Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-07-13


from Lee (lir. JoHSsoE; will accept the amend
ment which has been proposed. Onsy hi:
morning received several istters from my con
s,ituenls upon this very subject. ] rnust cou
rsss, however, lhs. should much prefer 10 hav:
the whole nbj.c: refsrred to a committee tia
The matter InSy DO thoroughly Investigated
end a n appropriate report made. in order thai
no i, Justice bo jono the people Of The Com
lnonwealth M? own ns!itueEls urge INST
some discrimination be tnado in favor I'll those
who can adsan,ag gsous|y servs the State IN nc
production and manufacture Of articles ahc
supplies indispensable TO the prosecution @
tho war. The citiz:ns Of Iuy COUNTY nave
volunteered d to tee fullest extent; our community
has been deprived OF n large rasnHe OF is pcs
workmen; yet only last week there vas Ftqn!
sition made upon Rockingham and Shenandoah
counties for all the militia sufjact 10 military
duty They have already furnished twenty i've
hundred men for the service OF tbs State. lne
result OF this draft has been 10 tske frt:n our
county onr mechanics, orT shoenak'rs, our
iron manufacturers, and 10 almost completely
constituents state that the iron business hiss
been almost eo!ireiy stopped, aud that our peo,
PIE are beginning 10 be alarmed at The ex'ent
# tha le7y made upon them Suffering as
lhcy are in their business interest, they desire
that ths men who contribute by their labor to
the wealth Of the community, should be e3
rnpt from military duty; and an speaking
for my constituents when say that advocate
The amendment suggested. We have plenty
Of men 10 volunteer to 60 iato The h.d. With
cut t.king our mechanics from their labor
ye. tho result Of tbs ordinance. i'll its pTcser;
condition, will be 10 draw from their avcca
ions thaso who are most valuable to !hc State
n their ca pacites Of prcdIcers and manufac.
lurers Of munitions of war. recd only refer
10 the mancfIc,ure Of leather We have f.,r
instance, no leather in the city Of Richnond
1t is important to lie public interest that This
leather shall Ge furnished; Yet it canntt ih.
ioao il these men are compelled 10 respond to
q draft upoa their services and 60 into the
fcid.
S1csk fro,n personal knowledge, because
| Rave had occasion 10 Investigate Ills ;9stter.
repeat therefore, that h7pe this class nf the
community VII! ba exempted from military
fillr, assigning as my rsaSoa that both he
State and the Southern Coul~Ieracy will hc
more benefited By their services il. the wo,k
.h"ps than in tie f.d.
Before taking mr seat desire TO make an
olhar suggestion. though it hes 70 particular
ref renee TO this subject Il il, that no m!it;s
general shoulG 90 allowed 10 estrciSc IN a;itEor
itv to which he ia not perf-c ly entitled ty liw.
From an eys-aiaa;ion Of the su5jec'. which J
nave msde ! em satisfied this has not been
dnno Considerable evil han resulted to itmsr
who are embraced within the scope OF their
power.
In conclusion. hope the snfi4ct nay re re
ferred to q s1Hmittec, with ino:rucIon 10 re
port IN ordinance, which will meet the dificul
ties nave suggested.
Mr.. PsEsr H-Brlore the motion IS put, al
low me to state ise prop siicn 60 lba. it my
no understood BY the Convention. The II Ii
tary Committee have now under consideration
m ordnance proyidng for general DRAFT upon
The militia. In that they ma" mike s'ch cx
emptions from the draft a5 in their judgments
saelns proper. Stree tho services of these
miners. manufacturers, AID others nave been
50 particularly alluded to By the gentleman,
10 innbt they will receive such disposition,
| ss will not interfere with the Interests cf thi
community in which they reside, oT Of III
| Sa1e at large. ! agree with tho gentleman
trat it is incon7enient, bo:h to he eEnp!ayee
end the manufactured, 10 responi to that mill
sary necessity which c0ripeis them Il appear
On muster orce week; but, st TIE same ting.
em no. willing that !hc exemption ahall bc:c
complete, ,kct, in case o: a general cail upor
The citizens Of Virginia they. top. Fhsll rot
TAXA their PAGES in tho ranks, md ight viii:
the rest.
Mr. CaEaAp-I Il view Of the fac: thu. 81
ordinance is ua'cr consideration by commit
tee, 20 prcr'3e for the cas"s wh;Ci! hs7.
name! y Il with i7aw ny n o!ioc t,'sma:,d
Th: CnAla-Tha: is not nov in oTder a;
TIE question is upon rtfrrns tha SUI ct to g
committee.
Mr.. Boss7 We'll, will Withdraw uy no
ton to refer 10 select COMMITTEES.
Mr.. OoaEAo-Tben Withdraw M amend.
rnen..
The erosti,n then required on -: passage
Of the ordin1ace and without further Dc &c
it was decided in tho affirmative.
THE RICHMOND AND roEK E!yCs EAIR,AD.
NJ SEaTrLL presented the following rHOtno.
rial !rnm the President and D rcctors If The
Richmond and York River railroad, which vas
laid on tho table and printed under the rule.
MEMORIAL.
To ie H1norajls tia Contention of Virginia.:
Tho Memorial OF the Richmond ard York
River Railroad Company. through their DiTec
torv, rcarecfll!y represents:
That the Company, in Consequence Of var!.
Qua circumstance which il would occupy too
much OF the time OF vcur honorable BID? here
to eaumnrate, il struggling with great d ff;u
tea. These circumstances and these q ID :ul
ties warc fully set forth in q petition which the
Conoanr addressed to tie General AsSen,h!"
or tho Csmm Et their last sec or,
asking fGr 7ncraiary relief; which :etitoi
vou- rnonoriaists hare entire conf ienc-e wnad
| have been granted but for want Of time Oh the
pnrt Of the General Assembly 10 corSdcr <,
along With maay other important subjects
The r1a'l cf this Com 2any has bu. recuntiT
| bee. c,mpleted, and Qor want Of the aid which
:V#s cotfl iently expected from the Legislature,
int which wa not granted FIR the reasons ;rst
mentioned the road is imperfeclIp equipped.
! The consequence Of this is, that since the com
nenccnent Of the existing var 1t has required
the use OF GIl Of the rell:ns stock Of the Con
pany to perform the scrrics Of the S:atc.-
This Ser7ics, your memorialisS unhesiiatins'y
assert. has been performed with as much
promptneSs as by any road in tho State. Ii
order 10 be ready at all iimca 10 comply with
the orders of the Government, tho Company
ms neglected the ordinary convenience Of the
peopis and the general object o: the work. -
| u hen trauS go Gown 70 west teiilt ldue7
With troops, or with munitions Of var theS
are hurried back empty. not waiting f'r the
produce Of the lai'or OF the people in lie neigh.
h7!hood constantly seeking market in Rich
taond; thus The road is doing business in but
oac d:rtctid@sn inat st haJ tie pr'c6 OF Or
auary transportation, ths rata Of tFaneporta'
ton f1r war purposes bcins, established at ons
| kalf the ususl rates.
Your INT rocrialists do not complain uf this
! rate OF compensation; it is 70 thcnl source
of high qualification that ttcir ,oad has per-
formed such important services. and TO so gTea,
an extent, to the country. They merely pre-.
cent the simple fact that (wih the exception of
passengers along the road) it ia doing nothing
e1csY: for tic STATE. This condition Of things
is likely 10 last unless they can be furnished
Il Il