The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-06-17

Erection OF Powder MIL near Richmond
Machinery Taken from the Armory at Hnr-
| per's Ferry, &c.
The erection OF a powder mill has been commence
ed on an island on James river, seven miles above
Richmond. Great quantities Of saltpetre and sui
l phur had been collected, with which to commence
| operations. pistol mandatory was started at
Richmond last week, at which revolvers of an
| excellent quality already made. An elegant
| pair made there were presented to JEFF. Davis on
| Monday last. The manufacture of muskets, By the
| machinery taken from Harper's Ferry, is actively
| carried on. The cannon foundry at Richmond is
| In full blast, and they making rifed can
non there. Three other iron ounderies in the city
are making thirty-two and twentv-fJur pound can
non balls.
gentleman brought with him to Baltimore two
sets OF Jewelry, belonging to two ladies of Rich
mond, which he is instructed to sell for them One
is set of diamonds, worth at least 81 00O the 9th
er is not near valuable. The proceeds are to be
devoted to military purposes
DisaffectiOn i'm the Thirteenth Regiments
Three Companies Refuse 80 Parade.
ANNAPOLIS, June Ill understand that there
was considerable disaif3ctiOn among the men of the
18th Regiment, in consequence of a general dress
parade being ordered on Monday afternoon, soon
alter the return of the expedition. am credIbly
informed that Capt. Sullivan peremptorily refused
u parade his men after working as they had the
day previous, and that companies d. Lieut.. Straug
and +, Capt. Stone, fell out of the line. the men
being perfectly exhausted From all that | can
learn outside. Col. Smith is deservedly uppopulsr
among the troops here, and | am told that 10 his
intercourse not only with his own officers and men,
put with the officers of other regiments, he is ex-
tremel y discourteous and ungentlemanly. dts
long lane that has no turn and hear reoicipps
on every side that the expiration of the three
months enlistment is SO at hand.-Cor N. Y
Tribune.
WESTERN VIRGINIA CONVENTION
Declaration of Independence.
The following declaration of the people of West
ern Virginia, reported by Mr.. Carlisle from the
Committee on Business, is now under consideration
by the Convention now assembled Wheeling:
DECLARATION OF THE PEOPLE VIRGINIA REPRE-
sENTED IN CONVENTION IN WHEELING.
The true purpose of all government is to promote
the welfare AID provide for the protection and Sc
curlty OF the governed, and when anv form of or
gan!Zaton OF government proves inadequate for,
or subVersve of thispurpose, it is the light it is the
outy OF the latter to alter abolish it. The Bill
OF Rights of Virginia, framed in 1776 reaffirmed in
lo3O, and again in 1851, expressly reserves this
right to the majority of her people, and the existing
Constitution does not confer upon the General As
sembly the power to call a Convention to alter its
PROVISIONS or TO change the relations of the Com
monwealth without previously expressed consent
OF such majority. The act of the General As
semby, calling the Convention which assembled at
Richmond in February last, was therefore
patton; and the Convention thus called has not only
abused the powers nomnally entrusted to it. but,
with the conpivauce and active aid of the Execu-
tive, has usurped and exercised other powers, to
the manifest injury OF the people, which if permit
ted, will inevitably subject them to military des-
pOtism.
The Convention, by its pretended ordinances has
required the people of Virginia to separate from
and wage war against the Government of the Uni
ted States, and against the citizens of neighboring
States, with whom they have heretofore maintained
friendly, social and business relations.
1t has attempted to subvert the Union founded
by Washington and his co-patrots in the purer
days of the republic, which has conferred unexam-
pied prosperity upon every class of citizens and up
on every section Of the country.
1t has attempted to transfer the allegiance of the
people to an illegal cOnederacy ofrebelIious States
and required their submission to its pretended
edcts and DEGREES.
Ii has attempted to place the whole military
terce and military operations of the Commonwealth
under the control and direction of such Confedera
cy, for offensive well defensive purposes.
1t has, in con Injunction with the State Executive,
instituted wherever their usurped power extends,
a reign of terror intended to suppress the free ex-
preston of the will of the people, making elections
a mockery and fraud.
The combination, even before the passage
of the pretended ordinance of secession instituted
war by the seizure and appropriation of the prop
erty Of the Federal Government, and by organ
izing and mnbiIizing armies, with the avowed pur-
pose OF capturing or destroying the capital of the
Union.
They have attempted to bring the allegiance Of
the people of the United States into direct conflict
with their subordinate allegiance to the State,
thereby making obedience to their pretended or
dinance treason against the former.
We, therefore, the delegates here assembled in
Convention to devise such measures and take such
action as the safety and welfare of the 10y
al citizens Of Virginia may demand, having
mutually considered the premises, and view
ing with great concern the depiorable con-
dition to which this once happy Commonwealth
must be reduced, unless regular adequate
remedy is speedily adopted, aud appealing to the
Supreme Ruler of the Universe for the recttude of
our intentions, do hereby, in the name and on the
behalf of the good people of Virginia soemnly de-
clare that the preservation Of their dearest rights
and Liberties and their security in person and prop
erty, imperatveIy demand the reorganization of
the Government of the Commonwealth; and that
all acts of said Convention and Executive tending
to separate this Commonwealth from the United
States, or to levy and carry war against them,
are without authority and void and the offices OF
all who adhere to the said Convention and Execu-
tive, whether Legislative executive or judicial are
vacated.