Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-06-27

before one Sl1Sle IVY ~" "h~ "''
thing about it. As ] was on my way here, |
met the loyal men Of the State in the bush,
with their rifles on their should ,rs, ANXIOUS to
know what they should do. They were willing
to pour ont the last drop Of blood Tor their
homes and their State. Not only that, but the
families of a large number Of these people are
thrown out into the mountains, south Of my
houseless and homeless, and the CUES.
ton is-wbat is to become Of these peoplep II
we provide for one, why not provide for all II
the prople of williamsburg are to be relieved,
surely the Convention can hardly withhold
from those in distress, in other sections, the
aid.
Mr.. GArStrr.-I would remark, that the
mode ard measure OF relief must differ according
to locality and the peculiar circumstances oil
each case. While sympathiz;ng fully in what
the gentleman says, ! would state that, if be
ATTEMPTS to frame q general law upon the sub,
ject, he will find it out Of his power to meet
the d lhtulty. The proper course would De to
treat each case separately.
Mr.. CRITcHeR-l would suggest 10 the gen.
tleman to allow the ordinance proposed, tC
pass, ard 10 move to enlarge the powers Of the
SO Us to embrace all the counties OF
the Commonwealth.
am satisfied, AZ was remarked By my friend
from Essex, that it is impossible to frame any
general law that would cover the whole sub
iect, and I trust that the gentleman from Ma
ron (Mr. HArMoSp) will not embarraSs this
QUESTION, but that nc will allow this ordinance
10 b. passed and then more to enlarge the
powers Of the committee, 70 Us to embrace all
other cases Of distress that may arise from the
same cause which produced the distress in this
instance.
air. HATaoSD.-I am sure that my people
never expected to call upon this State for any
relief, notwithstanding that they NUT have
appreh.nd, d distress from the perils with which
they were and are surrounded. Bat main
tain the principle that il any who are in dis
tress FROM some particular cause, should be 70
lirred, Others, in distress from q like cause,
should partic pate in this relief. admit thai
there is a difficulty in framing q general Law
but you could appoint q general committee
whose duly it should be to receive reports Of
cases Of distress.
| wish tue Convention to see, before they es
tabl's h that precedent in this matter, whether il
i, in the power Of tho Commonwealth to atf1rd
this relief. There are particular cases that tn,
State ought to attend to, | admit; but, sir, i
an appropriation Of this sort is to DO made iol
a ah"le community, the same relief should, ir
my opinion, br extended To others in cqnal cir
cumstances. low is it in the county Of Lou
doun, in the vicinity Of Hsrper's Ferry How
Is il in the county Of Berkeley, and oil along
the line of the Ohio river? You have, in the,s
regions, an immense population who canno'
>rll tier property. Men who have been il
sElence. aud in a moment reduced to poverty
and shoald we not, unon the sam principle
that ,h,s relief is sought, extend relief to these
personsp
trust the subject will DO referred to q com
uittee, IN order that ,hey mag franc a genera
law upon it
Mr.. srApLra-If understand the grouna
Of the a. APPLICATION, it is that the people Of thi:
locality are unable to extend any further sup
port 10 those who have been compelled to TAKE
refuge among them. | think the ordinance
ought to be passed but if the amendment o
the gentleman from Marion, {Mr. HAYx ND,
is adopted, it will require some del.beration
and extreme caution t07 take It, that such
a law as be proposes, would be very apt to
open the door to on expenditure which the
condition OF the Treasury by no means j!sti
lies. | thin X it is Incumbent upon is no"
when every avenue to e~xtravaglnce ought TO
be CLOSED up, tG pass only such an ordnance
as will afford relief to those who are know1
to be in actual need.
beg leave In pr, pose the following amend
nens to 90 in at the crd Of tho resolution o
the gentleman frcIn Msr:nn:
"Iu llo.c localities OF The State in which The
neoole are unable 10 aGJrd the necessary car
and maintenance
Mr.. 3~iAyMoSD.--i accept ihs amendment
Mr.. SeAwELL-l AIN sorry to have to trou
bic the Convention again on this suhj"ct, am
I d. so, because the gentleman from Marion
{Mr. HAYMoSD) has placed this application or
entirely erroneous grounds. If it was place.
upon the ground he supposes, | admit tn
ruth Of all &c has said | maintain that II
the progress of this war there is no man in to-
Commonwealth that is not bound to conIri
butte q portion Of bis means not only TO tn
State, i,self, bu. 10 divide the vtry last crust o.
bprsad! Ls Gas iabiSt l@.nseo wHuh. these KDpra F
er there are chose to be found who have il ir
their power 10 divide their subsistence, viii
those who ore driven iron their homes, I main
tain thai they are bound to do it TO the very las
extremity. ! maintain that there is no otllcs
ton 70 provide fYr all those who are mere refu
gees from their ZONES but application from
localities where sli means ha7e been exhausted
in the relief Of the sufferers should undcubtec
II receive favorable attention.
admit that many have been driven from
somcs in tie Northwest; bit where haze they
gore 10? Have they gnnc among 3 people
that u's po%c,less TO support them? We haTt
heard Of uonc so faf who are 10 actual need; anG
[ therefore. Obi q 10 the inauguration Of any
echcinr, placing these Who mag leave thell
hrm,s S, as pensioners upon the State. When
ever any community has eone 10 The cxten
that the people Of Williamsburg lave gone, If
relieving the sutfrrinsi Of those vino have
taken refuge among them. | will cheeriulll
contribute from tho Stats treasury to the ex
tent Of my vo:e, TO aid them IN doing tha
which they can no longer d from their owl
means. Tho ver:; mcmrnt a community IRON
Northwestern Virginia. through soue respon
s,bie source, repicscG;S To This Convention
that they have exhausted thrir means ir
supporting those who have been driven from
their homes, and who have taken refng'
among them. | will contribute to the utuos'
Of my abilities 10 aid them. But unit,
that is done | will not ctnsent TO the inaueu
ration Of q system, which proposes to pension
upon the State those who may have TO Sc
from their homes.
Here is q casc Of distress that comes TO IL!
W h thu assurance ani endorsement OF re
spaciahls gentlemen. The refugees in vii
lamshurg do net comprise all Who we're driver
from their homes in Hampton and the surround
Ing ncigh5nrhcoi. Alarse number are scat
tered out il o.!.er counties adj lining that town
but ycu hear no complaints from them hecsus.
they have not gone TO these counties in sucs
numbers az that The people may moi be ablt
10 support them. BGt If it were 80 should
not hesitate 70 ask his Convention to extene
aid even to them.
trust, however, that no such necessity
will aiisc. at least in the largest portions q
this Commonwealth, and | hope it will be the
pleas ure OF The C1ErGLt ton not to Adopt The
amendment, bu. to pass the ordinance as it is
Mr. MALLoKr. Of Elizabeth City.-I believe,
sir, tina. hrceftur,hs Of the heads OF thcse
families now in distress are in the volunteer
Iorcpa nf the State. while their families were