The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-02-28

fOrmed and
said If the Constitution had failed to answer
them, IT had become the engine of Injustice
and oppression,
lie loved the Unon--he revered and cher
ished IL, because 1t was hallowed nv such
names rs Washington. jefferson Madison
Hamilton jackson, and Clay-by men of ma.
trioosm, from the days of the Revolution
Gown 10 the hapiess year of 1850. But dear as it
was, IL could not be maintained by force, and at
the expense OF our interest, honor and liberty.
1t could never be enforced upon a free people
unwiihngly and against their consent. Such
Union would be the worst of tyranny-a
despodsm that no free or brave people ever
could or would submit to. Some other mode
must be resorted to, to preserve or restore the
luioh' Public sentiment at the North must
pe TeSolutionlZed. The conservative men of
the North--if conservatives there are-must
crush out the spirit of abolitionsm, their
worst enemy, which has subyerted the Gov
eminent, and now brought us to the very
verge Of an awful civil war. And why was
this The South had never Invaded them
never denied their rights of property, or
sought 10 excite rebellion and instruction
among their laboring population. Were we
to do this, we should be Catalines and de-
mons. Bnt the South would scorn such 4
course. few days would show whether
this spirit of fanatcism was encouraged for
the mere sake of the plumber, whether it
would be still invoked by the party in power.
II was said that the prevailing sentiment
AZ the North 1.-THE Union must and
shall he preserved They must not, then,
make ii odous, or destroy il by any measures
OF coercion. He was unalterably opposed to
such a proceeding, and would regard any at
tempt to collect the revenue from the seeded
States without their consent, or an attempt
TO retake the forts, as coercion.
Where, then, should Virginia go ? Virginia
would go nowhere It'll she knows the terms
She wonld not bindly rush into this Union or
that, until, by fair counsel, she had ascertain
ed where her rights would be protected She
must either stand neutral, stay with the
North, or 60 with the South. She might stand
naIlf trail u bpt we hp hell los
ent powers-betWecn her Sou thern sisters and
Northern aggressors--if events would permit
her to occupy that position. But if coercion
were to be attempted Virginia would go out of
the Union, and then look around and deter
mine for the future. She held her destiny in
her own hands, and whateyer il might be, he
was vii her, and prepared to abide it.
The speaker then went on to show that if
the Constitution gave a State no right power
TO sCcedp, there was no power to coerce a Sc
ceding State. He fortified his position by
reading from the Madison Papers, (p. ISL } and
then argued that Virginia had reserved the
right to resume her sovereign power.
The outgoing President had disclaimed the
right of coercion, and yet he and the Govern
ment maintain an attitude of menace and in
timidation. The guns originally intended FOR
the defence of Virginia and South Carolina,
turned upon the bosom of those States.
What the incoming President intends TO do
we know not, for he IS silent upon the great
questions which agitate the country-Slent
an oriental despot, and mysterious as the
to himself for his silence. He has seen State
after State secede, and has seen the country
march TO the very verge of q disastrous
civil war, when one word from hun might
have poured oil on the troubled waters,
and Gained the tumult and the Storm
Yet he spoke not that word. No ssurauce
| comes to from his sealed lip, to show what
| his future course will be. But on his way to
| the Federal Capital we hear mysterious Civ
! ings out of coercion II would have been bet
| ter for him had he determined to sacrifice
| himselt--to tender his resignation AS {; peace
| offering, than that he should attempt 10 CO.
! cree the South.
| What the destiny of Virginia might be (said
Mr.. SHEFFEY, in closing he knew not but his
hope was that the whole South would presen t
| united front and with one heart, mind, and
| purpose endeavor TO raise this bleeding coun-
| try from the dust and set her free.
| Mr.. MORTON, of Orange, intimated a desire
| to address the Convention, but was Withou /
| the documents necessary to the construc ton
| of the argument he proposed to present. He
| therefore moved an adjournment, and he
would fulfill his intention tomorrow. He
! President.
y MILITARY FORCE OF TIE STATE.
| The following communication was received
| from the Executive:
| EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
| February II, i56l.
Ge7t,cIaea Of The Cosreniiof In response to your
for information to the number of the enro II ed
| militia, and of the volunteers of the State the
number of companies that have been supplied
| with arms tn cir kind aud description | com
| muuicate herewith a report from the Adiutant
General. Respectfully, JOHN LErcHER.
ADJrTASr GESERAL's OFFIcE,l
| Feb. p, 1851.
| His ErceIleHcv JOHN LETcHER, Gorefnor Of "a
SRI have the honor to report the informa-
ton call ed for by resolution of the Convention,
| the 2lst inst.
| The military force of the State consists of di
| visions, % brigades, 5 regiments OF cavalry, u
artillery, regiments and baItaiions of Uniformed
Ii 81, - nom n
try Of the line. The ANIMAL consolidated return
up to lst october, i46o, being made up from thu
l43 255 Officers non-commissione ed officers and pr
Yates, although there are undoubtedly not les
than 200 900 in the State subj ect to militia u
ty. This is the result of negligence on the part
enrolling officers, and the failure of some regi
ments to make any returns at all.
| VOLUNTEER FORCE.
| There are now in commission 95 troops of cav
airy, 20 companies of artillery, liz companies o
light infantry, and IL companies of rfeInen.
| OF Cdpairy:
| troops armed with sabres and percussion
| cavalry pistols.
. troops with sabres and cavalry muskotOons.
80 - with sabreS and feyolTers.
| q - with sabres only-and
Of Tie ArtiVery:
II companies are armed with 6-pouuder feel,
guns, with carriages and implements com
plete, and artillery swords.
| with 6pOunder field guns swords, and sapper
: and miners musketOons.
with epounder field guns swords and artl
with six l2ponnder howitzers and light in
taatry swords-and
10 are unarmed
Of The Light Ipfaatry:
8 companies are armed with riled muskets
/. "a are armed with percussion muske cts
! 20 are armed with fint-lOck mus cts
- are without arms.
: Cy the Rieeinen:
| companies are armed with long-ra rifles
with sword attachment.
. with fintlosk rifes-and
rs " are without arms.
All the armed companies uniformed. Tn
numerical strength of the armed force is:
Carajry:
With sabres and pistols, or sabres
only 2,5iT
Unarmed about ..................... 1863
- 4l9
irfGGerp:
Tuarmed companies. go
, IS
! Ijohl Iafantry:
| C0mpanies with rided muskets..... 400
Companies with percus'n muskets. $3.50
COMPANIES with dint-lock muskets. |, 800
| Companies unarmed. ................ $50
SIS
Riae,pen
, ! Companies with long-range rides. $50
Companies with percussion rifles. ], $50
| - So;
Making an aggregate of............. 1870
} The military spirit which pervades the State, a
evidenced by the correspondence of this office
world believe, in case Of emergency, doubl
the militia force, by men above IS, perfectly abb
) and more than willing, to bear arms if the Stat
sha II need their services.
| Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
WV. IL. RICHARDSON, A. G..
On motion of Mr.. FISHER the commnnica
ton was laid on the table and ordered TO b
prin ted.
COMPENSATION.