Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-07-02

IS well Is in committee The ordinance refers
- a position CT Inc State. the sentiment Ct
which is in peculiar condition, As yet you
| .avc sent feY or no forces there for its protec-
ion. and we want to knn9 whether the duty Is
. jevovc upon the people Of the olth@,et Of
rlsir,g troops withont authority Of this Convcis.
; Gn 10 stand up in tEc:- owE defence They
3ill defend themselves as well as they are able
rder any circumstances. bu: they desire soma
sort CT an organization by which their efforts
will hc rendered more effective.
The suggestion vas maze that this organz1'
| ION wolil; be separate and distinct from the
regular military organization of the State
10 hot So understand the ordinance. | coH-
;true its provisions 10 mean that IN case ot an
emergency, tho militia OF tho Northwest may
be called out tur the public defence ard aus.
cred into the Tcgul.. military organization c!
lie State Unless YOU have some arrangement
II this sort, the country will be ovrrrun bel"rc
Tou can iiave any organization at ;.. Now
inc people Of the West, as know, desire 20
nave some authority BY which, when ;hev cclr
together, they may be enabled u act with c3n-
or. and understanding; ard see TO reason
why, after passing without opposition the o.
dnancc by which coast guard is granted 10
4
Vest simple boon which will increase their
strength and effectiveness, when they arc called
apon 10 defend their portion Of the Common.
wealth ! am not speaking for that section oi
he Northwest which we al know to he occu-
,.ei by traitors, bu. fur those COUNTIES which
know 10 he true and loyal 10 The G"mmon'
wealth. which, bcirg unprotected and uEde'
Tended b. regular military Organization, Is ell.
titled TO rome such provision as this Ordinance
tortc.uplatcs. | trust, therefore, thus mo;i"n
to refer this subject 10 the Military Co:lElItlce
will not prevail, and that We shall tcc!av up,:,
! K at Gnce
Mr. PatcE.-I think the statement OF the
gentleman from S;nvlhe was, that the term o!
service ndneu il too short to be valuable.
desire 10 Investigate the accuracy Of that stu,e
rnanr Gentlemen may nesr in mind that these
;ruoas nre 10 operate in Northwestern Virginia.
! Arc they so disciplined as 10 be efficient: In
my Opinion they are They will meet the en-.
c,ny IL the gorges, on the hill sides, behind
rocks ard trees; and they are now prepared,
without being trained to all the duties CT the
we'll drilled soldier, 10 carry on thet sort .!
warfare which will be found the most danger
Gus and annoying 10 IN invading fog There
is another reason which was suggested bv M
friend frcm Mercer The agricultural business
Of that country is carried OF almost entirely
by white men, who will find it very iuco"vc
| nient 10 leave their nOncs for 4 teru vi twelve
months, while they would be ready, at any
time the emergency might require, to bH Oh
sent ior three months. So lar IS the tn!-
CLERGY Of these nIcn is concerned, gentlemen
may rest assured ;hat they cannot have more
raluablc troops in the world than those who,
If called upon. will swarm from tic mountains
of that part OF the State.
Mr.. SrTuERL!N-l made the motion with 9
view TO put an end to this discussion, that tins
ordinances might oe TelrrreG..aa TO the commi:
t"e, and again reported to The Convention 70.
uorroH morning, believing it could tnem bc
acted upon with better understanding than il
considered now. The various amendments
which havc Urcn cll',red Indicate cre:: differ
ence Of opinion concerning the ordinance, and.
"or. present appearances, the discussion If
likely 70 OCCUPY more tine than we can Trsl
.ilord - devote to it. |, therefore, again urge
that i! be re committed !or consideration, thai
i may be perfected and. IN ID" morning, pre-
,cnted here in IL shape which will enable Us t"
pass npnn it with little or 10 debate.
Mc HALL, Of Wctzei.-l am opposed 10 any
sncn disposition OF this ordinances. il IS Il:
Iacs. impossible to get this committee tose,he!
rn any subject, aud II t!Iis goes there ;ac pre-
olbi.tv is thar it will remain uDac;ed upGE
during the remainder Of the session. In re.
-ar; 70 the rebellion in tho county from which
come, where more than Ole half oi the
population j.; disaiFected anh in arms
against the State Of Virginia, and q
government has 'been organized and The
whole machinery Of lie STATE pu. Iii Irotion.-
Nothing wnuid be more valuable than an or
van:Zl!ion which will enable those who arc
really loyai 10 defend their homes and interests.
We arc IL this condition; local traitors sur
ronnri us On every s.ie and watch cur every
n!ovllusn:; our people hardly dare to ieaTc
their own houses from fear that Lneir next door
reighbor will take possession in their absence,
and that perhaps their wives and children may
I've messacrrd CT spirited away.
They are actually suffering from the want
o: some means 10y which they can resent these
Cutrages, project themselves from oppression,
and, il necessary, shoot down the infamous
scoun!-eIs who lnfeSt the community w:tEou:
being tried for murder By the new State gov
crn,ncnt. We hA:c In6untcd lncn and sharp.
shooters who will orgariz: IS soon 80 they have
an opportunity to do so, and all we require is
the authority fToul the proper source tojustliy
lis in adopting concerted measures or defence.
We have no uniforms, though most OF Us haze
guas; but as for ammunition, a secehElonlst can
90 more get an ounce Of powder or pni,1d o
/. al in that section than no can tlr to Heaven.
Give US ammunition, therefore, and the war
rant 10 orsauze in tic service OF Virginia, Will
any sort Of prospect that We shall DC support
cd in our Efforts, and promise this Conven
t;cn that ut least We shall make an andeaynr 10
rid The State Of the traitors now amongst us.
Mr. WHITrlELD.-l am in favor both Of The
ordinance end the amendment believe that
it is essential to nave force Of tho character
rroposed not only in the N.rih%cst but III
the West. and see no reason why It should b"
desired ~ contne military organization o
this nature to any particular locality.
In reference tC the molten 10 refer this 10 Z
committee. | think it is both wise and proprr
that i should be done, since the ordinance ca7
DO perfected so as to pass upon it without con
suming, rs We arc now dong, valuable time i:
the discussion Of amendments.
Mr. Wonp.-As presented this ordinarc,
10 the Convention, may be excused fur max
ing statement in regard to it, though / have
no desir: 10 prolorg the debate. The obj"c!
|
The S:atc which has been overrrn by Oh over
whrlming force oi the enemy vino are no"
preventing the true and loyal men 0: tina
region from rising in defence Of their rights
sn opportunity OF organizing themselves anc
lending their assistance to the Confedcrut,
forces nov in that locality. Whatever ma!
; be the necessity OF other points OF The State j
IL absolutely essential to the security Of tin
people Of INC Northwest thai sucn volunteer:
as are furnished there shall be confined tt
!. operations in their own midst
. have no objection to the amcnd'uen: taa:
has ocrn proposed extending ,hv benefit lt
, Trans 4sieghuny Virginia nor haTe any ob
lection that similar remedy shall be pToTidcG
n c;l4er>Sec.iars but unless this meas:!re!s 81
, restricted ina. the !0en thus raised can be hep
at home to cooperate with the Confederate
forces, and to defend themselves not only
. against invaders, but against the still NOR
dangerous enemy in their midst the object o
. the ordinance cannot be attained