Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-02

the capital of Virginia, under an order of the
Ordnance Department at Washington, D. c.,
have been ordered to Fortress Monroe where
they can only be needed for the purpose of in
timidation and menace to Virginia, ut present,
and to actual hostilities in a Certain contingent
cy that may change her future relations to the
Federal Government and to the anti-sarery
sentiment it represents Be it therefore
Resolved by the General Assembly of Vir.
gnia, That the Governor Of this Commonwealth
be authorized, and he is hereby directed, to
seize and detain said guns for the use Of this
Commonwealth, and 10 that end to order out
the Public Guard and such portion of the mill
tia force Of the State rs he may deem neccs-
sary to arrest the contemplated removal Of the
guns beyond the reach and control Of the Gov.
eminent Of this State
Resolved, further That the Governor be-
and he is hereby, authorized and required, out
Of tue money appropriated for the purchase Of
arms at the present session Of the General As
sembly, by IN act passed or the 29th day Of
January, 1861, entitled 'au act appropriaIing
one million of dollars for the defence Of the
Commonwealth, to pay to DR.. Junius L. Archer
hundred and seventy-two dollars and forty
seven cents on his contract for the munuac-
ture of said guns, and 10 the Federal Govern
nlent thirteen thousand and twenty-iour dol
lars, which said Government has paid said
Archer on account Of his said contract, and
the Governor shall require the Superintendent
of the Arinory at Richmond TO take possession
OF said guns and place them in the Armory
Tor safe keeping"
Mr.. COLLIER proposed to amend by proyid.
ing that said seizure and SAID purchase should
take place only in case the Federal Government
attempt to transport such guns over the soil oi
Virginia
Mr.. CowAS moved the indefinite postpone
llent OF the whole subject
Mr.. COLLIER opposed the motion to indeh.
nitely postpone, and explained, that by his
amendment Tie guns could be neither seized
nor paid for, unless the soil of Virginia should
be desecratcd by their transportation over it Ia
Fortress Monroe, for the purpose GAS he be.
lievrd) of menace and intimidation. lie felt
shocked that the psltry sum OF SIS, 00D was Ia
deter Virginia from defending her honor and
protecting her people lie declared that the
contract between Mr. Archer and the Federal
Government had been violated and detailed i
conversation between Mr. A. and Mr. Holt, late
Secretary Of War, in which that gentleman
(Mr. Hol) decided against the right or propri.
ETY. OF sending the guns to Old Point or Cur.
rying them through Virginia But times have
now changed 4 cuwartlly Black Republican
Administration had come into power and i'm
mediately resolved to carry out its hostile
policy. lie charged that party with PuniC
faith in having altered the terms Of the contract
by making the point Of delivery on shipboard
instead Of III Richmond. lie knew that some
gentleman would say the order for removal had
been coun:ermandcd; tut Mr.. Archer himself
q. this time, had received no such order That
the contract had been changed, there could be
no doubt rs nc had evidence before him that
the contract is to the point Of delivery had
been changed. Let Virginia insist upon the
maintenance Of the stdtu quo, and all will be
well.
Mr.. Cowan moved the previous question, ard
on that motion the ayes and noes were ordered
resulting rs follows:
AyEs-McsSrs Anderson, Ball, BiSbie Book
ar, Boreluan, Brown, Cassin, Cowan, Crane
Dickinson, Edgington, Edwards Ferril, Elem
ing, Frost. ID. Gibson. Goodycoontz, IIanly
Harrison, Raymond, IIackley, Kec, Knots
Mallory, Matthews. McCuc, Mckenzie. D. Nil
Ter, Morris. Patterson, Phelps, Porter, Pretlow,
Pritchard, Randolph, Reid, Richardson, Segar
Sherrard, j. L. Smith, J. " Smith, Thompson
Watts, Welch, West and ferby-55.
NoEs-Mcssrs. Crutchfeld, (Speaker,) An
dcrson, Baskerville, Bass, Basel, Bell, Bolsscau
Burks, Carpenter, Childs Coleman, Collier
Crump, Davis, Evans, Friend, Garrett, j. Z.
Gibson, j. Gilmer, G. II Gilmer Graham
Grattan, lluntt Hunter, Johnson, ". I. Jones'
Kaufman, kenper, Kinchcloe, knote, Kyle
Leltwich. Lockridge. Lucas, Lundy, B. H. Ma
grudcr, T. Martin, Massie. McCamant. Mellow.
ell, McGehee, Medley. Miles, j. R. Miller,
Mong Montague Myers, Newton Organ, Rid
dick, Robertson, Robinson, Rivcs, Saunders
Seldom, Shannon, II. Smith, Staples, Thomas,
Tomlin, Tyler, Wallace, Ward, Wilson Will
cox and Wool!ok-64.
So the previous question was lost.
Mr.. CRANE favored the pcstponement H.
was opposed to the resolutions. \ fact was
stated in them ss being in tho Knowledge o!
this House. lie denied that the House knew
Of any cortrac. or Ct any guns being in transitu
through Virginia.
Mr.. COLLIER exhibited two letters from the
chief Of the Ordnance Department at Wash.
order for shipment of the guns, and q change
in the contract
Mr. HaYNoSD enquired if Mr.. Archer had
not been ordered to deliver the arms 10 tuer-
chants IN Richmond.
Mr. COLLIER could not say
Mr.. CRANE maintained there vas nothing to
prove design en- the part Of the Government
to use the guns against Virginia
Mr. CRANE spoke at some length.
Mr. ROBERTSON spoke against postponenent
lie desired that Some action should be taken
but was opposed to this measure from the Sen.
ate, which he considered harsh
Mr.. FOREMAN made speech in denunc;ation
OF the resolutions aS they came from the Scnate.
Mr.. kENPER warmly sustained the reSolu-
tons as they came from the Senate.
Mr.. PHELPS opposed the resolutions.
Mr. SEGAa made a speech Of upwards Of an
hour III opposition to the resolutions Of the
Senate, and in defence Of the Federal Govern
meat.
Mr.. SEDpqS replied To Mr. SEGAR lie (Mr
SELDOM wished to relieve the gentleman from
RiChnond (Air. RoBEkTsoS) from his objections
to the measure Mr. K. s meant resistance il il
meant anything, and this only threatened. II
threatening DO unconstitutional, surely re-.
satance would be more so. But he thought
that gentlemen had confounded the relation
of the Legislature TO the State Constitution
with that between the State and Federal. In
the first case, the Legislature has all powers
not expressly withheld, in the latter, the Fed
eral Government has none but those expressly
granted.
The duty Of the Executive is TO enforce all
laws. And who makes the laws? If the Legis-
lature passes law calling out forces, the
Governor is bound to obey. Under our Con-
stitutiun he is disrobcd OF all power.
He then took up the various positions Of
Mr.. SEGAR, and pursuing corresponding line
OF argument, replied to them with great effect
Mr. VERY offered substitute with about
The same provisions rs the Original House
resolution, and earnestly advocated It's adop-
ticn.
Mr.. COLLIER proposed 20 amend the Senate
proposition by striking out so much as al,
4 r..