Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-07-02
The Virginia State Convention.
SECOND SESSION.
TENTH 0iY
RICHMOND Monday linn 81 1871


The convention met at lO O'clock, 4. A.,
Mr. SouTuALL, President pro ten in the chair.
Prayer ny Rev. j. Is. Duncan Of tho Methodist
church.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES.
rhe list Of committees being called,
Mr.. JOHNSTON from the Committee on Mill.
tary Affairs said have 70 report to make
this morning, but take this opportunity Of
stating that for tic last two days our com
mittee has not met. By standing order nine
cleck every morning has been the appointed
time for us to assemble, bu. for some reason
which du not know, We have seldom met at
that hour mention this fact simply to call
attention to the matter, and to express the
hope that it will not be forgotten hereafter
will further observe that the Chairman Of
the Committee is absent in the field and that
another member resigned yesterday.
The PREsIpESr.-The vacancies will be filled
, this morning.
On motion Of Mr.. STABLES, the Cr!nu.ittee
On Cong essional Elections were granted per-
mission TO sit during the session.
Mr. MACFARLANp, from III. Committee on
Finance. oifrled the fc!lowing ordinance,
which was laid upon the table and ordered TO
be printed
An Ordinance for the retief e ShsriJs IF
certain Counties.
Whereas some Gf tSe counties of this State
have been and others may be invaded and oc-
cupied 10y tic arlny Of ti,u United States, and
otrcr Counties 81 held by dislayal ci,zeus, rs
that the sheriff, Of such Counties may be hin.
dcred and delayed, without their fault, i'll the
collection Of the Stale revcrue,
| BE il, therefore. ordained, That in all such
Cases The Auditor Of Public Accounts shall bc,
and he is hereby authorized atL required -
settle with Ill such sheri:la, accounting for lhr
revenue OF their respective Counties upon just
and equitable principles, allowing iull co,uinis.
siOns upon the Sums paid over, prescribing
such forus for returns, sud OuIillIpg such usLlls
as he may think proper, aud providing for the
subsequent collection Of SUCH punllc dues.
And the said Auditor is required IN his future
reports to state the SPECIAL circumstances Of
such cases, and the condition and amount of
the several claims.
| pAkR SLATER,
The Commitlee also ask 10 be discharged
from the further consideration Of the memorial
Of Park Slater. Agreed 10.
TIE COMMITTEE US ELECTIONS
On motion Of Mr. WYsoR, Mr.. GARSErr was
appointed to fill q vacancy in the above coui-
mlttee.
RAILROAD CuNSLcfloNs N PETERSBURG AND KiCn-
M0ND.
The PREsDCNT.-W men the Convention nd
| journed on Saturday, it had under considera-
ton the subject Of railroad connections in Rich
mond and Petersburg, the pending motion ct
that time being on the indefinite postpcnement
Of the ordinance.
Mr.. MAkyE.-It is with great reluctance,
Mr. President, that take part in this discus.
sion. Indeed, have an inveterats repugnanco
to speaking on this subject.
The Convention is aware that have on bu.
one or TIVE occasions occupied lis liInr; but !!
seems to me, from the course which las been
taken in regard 20 this proposition, | shoula
not be justified in keeping my scat without cX'
pressing the views entertain in regard to it.
Differing so materially from what seencd to be
the Understanding Of the body when questions
Of this scr: were first Gstated here, | alil
wholly at fault in knowing II what the preser!
objection consists which gives TO this subject n
character SO unlike any other measure of u
similar kind which has been brought before
this Convention. There appears 20 lave beer
one state Of things in which ail contraricty ci
opinion was at All end, ia which it vas the de-
clared policy of the House to carry out the oS
ject indicated, no matter what might be the
expense to the Government because OF tire nc,
cessity by which it was suggested.
as regards the conmon interest involved IN
the consideration Of this subject have nc
knoHledge and do not care for them. Tho
question which arises is whether for the pur
p ,se 81 prosecuting this war successfully, II IS
u matter OF importance that these railroad con.
nccllons shall be made; and | snail regard
it only in military puiG! Of view, apart from
; any interest which any railroad company may
have in the prosecution Of the work, or eny
citizen of Richmond may have III opposition to
the same. While have The !ivel!cst Concern
in the prosperity OF this city. own no railroad
stock and am in no wise coriected with any
railroad company, and do 70. mean to permit
any Influences of that kind 10 come athwarl
tue line OF actiun would pursue for the pur'
pose ol carrying out the pocy OF the present
. coatest in the most Thorough and tdccnt ,nai
ncr.
The question then is whether or not this is
one Of those improvements looking to the pub
lie welfare, apart from any other considerations
Thus it was submitted 10 tue committee o
: which a!m one Of the mem5ers. What wa:
, the evidence which laduced the committee &c
decide that the work was one ofa charactel
required to be performed at once: Per
init mc to read the short and concise statement
] Of the Commander in Chief upon this sukJ.c
and to call attention 10 the fact that hc ha:
placed 1t beyond doub: that Il pressing militia
~ necessity exists Cor ,hY completion Of these
connections His language is as follows:
, Had QUAKrERs RcnMoNp,
June IS, 1861.
EDMuSD r. MoRRIS,
Chairman Of Special Committee OF Ccnren
tiun, Of Virginia:
SIR-In reply TO your letter Of ;hc 18th inst.
! have the honor 10 state that consider it very
important to tho military operations within
, rIryinis that proper and easy connections o
the several railroads passing through or terli'i
mating in Richmond and Petersburg should b
made as promptly rs possible.
The want Of these CONNECTIONS mas seriously
retarded the operations SO far, and they may
become more important. All the guns, amnu
ntion, SC, frcu Norfolk, OH reaching Peters
, burg, have either to be transported across lh
Appomattox to the Richmond and Petersburg
, Railroad, or forwarded to the Richmond AIT
Danvilic road. and to be- again transferred Il
Richmond The transportation Of troops hG
also beeu delayed in the sstue manner.
have previously urged tbs connection 0
the roads within the cities CT Richmond ant
Petersburg, aud hope itrnay nov bee S!aGiisLcl
| au, sir, very respectfully.
, Your ubedlent servant
F. LEE
Genl Commanding.
r What language could be stronger? IL
considers it very important that these con
nections shoald be made" and as prompt
: ly as possible The want Of these connec
tons has seriously retarded the operations
thus far, and they may become more impor
taat. Weigh every word Of this comniunica
ton, and say, if you can, that every line l.
not q convincing argument as TO the import
. snce of making these connections at once.
respectfully submit to this body if ls!te1
could have been couched III stronger languag
: sotting forth the military necessity OF promP
legislation on the part of this body. MS
,yhn