Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-04-05

A great excitement was created in Richmond
last week by an order from the War Department
at Washington, to have transported from Belona
Asenal, via Richmond ,and shipped from that place
to Fortress Monroe, number of Guns manufac-
tured under contract by Col. J. L. Archer, of Bel
Iona. The Legislature instantly took the matter
into consideration, and after long discussion and
frequent CONSULTATION, adopted the following re-
port except that part of the second resolution
that authorizes the Governor to call out the mill
tia. That clause was stricken out in the House,
| (having originated in the Senate,l on motion OF
Chas. r. Collier, Esq, and agreed to by the Sen
ate:
Whereas, The people of Virginia, in Convention
assembled, are now celebrating to their future
relations with the Government at w Washington, u.
! c.. and the non slaveholding States of the Con-
federacv known as the United States Of North
! America and whereas, the General Assembly OF
Virginia, at present sitting, andsthe Governor of
this Commonwealth, have declared their opposi-
ton to the exercise of force against the sayehod-
ing seeding States, and to the organization IN, or
the marching through our territory of military
expeditions Tor that purpose and, whereas, in the
present unsettled condition OF our inter State and
Federal relations, it is the highest obligation of
duty on all public functonares to watch yigilantly
and prevent thwart every hostile movement
either against the seeded States, or those that
may be supposedSto sympathse with them; and
whereas it has come to til knowledge of this Leg
islature that large number of heavy guns, man
ufactured at Bellona Foundry, near the capital
of Virginia, under order of the Ordnance
Department at Washington, D. c., have been or
dered to Fortress Monroe, where they can only be
needed for the purpose Of intimidation and manace
to Virginia, at present, and Of actual hostilties
in certain contingency that may change her flu
ture relations to the Federal Government, and the
anti slavery sentiment it represents.
Be it resolved by the General Assembly, That
The Governor of this Commonwealth be author
lied, and he is hereby directed, to seize and de-
( tain said guns for the use of the Commonwealth,
and to that end, to order out the ubc Guard and
such portion Of the militia force Of the State as he
may deem necessary, to arrest the contemplated
removal of the guns aforesaid, beyond the reach
and control of the government of this State.
Resolved, further, That the Governor be and
| be is hereby authorized and required out of the
money appropriated for the purchase Of arms at
! the present session of the General Assembly by an
! act passed on the I'd day of January, 1861, emit
tied act appropriating one million of dollars for
/ the defence of the Commonwealth to pay to Dr..
Junius l.. Archer the amount due him, viz: seven
thousand eight hundred and seventy two dollars
an forty seven cents his contract for the m an
utacture Of said guns, and to the government al
w ashington, the of thirteen thousand and
twenty four do liars, which said Government has
paid to said Archer on accornt- of his said con
tract; and the Governor shall require the Super
intendent of the Armory at Richmond. to take
possession OF said guns and deposit them therein
for safe keeping.