Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-12-31

divost the funds appropriated for The purchase
Of machinery, g., 10 the erection Of ad dliuoual
buildings.
In view, therefore, of ali the facts and cir
cumstanas Of the csse, strongly recommend
the closing OF the contract for machinery on
equita5!s terms, and the erection Of such ad-
dltional buildings as Dsy be necessary for the
full accommodation OF the machinery lately
used ut Rarper's Ferry, in tho manufacture Of
rid, nuskets. If this course Should be decided
upun, it is thought that in six months time
good produce Of arms viii! be steadily turned
out I have the honor to bo. si:,
Your most obedIent serv't,
JAMES II. BuRToN,
Leuteoan: Colonel OF Ordnance
Colsnal C. DiHnock,
Chiei Of Ordnance.
Mr.. FlsaIR-1 move to lay the communi.
cation and accompanying documents on the
table.
Mr.. BeYp-I move that 1t DO referred to the
committee appointed to consider " hat dispos.
tcn was to be made Of the machinery cap
tured at Harpsr's Ferry, and that 1t be print
ed
The amendment was adopted.
Mr. FisnER-i desire TO Offer resolution,
aud do sarHcstly hope that it will be the plea.
sure Of this CoL7sa;!on 10 aaopt =:
Resolved, That the Comattes OF Ii!iisry
Aif,Ms be Instructed 80 repert Al rrt2::caGe: n.
hioiting the appointment Of Lieutenant Colo.
nels or Majors without the continuation Of this
Convention when in sessidn, or by the $40.
ale Ct the State when ih;s l'cdy adjourned,
except during lie recess Ct cas uE ;aa olhe-
body"
Dir. FIsRsk Il oiisr that resolution for Tie
purpose of accomplishing an object that eli.
deavored to accomplish during lhe last session
Of this body.
Twas sorry to End, by the rspor. d the Nil.
itsry ComnLtce en- that occasion, ia response
to the resolution cfiered, that they entrusted
tho power to appoint Lieut. COlonels aud iie~
jvrs 70 the Executive of this Commonwealth.
without consulting .n!s body, Wbsa that re
port was brought il, was So feeble as 10 Gc
unable 70 iDakc sny opposition 10 it, or should
have dOne SO ii the time We have cut loose
uce from thoss Es,p!e-aad hope perNs-
Ituil.--who have brought down upol Us al
tae evils TIA: have como upon us; and II ~
to be hoped ths. the power ths:i is now dlesE6a
By this CoaTenti0n, Composed c!!ha RrrTfs2r'
tstiscs o: The people of Virgins, 10 tne Ggv-
etlor Of this Commonwealth, will not oDn:,Eue
10 DO exercised with that unrestricted liceiso
which has n1: even characterized the sauiui-
t7a:Ga OF iha PreSideri. Of the United States
TIE consequence resuil!ng from thu arbitrary
power conferred upon the G0Vcrno: il respcc:
10 the class VI appointments to which my res
olrticn refers, has been that our Commonwealth
IL flied with tfi GERS Of these ranks, without,
n C-ay instances, there being men 20 Com
lnsnd. The almost universal vo!cs Of TIC Stats
is rising up in cooGvIyra,iou o. the uncc:i-
!rolisd exercise OF this p9Esray he G:vcracT,
LrG would aow ask 1to::aar l.,,s p3i:cy Is
louger tO &c submitted to- Ta2ss is sIuul2E
,hau ot:e mernbsr nf the Adviser CouGcIi q
this Commonwealth il controlling, all CAS- IA.
tary appoietu,et:t:, and tia: they arc p:i.c:-
psI!y, II nos sii3s .thar, governed by the ca3ic@
Of that geaileln.a. If there be ray 1n;Thv:
O. this Convention who is prepared tr rubir.
20 such an outrage as this, mistake very
much tho char.citr oi this bodJ. There Is
one, a. least, uhc, however poveIlass be may
OF E, diced the right, is ready 10 raise his
voice III denuacieion Of the exercise of IBIS
arbitrary power By the Governor. Here is
Col Farat!er,y. He was not educated as the
Virginia Military Institute.
