Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-08-02

" in so doing-was to abolish that body, De-
cause the necessity which created it no longer
existed, tho immense labor required at their
hands being transferred to the General Gov
crnment. The same principle which induced
the Convention TO abolish the Executive Coun
ell, applies in the present instance in reducing
the number Of the Governors aids. The he.
ccssity for them has ceased, and though they
have hcretofore'b been efficient, the same amount
If labor no longer remains for them TO DO. |
think therefore, that three would be album
dant for all the exigencies of the service. II
other assistance is required, there is a provi.
sion of the law which permits the Governor
n omploy as many clerks rs may be necessary
and nav them out of the contingent fund.
Mr.. GnAY.-Thc gentlemen who waited up
on Governor Letchcr informs US that ne ap
pointed his aids under a former law. nc mas
always been distinguished for his close ooSer
vance Of economy in the expenditure OF puoiie
money. His answer, therefore, IN reference
to this matter, sho"a that according u HIS
sense Of propriety, there was 4 necessity ioi
more Of these aids than are willing 10 DC al
loved here. The num5er five has been pro
poscd. and under present circumstances III
the absence OF any other information, | siiai'
vote for the adoption Of the amendment
Mr.. UALL.--As far as my vote can 10 SO,
shall insist upon the number TWO. There Is
one class OF aids which I would like to see re
tanned, however. and that is the one who gave
five hundred dollars towards the support q
the war. This is Il subject Of considerable
Importance and I think ought to be disposed
Of now. Certainly the Convention ought no
to adjourn without takingso some decisive actor
upon it.
Now, sir, BY the report Of tie Governor
YOU will fiud that he has called 10 his aid some
of the very first gentlemen in Virginia, at a coSI
to the State CT sumo $751; 900 per annum. BY
tn. Constitution, the Governor IS Commander
in-Chief Of the Army and Navy Of the Com
monwcalth. Under the law ne is entitled to Z
certain number Of aids by ID previous &C. oil
the Convention the number was increased to
enable him TO perform the duties de7olrel
upon hin; but by a still more rocant ordl
nance most Of these functions nave been dele
gated to another power. lie hos, therefore,
nothing to do with the military operations OF
the country. That power has been transfer
red to Major Gen. Lee. What necessity is there,
then, for the Governor to have around him
so many colonies at the pay of$2 900 per year.
| ~ III pJSspiDlS N.'i NhNf ~ SHSSBh ~
the performance OF ministerial duties, and
We all know that they are not required
10 perform these? Why then pay out OF
our treasury the large SUN which is
monthly going into tho pockets Of these
gentlemen. If the Governor desires adj
ditional clerks let him employ them but | sub
nit that the emergency no longer demand; the
presence on the stall of the tirst gentlemen in
H., Cat. frI,o ,;,,o lac ,,.cui Urban fheIr
services were so important, and an unwilling
for the retention Of q single one for whom
there does not exist an absolute necessity
Two, in my opinion, is amply sufficient, and Tor
that number | shall vote.
Mr.. MoRToS.-It is with n considerable de-
gree OF d,tldence that l rise to address the
Convention, but it is due 10 myself that |
should be set right upon the record. will
say further that if ever again All imputation is
cast upon me, | mean that some body shall be
held responsible for It. Justice to Governor
Letchcr also requires that ! should say u word.
| am one Of the aids Of the Governor, and the
general impression seems &c be that have
been recently appointed-that ia. since The
troubles Of tho country come upon ns. My
explanation Of the matter is ~ follows, and
wish it to be distinctly understood by the coun'
try:
While ! was President Of the White Sulphur
| Springs last rnIne | invited a military com.
pany from Richmond to be the guests of the
establishment. That invitation was accepted,
and Company F., accompanied by the Cover
nor, enjoyed the hospitality of the place. Du-
RIM their stay I delivered an address. The
sam. evening | was called upon by three dis
| tingnishcd conference.-the. Savage, Of Phila,
dclrhia, Prof. Tucker, and Mr.. Neblett, the
father Of the member Of the Convention by
that name, who inquired Of me- what was my
commission. ! replied, that at home | was plain
| Mr.. Morton when | went TO Montgomery,
was Col. Morton, and by the Time | reached
| Florida 7 was General Morton. Laughter !
| We'll. said they, you must be sure enough 2
Colonel. Later in the evening those same gen.
| tlemen called upon me, accompanied by the
Governor, and by him | was appointed an aid.
On his return TO Richmond, he sent Inc the
commission Of Lieut.. Colonel Of Cavalry. That
was in the month Of August or September last.
Differing SIS ] did with Gov. Ielcher in the
early days oC the Convention, upon the great
issues OF the country, docs my friend from
Louisa (Mr. ANBLER) think that | was less firm
or decided than himself. From the time Of the
passage Of the ordinance [ have had a catholic
spirit enough to believe that there is not 4 man
in this assembly or in this Commonwealth who
has devoted more laboriously the energies Of
his head and heart to the necessities and honor
Of the State than Gov. Letcher. This much !
say in relation to him. IL has been rumored
that the appointments made by the Governor
have mainly been Of the stripe Of the Union
party, Of which he was formerly 4 member; but
/ believe the facts will indicate that those who
arc of the stripe Of my friend from Louisa,
have received the lions share. Now, | ask the
gentleman from Louisa, if this was Gov. Wise,
or Gov. Hunter, or Gov. ~Ilaryic, would you
have had such Z resolution presented.
NJ. Observation-Disclosures, sir.
Mr.. MORToS.--Do not let my friend tnisun.
derStand either mr or himself. He may be one
of the most pyIi,ct men in the Commonwealth,
| but I do not believe he can diveSt himself OF
the insensible influence Of old party associa.
tons. on the contrary, stand in a position
where | can do justice to him with whom !
fought early in the session, and do Justice TO
| that patriotic band who are now united in adj
vancing the interest and honor Of the Com.
monwealth. This further will | say: If you
look 1T the members Of this House, or if YOU
look at the people in this country, you will find
the old Union men everywhere fighting as
galluntiy in defence and for our rights as Sc
cessionists themselves, not excepting the gen.
tlernen from Amelia, Louisa, Orange or Green.
The time having expired. the hammer fell.
Mr.. WysoR. Il ask the previous question.
The call waa sustained.
Mr.. MoRroS.-Wil not the Convention, as a
personal FAVOR, allow me 10 make n personal
explanation
The PRESIDENT. The gentleman has OK.
hausted his time. The Chair supposed, as he
was speaking of Secessionists, that he had fin
iShed his personal explanation. The previous
question having been ordered, the question now
is, whether the main question shall be put.
Mr.. MoRToS.-If am prevented from max
ing an explanation, | say that it is the most
unprecedented rant Of courtesy with which
l have ever been familiar in my legislative cx.
p%crience.
. 'H1 1.-