Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-01-07
VIRGINIA STATE C0AyEHTiUA.
SlITE D4.Y.
sACR E.r sE:ssro.N.

SsS''! r''
SHCREr .sESsl On.
SLIrE Day.
TugspaY, June 18th, lS5l...s..-. .-
The Convention went into secret session, 70
consider the following communication frsmthe
Governor: a.. .a..
EAAcuTTE DEPARTMENT.
June II, 1881.
G..,!salen ey the CaAesAlion:: 'a. .'....'.
Jus;,es to the Executives, and those who haze
h..u associated with him 10 The administration
ui .he S,a,e Government, imperstive!y demands
,ha, full detail OF ali that has been done, shall
b+ submitted 10 TIE Convention, in order that
il may havo place upon the p uoiic records aud
thus ~ DOM to postrr:ty.., The present is an
&C :esicn OF deep interest aHd importance ia the
h,;iors o; tie State, and ltrusf, therefore. that
,a,s artsii OF facts sustained by proofs that
onaot be g.insaved or cnntr0ver.ed, will not be
c,ns;-rcd either as uutinely or ont sti place:
Ia :uf inaugural message, i embraced the
o,,oriunity to advise the General Assembly"
ria. ]; SsS their duty to place The State. in
s,,f a condition that she will be prepared at
srr;in.o=. .nd upon the shortest ntsiea, to pro7.
tsc5 hev aor,r. ae,ei.t h.rrigSts, and maintain
Ter Institutions against all assaults Of her
.osnies. Wile ihis-vie4,. Recommended e
careful revision OF the militia law; and in this
.oapection suggested ihst munitions of War
b. nrccurcd and provision .:be' made, fog the
ran. .,!on Of sn efficient military sta +
recommended Ut the; sauna tims5 the passage o!
hill !or ,hs organization Of g brigade OF
ID an:e men," and furnished the draft Of a. bill
.er the nceompshmsnt of this object ga. -, = :.
TIA TIE sis. day Of Januarys 1850, ,.:she
6 G:n-rsl Assembly PASSED ian act making an;
a5p-uy7;.;ica Of one hundred and eighty fhou,.
slrd dollars 10 purchase such arms, equip
,ea.: and nuunit,ous "a may be required for
IN. iru,!.s,;::.l.. use Of the State" This sum
v,s u, 10 extended under the direction 'of'a
Con,us>or., 10 be appei.ted by the Executive,
AM cc:.is,e Of us!. 2. 81 Geo Oocke, MAJ
Go ". Randolph and Col F. b. Smith, who
Wei. sapan.sd immediately after the passage
81 be act. ain: catered upon the discharge Of
:rsc suites. y! men were ever more prompt
aai ia,ti.fn; III tie performance Of public
dal7, sud Their action received the approval o.
II. Geoeral Assembly. Out of this appropris:
;lJ;, stnr;een ride cannon, Ave thousand Per%
eassi,a auske:s, rsvolvers, cavalry sabres.
ait7 ,bGussu, pounds Of powder aud other ar;
,.ces wsrc purchased. The entire sum was
expanded, as will fully hppeaf from .fhe report
.! Msj. Ra1ioiph, made 80 the General Assem-
biz on the l<y day of April last, and herewith,
transmitted (Appendix A. , ;. g..
3, sn sc1 passed January 29th, 1851 !Was
u4de lie duty of the Colonel Of Ordnance
under the direction of the Governor, to pro;
cara tie Deoesssry srms, equipments and,
munitions cf war. for the defence Of the State.
IL, Is authorized, a.ao, TO- contract aior the
manufacture otequipments and munitions, and
20 bur materials therefor, aud to contract for
.l:erins end improving cannon and dsmall aTI,A,
an 10 purchase machinery and lasterials
therefor. The act appropristss $s0a, 600, 70
accomplish these purposes Colonel Charles
mnock vas nominated to the Senate and
oaatrmed as Jol,nel Of Ordnance, andimme-
da,s!Y ep,,r rcd upon the discharge othis duties,
HS report herewith transmitted appendix b
vii! show what was done under this act By
ire ssme ac. Tho Governor is authorized to
eIploe an Engineer, to plan, and construct
coast, hsrbor and river defeaces, and to execute
,ae sems if approved by the Governor. For
,is position Col Talcott was selected, and'hs
hiss !;:n :s.,.st industriously and entrgetically
eap:o7ed III the discharge Of hs important
daiies, Tie net also provided for, the con-:
S;:u:tior .. three ars-nals ia d 4 rent sections
Of ibe Sts!3, an4 for the purposes mentioned
in this paragraph, the SUN o! 100000 vas
appropriated Uuder this act the amounts
appropriated could not be raised il the usual
D1Ge. hy So sale Of State bonds the bonds!
hasin: deprecaied tseaty per. can't or more,
aad Cur l:w prohibiting their ssle atilexs than
:aeir psr .au. H.ncs Al act ~asA passed on
:ta l4:h ds; hf March thereafter, authorizing
tie issue rf che million dollars OF trsssuCJ
notes THIS sci suthorizsd the .9oytrnot 70
dEsci lhe .,ddiicr 10 borru~ ior the State,
from time l., .ln.e, the sum Aforesaid and; to
hsu- lressarj npt=s ltefefot, " ader .thls- act
The tanks SsTe authorized to discount or por-
&C :se such treasury nctes- -, aG,a,. .a,j
The Contention subsequently, BY an 'ords-
as.cs passed April 80. 1851, authorized the
Governor ,p raise for che defence of ths State,
by treasur: notes, sum not exceeding two
millions Of dollars. These notes are made
payable to bearer, ard are redeemable one year
after their dates, and when paid, are TO be can
celled and re issues are authorized for like
AMOUNT
In !r=s than one week after the passage, Of
the ordnance of secession, the Navy Depart,
Ihs;': sss iuIiv and effectively organized, and
the req.r, af Captain. Barron, the officer in
charge, ;Ssiaa ia herewith assrapsmitted and
will b. :.und il Appendix e, shows how
nuch has been done in IN incredibly short
iinIe.
The s;a'r hs, iad full work for al the ot1
eeis, sesDsH sl't .lar!hes embraced in this or
s.h:zlton, sn'! all 20 far as know or believe,
have worke! Iaporiolsiy, cbeerfpllY and .effsc'
rveig. Besides the lsborious work of rramov.
log :hS heavy guns and other Neutrality-suspicious.
1sc Navy Ya,d to the variou3 points on our
::7er sc which the batteries are located, we
sa7s had 10 construct the gon carriages Ind
% provide The necessary fxed ammunitionfor
TIE te!'srpS. These batteries are in good
,r1's!ng ordcI ard are rffrctiysly manned
Ihs .act that ;nes" guns weig gh from. i've to-
'aa ,h''lsahd pounds each, wilh -tfaSspyrt tati5R'
essentially by lind, " ill shov thesamount Of
!Ao.r required Sc ret then in position. :. : -
''de>, ih= s.-SU! frieste Merrimac, which
- - 'ssn sunk bi tie E.dstar authorities and
o"n=c 70 he waters edge whom they deserted
Mt Navy Yard, has been raised and Is; now in
10 aa7al Dry D .cx undergoing .Espsisssa An
tHT'7e batter; .,ss bssn placed on: board the
lisat. Cutei S:ares, ard. rhe. eXsst.: Yard Il
el e: is Ne" prepared for vigorous desencessAt
"csuond the steamer. Yorktown has been
.."a'! Completed as a war steamer; and g
'oa9 'pc bought by the State has been com.