Tie PRESIDENT is not 10 oid=r to cal!
1aDss il: that connection
sir. FIsaER-l was about " f=leT 10 Inc
unjust DISCRIMINATION which, az II seeGed 50
ue, he Council LAD nsds.
Sat SlJ saai! ;his power be allowed 10 >:
exercised b.; our Executive, when suca g
power i: sc ncrsr heretofore been conferred OF
Presiden, o! lne uait*i S!aiea or 0f the
Confederate S,st:s: g: Tie President oT TIE
-, rS ,of
mission captain wiz hGS received his educa
tion ut ITes. Point wilLout consulting the
Senate of the uc:tsd S;sus. &c caanot CON-
mission asurseon IN the army Without consui-
ting thet Sody; end yet thls Con7oniioa al
lows uwr Governor ~ exercise the power OF
appointing Lieutenant Ctlonels and Maj ors.
and ell ot;er tfScsrs telo" theSs grades, s'!lh.
cut subz,!iising .hen tur confirmation
sin ustsrly opposed I" ;his. | think ;ha.
the public sentiment of the Commonwealth,
ns it is here rtfscied, ought TO 10 consulted
IN regard 70 these sppoin lrnen:s. Il :ha Gov
ef1os is compelled 10 consult this Convention,
or the Senate Of Virginia, whom ;tis
body is not 10 sessitn, the voice o:
the Stats will 10 heard, t3 Goma extent, Gs
leGst Without referring 10 particular cases,
can sny. !ro:a information. which have re-
ceiv=d from gentlemen Of tho highest resrcc
liability, that many Of the appointments which
have been ;nade are In direct conG;c. with ne
public sentiment, and the sentiment Of the
officer who vas cailed upon TO Command and
1t is even stated tha: many Of tee volunteer
fosceR Of the State are IN condition border
ing On revolution because oi these Sppotnt'
uents.
Why should this power b. allowed to be
exercised by the Governor Are we going &c
Increase Instead of diminish that powerp i
is, in NV opinion, giving 70 one man po*e:
to dictate " no small be tho cfaeerE that are to
command all army.
I lbit,k, sir, that tllis question was not well
considered wheu i. vas before tho Milituiy
COMMITTEE hsrotcfore; and il the conui:Ie=
entertain he samo opinion now tina. they gid
then, think the peopIe Of this Commonwealth
ought 10 knoT IT, We viii then seq whether
ths q ,ve,nor OF TrsI1ia, who ass 'a!sd, woe-
fully failed, % pic.ids tbs iueaIs -, dS!eac'
for this Com mou wealth when ne had hslf e
million of Iuooey in bis hands, shall 20 allowed
to exercise this power Of appointing ofacars
sto are to defend this Ceplnaa~eal!h. Hs
did nothing init! Lc Yas forced to 1t bY Cir
cums;snces aver which h. had 10 c1nsre!, snS
is thert fore entitled ~ no 1fcli; for ETY. -.
ton he has ..kon.
sw unwilling to sa9 anything harasiy cf
the Governor; but cnasui nelp thinking .aat
his cnnrSa in ,be past is uDPl.dcnnble. because
lie cou.d hsro pixced This Commonwealth Ii
proper condition Uf dutence, aTa have evtig
nan slrea before shs passage o. tbs urdina:.ca
Of secession if he had orly tAs disDoslticn
or energy to do 81 A mail representing as
do POI ton Of this Commonwealth Thsih IS
pecuilsrly exposed to Northern ma:sade7s
ahora We ars daily expecting to desa";i r3ol
ae, :Grst necessarily ;eSi deen:y t:sse!'tin.sd
at The failure Ct ihe Governor 10 provide lhst
ssciiou OF tie State with Aids.
Tnsre Is eEotasr point in :sicrenc'o IL ~:s.!ch
desire to make remark or EMO. A law
pa :ssd By the Legislature Of this State at the
CO ion before last, required tie Governor,