Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-06-27
This ordinance shall be in force from its pas

sage.
Mr. MALLoRr.-I beg leave to state to the
| Convention that this report was adopted in
the Committee unanimously, though some OF
its members were in favor Of making the sun
four instead Of two thousand dollars. The
parties referred to are entirely helpless, many
Of them having been compelled to leave their
homes at q moments notice, with scarcely any
thing but what they had upon their backs
They arc now dependent entirely upon the
charity of the people Of Williamsburg; It
is uncertain when they can return and unless
some action is taken Of the character indicated
in this report they must seriously suffer. l
dislike to appear here as a mendlcant, but this
is q case which calls for the sympathy OF the
public as well as for the legislation oil this
Convention. Many of the parties can get no
employment, and have large families, with
scarcely L roof to shelter their heads. Inc
gentlemen to whom the duty CT relieving their
necessities is contided are known to many OF
the members Of the Convention, md, l have no
doubt, they will cxpend every dollar Of the
sum appropriated in q judicious manner. Ire,
gard it Us q case essentially within the scope OF
action of the Convention, and as 1t has been
the pleasure of the Committee to act unan'-
mously in presenting tho report, hope the
Convention will also take the necessary steps
for their relief.
Mr.. SEAwELL.-I agree with the gentleman
that this ls q case which appeals strongly 10
our sym palhies, and it is due to the clt!zens OF
Williamsburg that we should adopt the meas.
ures Of relief required by these sun:rels.
hare had opportunities for verifying Tue facts
stated in the report and | think | can assert,
T';ta safety, that the citizens among whom
these people have taken refuge have done all
in their power tc render them tie assistance
they required. Williamsburg has been literal
" crowded with refugees, from tho counties
in the immediate vicinity, whose necessities
nave been supplied with a liberal hand and,
for one, I do not think it is right that the c'li.
zens should be compelled TO bear the burden
alone, to an extent which may one day place
them in the same destitute condition Us those
Sho are row pensioners OF their bounty.
Mr.. HAYNoND.-I appreciate the condition Of
these unfortunate pcrsons;who have been driven
from their homes, rs much as any man but,
sir, this proposition introduces 4 very !mPor.
tant question to our consideration. In my "
section If the State, there are thousands OF men,
women and children equally loyal, who have
been compelled 10 tee from their homes. And
| have TO objection to vote anything calculated
FOR their relief so far us | hare the power. As
long as ! have dollar in my own pocket cheer
fully will | contribute it for such a purpose
8u; there is a question beyond all this. 1t is
whether the treasury of The Commonwealth
is able TO support all the people in the various
sections, who may BIZ the victims Of the Cir
cumstances Of the war. IF we provide for these
uufortunetes, with whom | most deeply sym.
pathise. what are we to do with those from
| other portions of the State, similarly situated
II we adopt any principle OF legislation upon
| this subject, let it be strict and impartial. Ii we
{ are to open our treasury to support those thus
| separated from their homes, let the distribu
ZION be made without distinction. If gentlemen
| say tho Commonwealth has the ability 10 do
| this thing, | will agree TO it, though it takes
my last dollar; but | suggest that it is q bad
| and O dangerous precedent to this
species Of legislation, for the misiortunes Of one
! neighborhooJ, when there are Others in the
same condition. therefore move that this or
~iinanco be re.committed, With instr actions to
inquire as TO the ability Of the Commonwealth
| TO provide for the refugees Of the State, who
lnay be driven from their homes.
Mr.. GARSE7r.-l r,gre., exceedingly, that
the gentleman from Marion bias thought prop
At TO make q motion to recommit tins report
I know something Of the locality ior the rebel
| Of the people Of which this ordinance has been
offered. 1t lisa country spGrsely inhabited. with
but few white persons in 1t and toe entire pop
ulati.n Of one or two counties have been driven
to take refuge among their ~ncishbors in the all
~ioining counties. Their property has been
DESTROYED, all their provisions se'zed, thei,
| slaves forced into the enerny's camp and they
themselves have been made exiles. And why :
Because you do not afford the protection TO
which they are entitled. For military reasons.
/ perhaps good, Of which the public arc not cou
petenl Judges; you have declined 10 protect
your uTu citizens ard left them to the MERGE
Of n horde Of barbarous invaders, who have
shot thetu down, destroyed their crops and de
6led their homes. They have accordingly been
compelled TO throw themselves upon the hospi
tally Of the people Of Williamsburg and James
Glaitaia i. ssn4elgaU Gfess IisFt- sceE generously ~ap
piled to the support Of your troops. Had these
u%niortunstes gone into the county OF GlVuccs
ter, u little higher up the country, ! undertake
70 say that the CHARITIES OF is citizens would
have been afforded to them as freely "a has
been done in Williamsburg, and that is saying
a great deal. We, who lire 10 the interior, b..
Ing distant from the scat Of war, have FORUM
ately been exempt from the presence Of the Ell
envy. consequently We are in a measure bound
10 DO al that lies in Cur power to alleviate the
sufftrings Of those living near line seat Of war
Cut this recpie Of Wiiiamsburg. notwilhstand
ing their hospitality, cannot and ought not 10 be
.r.cieG 10 contribute their entire resources, Us
they have hitherto done for the relief Of those
who have been forced to take shelter in theiI
midst By ycur default
Now, your committee have unanimously
cone forward and proposed the small SHIN 81
Two thousand dollars, to which my friend from
! Marion objects, not because il is Tot right m
iust, but because perchance Some other locals
ties may also nerd relief. submit to him and
to this Convention that this is not d fair argu.
uent against this application. If the applica
lion is Just in itself it is not right to refuse IT,;
and if others are presented Of the same nature
let US be guided by the circumstances under
which the appeal for assistance is made. Let
us treat these applications as they come up,
and not OF such 4 time as this hesitate to do an
obvious duty, on the ground that we are estab
lishiug 4 dangerous precedent.
If We have the means on hand, let US afford
relief where we can-if they are exhausted,
We can do no more. So far from wishing the
penpIe 10 remain at their farms and suffer from
an enemy, u l Couiu uA'c ivy Siio'Ce, e!ioCiu
wish ,.at every man, woman ard child who
could pull u trigger should turn out in their
own deirnce-and If forced to retire that they
would lay waste the country behind them, do.
stroy their crops, burn their houses, and leave
nothing for the enemy to seize. ! wish for one
that the people Of Alexandria had made q
Moscow ii that city, as an example for all
ages to come, and that the world might know
that We are a desperate, detc, mined, united
! South, which cannot be subdncd as long az
one person born within it's limits is alive.
IF You call this a precedent, let US establish
the precedent. Every thing we possess is
resdy to be divided up in the common cause,
whether to minister to the wants Of cur fellow
~cit,z.ns, or to provide for other necessities Of
the war. Let us at least relieve and protect
the people Of Virginia as far as re can.