Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-06-20

position which this road has occupied towards
the Virginia Legislature for several sessions, and
for this reason l am not anXiousthat it should
be constructed, and even if the ordinance should
pass, we may infer from the occurrences which
arc taking place now in North Western Fir-
ginia, that. in all probability, before one mile
Of the track can DC laid q decisive battle will
take place. Proper preparation for this is Of
the most material concern. The military com
mittee are a body constituted principally oftho
military gentlemen Of this Convention. Their
attention has been specially directed to the
state of the military offences; and possessing:
as they do, much intelligence and experience,
it is emineutly proper that they should be the
medium for obtaining the opinion Of General
Lee, and submitting the same to this Convcn-
ton. We shall then be prepared to take the
responsibility of adopting or rejecting the or.
dinance according to the report which they
may make.
Mr.. ScoTT.-I certainly hope that it will not
be the pleasure Of the Convention to give this
ordinance any such direction. I am content
10 vote for it as it is.
Mr.. Scorr, Of Fauquier.-I regard the con-
struction of this road as a work Of great impor.
lance in this crisis Of our tfairs. Itseems to me if
our troops are to hold Winchester and the low.
or valley, this road is a military necessity. If
we are to abandon Winchester, and to abandon
all the lower valley, then this road will not be
u necessity.
But, sir, this is a military question, and ono
which this Convention is not tee proper body
to decide, and the ordinance, in T.. press terms,
refers that question to the proper military au.
thority. So, sir, that this Convention has on
" TO determine whether ilin The opinion Of the
highest military authority in this State, this
road ought, for military reasons, to be construct
ed-whethert they will sanction and give aid to
its construction.
Nuw, | submit, again, that so far as | am
concerned, | nm content with The ordinance %
it is, and will give it a cheerful and hearty
vote. | trust there will be no necessity for
abandoning Winchester Or that part OF our
State. trust there will be no military reason
for the abandonment Of it; but, upon this Iues.
ton, | am in o condition to pronounce no judg.
mett. The ordinance, as 1t stands, does not
call upon Tic, or upon this Convention, to pass
in, Judgment upon the u~ecessity Of this road.
1t but refers il, and very properly, to the high.
est military authority in the State.
| can see no reason for this reference to the
military committee. ] am content with the
ordinance as it now stands, and l trust it will
6e the pleasure Of the Convention to pass it rs
is.
Mr.. MAcrAKLAND.-l beg leave to safe lla;
there is no military officer here to whose jadg-
meut in this matter l would submit; and it is
due to Gen. Lee that he should not be made
the umpire Of the construction Of this road
without any opportunity on the part Of this
Convention 10 have his opinion upon the sub.
ject; and it is rather O novel thing, ! presume,
III h.p n IL IN iba ,up,ar pF a lppislafIya In6u
to procure the information which may daterm.
iue its action to refer the subject before it TO
an outside power. What cen be tue objection
to refer this ordinance 10 the investigation Of
a committee, charged with tie duty Of 4 con.
iercace with General Lee upon the proprie,y
and policy Of constructing this road. If the
matter is conducted in that manner, we shall
learn the opinions Of Gen. Lee, and ascertain
whether he regards it as a necessity that this
road should be constructed.
Sir, there is not only respect to General
Lex, but there is safety i'll enqniring into the
views Of that gentleman. There bave been
several statements upon the subject, it may be
alter due investigation ard enquiry, that strong
reasons may be presented for The construction
OF his road yet It mag require SO mach time
as that the necessity, for which it was intended
to provide may have passed away before the
road is completed.
trust, therefore, that the direction asked
FOR aud the disposition asked TO be made Of the
subject under consideration will be yielded,
since it wll! be seen by one and all that the
road may get be built if upon due inquiry,
the Convention shall be satisfied that il is a
necessity.
The question was then taken on the motion
to recomlnit, and was decided in tine negative.
Mr.. CONRAD, OF Frederick call the pre-
yious question.
The call was sustained and the main oues,
ton being ordered, which was upon the adop-
ton OF the ordinance as amended, it was deci.
ded in the affirmative.
Mr.. HAYMoSD-I remarked to-day that the
military committee was now insufficient, from
the fact that four e its members were absent
on military duty. I have already furnished a
list Of the absentees, and, as the committee
. consisted originally Of sever, We arc now
without a quorum, 3 majority Of that number
being absent.
. therefore move that the Convention will
/, authorize the Committee to be enlarged by the
] addition Of five members.
c the motion was ugrecd to.
Mr.. Scorr, of Fauquicr.-I desire to ask the
adoption of a resolution referring TO the mill
t tary committee, some enquiries touching tho
militia of the State.
: apprehend, that in the progress Of this war,
! we shall have to call, very likely, upon that
! arm of defence. | am informed that under
y the present organization Of the militis, there
are q great many off cers in commission under
i whom the people ofthe State will be found cx'
e ceedingly reluctant to 60 into battle. Our peace
establishment has put into military offices
S q great many gentlemen who had sought them,
| apprchend, more for the eclat that u commits
sion and the uniform gives, than by reason Of
t any peculiar fitness in themselves for places
y Of command.
We adopted I'm ordinance formerly, Sir,
r vacating the commissions Of all the officers. |
believe, in the volunteers. That ordinance did
! not extend to the vacation Of all militia com,
D missions. I propose now to request the Mill,
, tary Committee 10 inquire into The eypediency
of vacating the commissions OF I'LL militia
$ officers, and finding some mode Of filling these
J vacancies.
!, The following is the resolution :.
Resolved, That the Committee On Military
Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expe.
!. divncy of vacating the Commissions Of ull
officers in The militia Of this State, and oil
providing for supplying vacancies by new
appointments.
=. Mr.. BaLDwIS.-I desire TO say very little
upon q question Of mere reference to a Com
mittee, but ! wish to offer 8 word Of caution
in regard to u sweeping measure Of that sort.
| proposed sometime siice myself to abolish
ali the militia system Of the State but subse.
uuent reflection salts fed me that it is a lucas.
ure Of exceedingly doubtful eApedieney.
There never will be, | supprse, in the Slate Of
Virginia, in any OF the emergencies Of tho war
a levy of the militia in mass. | suppose that
no community could stand such u thing as a
levy in ,nasS of the militia companies. Any
call'upon the militia will necessarily DC in the
when anv portion of the militia is called upon,