Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-12-03
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your attelt!OH WIN t2e hope-Eay, VIII She
| confident ex pectation-tha; you will cff!r such
inducements rs will stimulate our people to
engage in its production, and in the manufac'
ture Of gunpowdcr. Whatever action you mag
determine upon in regard 10 this subject,
should bs taken with as little delay as prrati.
cable.
Powder mills have been or are being erected
in the counties of Page, Pendleton. Greenbrier,
and perhaps in other sections OF the State, Us
I have been informed. What amount Of pow.
der they will manufacture daily, have no;
been able to ascertain. Any encouragement
that can be given to the manufacturers should
be afforded promptly, in order that We may
keep up The supply, and gather a sufficient
amount ahead to relieve all anxiety on the
subject, and to give full assurance of 40 abun
dant supply Of this indispensable article:
The act passed at the last session TO lncor-
porate the Virginia Canal Company, and te
transfer the rights and franchises Of The james
River and KanaHha Company thereto, vii
expire, by its " limitation, on the 18th day
of January next, if the Virginia Canal Com
pary De not organized BY the appointment Of
q President and Directors, as therein required
| approved the passage Of the act and if our
troubles had not occurred, | feel persuaded
that the company would have been organized,
and the enlargement and extension OF the i'm
movement commenced. Under existing cir
cumstances, I recommend sn extension Of The
time of organization. / think it is advisable
to extend it to the 29th day Of January, 1869,
IS | believe, if peace shall DE restored, 4 very
short tine only will elapSe before the cpntem.
plated arrangements will be contaminated.
The Convention having pissed an ordinance
prescribing the dag Of Virginia, | have had a
number prepared, which ! have presented 10
our infantry regiments u CcntTevl!e. ana
others are in course # preparation for the
| other regiments now in the service. The scene
on their presentation ct Con!reville vas most
interesting. The flags were received wi:h de-
uI0nstratious Of patriotic joV,. and a. tac r:::I-
ments retired, with their ll1gs waving in the
bre, re, the display was striking and Imposing.
The presentation took place in the presence ii
Generals johnston, Smith, Baauregard. Long.
street, Stuart, Jackson. Early, Cooke, and
other distinguished ~tficrs. 1t is due 10
General Johnston 20 say that the preparation
anG presentation Of the flags was suggested b.
hin.
The railroad companies Of the State havo
been active, energetic aid faithful in the per-
foruIancc Of duty i'll tnis Crisis. The eli
cars, employees and agents have spared 20
proper effort to transport, with The !eas. posi-
Die delay, Loops, supplies and ammunition TO
desired points; and they deserve end sill re-
cave ;he thgnks Of the people, not only Of
Virginia, hut # The C1nl=deracy. They have
Justly won III. coniIeacc OF the country, and
| IN times Ike these It beanmeS the Legislature
To deal generously and literally with :.!c-:,
giving to tneu. such aid az will enable thcm to
promote the pubic interest, without Pecna!ary
sacrifice.
Our railroads have no. been constructed with
special reference to military purposes and 90
j=cts, but the war mas demonstrated that If
they Ead been constructed with tins vieS,
they could not have been better adapted 10 cur
wants and necessities. The Virginia and Ten.
~rvssve, the Central, The Orange and A!eyar-
dr;a, the Manassas Gap, the Richmond, Fred
cTicksburg and Potomac, tho Richmond and
Petersburg. the South SIDE, the Richmond and
Danvi!lc, TIE Harper's Ferry and Winchester,
least, the Norfolk and Petersburg roads, have
Al r~uac:ored essential ard valuable services
Indeed. it is difficult to conceive no" we
could have dispensed with them O" either Of
them. Their Connections G:c As important: as
the reads themselves; aud it real saaDs
IL if Providence: hral g..ided Gur Engineers in
too selection Of t:u lpIl:S, with IL view TO pro.
vlding the 5yst MEANS for he defence Of The
Stago il tie existing contingency. Take the
map, examine It carefully. and il would seem
as II the same wise Providence. had supcrin-
turded, directed ard controlled our entire sys.
TEN Of international Improvements OF every
kind in Virginia ind throughout the Sou:Dorn
ConIe6:rhry.
The subject Of the currency, at al! times OF
the utmost importance, is doubly important
now, when the public attention is so entirely
epgrossed with Ihe war, It's prosecution and
i,s results. Your attention is earnestly invited
to the consideration Of sucl measures as will
relieve the people from the mlsch!els OF an in.
Hated and irresponsible small note currency.
The whole country is flooded with small notes.
as small in amount as FIVE cents, aud ]rur;nirg
up To- three dollars, Issued b. corporations Ard
individuals. The pec:niary responsibility Of
the individuals VINO nave issued large anaca;s
0i this kind Of paper is entirely nnknuEn 10
pcraons residing out Ct their immediate neigh.
oOrhoods. Suca notes can have only 4 local
character, circulation and credit; and il, rs Is
often the case, they fall into The habds Of per.
sons who carry Them away to some uIl:er point |
in the State, the holder finds himself unable
to use them in his business traust:tiuns; and
they therefore become 4 total loss.
Some Of our corporations, that he-e hce1
generous in appropriations TO aid in providing
ivr our volunteers and their famillrS, have
issued considerable amounts, which constitute.
ID great measure, the local circulation. Such
is the case in regard TO the CITY Of r chmond,
and perhaps other places The city has issued
near ;hree hundred thousand dollars of
notes, Of denominations Of one aud two dollars
and Of Ely cents. Oar ci,y and town c5rpe-
rationS, savings banEs. nnd numerous indi-
iduals, in different paris Of tie S:a,e, have
issued larso amou!t:. / have no Information
which will enable me 10 S ate the amount, bur
from such information as have received, |
The AMOUNT III the issues of snail
notes, (eXrlIsiVe VI thGSe ISSUED by our taEk:)
at upwards Of 6 milliOE Of dullars.
Ga the 26.h dav Of April 1851 the C0aven-
ton passed IAN ordinance authorizing The
hsnks OF the Commonwealth TO issue notes 81
the denomination Of G'Ic end twUd dollars. 10 an
Tot exceeding i've per cent. 0! their
respective capitals" am moi advised as 10
the sInount that hiss been Issued undsr III
ordinance. The aggregate capitals of MI car
hanks, As appears trcm returns made to this
is SIG 5GB 90. five por cent. upcn
would amount to $50 1873 50. This OF.
dinance expires by its own Limitation at tho
cpd Of thirty days from this day.
II We are 10 have notes Of the denomination
Of ore and two dollars, exclusive CT those au
cd to be Issued ny tire banks Of III.
State. ! recommend TINT you Shall prescribe
the terms and conditions upon which, and de
sgnate tie. authorities b. whom, they shall b,
IL Is due 10 the laboring classes, who
are usually the sufferers from a small note cur.
that this shall DC done. ! have no he<i-
tation in recommending that individuals shall
BE- prohibited from issuing them, under severn
Under the authority vested in me by an or.