion ,f
me state should be conferred well qualified to dis
charge thc duties OF has Office. Such n gentleman had
pceh presented to the House by his colleague Mr. c.
sald u had been objected Capt Capron that he was
not inc Oldest officer in the Brigade But if it followed
as necessary consequence, that the Oldest officer in the
Diigadc should be elected, why trouble the Legislature
Win the appointment? Why was il not declared tlat
III case OF death or resignation of Broader- General
le oluest Colonel IN tic Brigade should receive the APP
PommenH 1t was done, sir, for tile simple reason
because it left 10 the Legislature 10 cIect The
person best qualified for the Office Captain Capron
sir mas been soldier from his youth mn Il, Inc
present Time. tic held commission during the war
au TOT number OF years has commanded one of the
St uisc Phned volunteer companies in the State. And
s liad ne accepted Coloncis commission whom ,roc
ieTcd him, he would have been the Oldest Colonel in t
9,"e Dut ne declined because the company ne command
ca was unwilling ihat their old and respected command
81 Should leave them, and because hc knew that he could
i'hne ule militia more scTyiceabc by retaining his then
oo'1sson' than by commanding regiment Of undis-
cpllhed troops IL had also been objected 10 Cant G.
mat ut tins time he held commission Such sir was
Tue iacl BUT nevertheless, Captain Capron had lost
none OF MS military zeal or ardour-althOu0h not
~ commission, he found in the ranks Of tho
company winch 1t was once his pride and honor TO
1ier. Slr 1T Is for such qualifications and deeds as
ce' the appointment ought to be conferred ON him
MI Speakcrl speak the authority Of those yyelf
eo 70 judge, that there is not better officer i'm the
Dga9ej tha he IS most deserving Of the Office and know
s ,h@t II Il was lct TO the brigade nine-tentls Of il
Wouo DC M ms Favour. And he putt the candour If
INC gentleman from the Borough Of Norfolk 10 saw fe
her ne was not the best occriu the brigade aud ooh
not 20 DC appointed. lie could not say to the rournr
Mr. g. hoped it would be the pleasure Of the Uonse
70 confer The appointment on Capt Capron
NoVtheT candidate being put in nomination by the So
haie e l9lnt vote Of the two Houses was taken aud
s.ood lot Vol Woodhousc, 75 for Captain Capron 90
30 Henry Is. Woodbouse was declared elected
me Joint order Of the day for the election Of Brio,
uei-'cherai, Tor the 18th Brigade supply the vacan
ey occasioned by the resignation Of General Francis
Preston, was then proceeded in.
Smylh. '''''O"' VI
Mr.. Caldwell nominated Col John = ssl.r,o &c