Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1862-01-14
Defence of Western Virginia.

The efficient representative of this county in
the Senate of Virginia--.-Salivar Christian, ESQ
Offered the following resolution looking to the
defence of Western Virginia, which Las recently
been rendered defencelee by the withdrawal Ct
troops from that section OF tue State:
Res0tUed by the General Assembly. tlat a
Joint committee OF five rnambe OF the Senate,
and seven Of the House OF Delegates be appo. .nted
to confer with tie Confederate authorities, and
devise cooperative movements on the part OF
the Safe with the Confederate Government for
prompt protection to the persons ant property
OF citiz. US, and the general defence in Western
ViIgnis against the invasion OF the enemy
Mr. Christian, In explanation of the motives
Tor Offering this resolution said it was ot course
IN no spit OF criticism on the cODdrO OF -of the
war By the Confederate authorities, but IN view
OF energent iacts. 1t is well known that tie
bogus Gov-rrment .i - ,s at Wheeling publicly pro
claims It's intention to extend its jurisdiction
over all Trans Allegheny, at least aud also that
authentic information has just reached us that
the Lincoln troops have advanced in force end
taken possession of the county seat of Pocahon-
tas, hitherto tie headquarters OF our arlnies /;
that they have invaded Gieenbrier, Monroe,
Mercer and other counties, whence we drew tie
| supplies Of beet tor our armies; that they are
| plllaging the property and harrassing the th-
| tul cit,zens of that country. Meanwh le the
Confederate forces, doubtless for proper reasons,
have been withdrawn, even the forces organized
in that same country for its defence constituting
nearly all lis fighting material, and transferred
to the distant fields Of Kentucky and South Car
olina 1t is farther understood that Gov Let cher
has already rendered the services OF the militia
brigade under Gen. Chapman tor hoTee defence,
but the General Goyernm ut has deciLed ac-
cepting it; hence the executive having exhaust
ed his resources, it tecoiGes proper that the Leg
slature should provide ether, or some eli,t f.
this distressed portion OF ous Commonw ealth.-
The reorganization of tie militia being now un-
der consideration, it is peculiarly proper to con-
slider al tile 9 circumstances. go
/ This resolution was adopted in both houses Of
the Legislature. TIE committee on the pa o
the Senate is as follows: Rf Asa7 q
/ Messrs Christian cf Augusta, NeesoD, Dorgas
4 Thomas of Fairfax and VIM. Frazier OF Rock
bri ge. -. l.s5.sa .aI Is.
The following con- pose the committee on the
part Of the House of Delegates: 81
| Messrs Hunter, Fl. W. Sh~ffey, Garrison, An
aerson OF Bote ourt, Wilson, Mason Mathews O
Green rier and Crockett. es
4 Another chance for Row with Great
1 Britain. ~.
| The Bio Grande is neutral stream, the boun
dary between Mexico ard the Confederate States
This river says the New Orleans Delta, has beer
blockaaed by the United State, navy, and is now
closed to the commerce of the world. The ships
of foreign nations bound for Matamoras and 9th
er Mexican ports are forbidden entrances intt
1 the river. The first vessel which was ordered
off happened to be al English ship with tregh
for an Eugsh house at Matamoras. No bettel
illustration could be given of the forbearance o.
imbecility of the British Government in relation
to this blockade than would be their acquies-
lcence 10 such an exclusion of their 1nerchan
: vessels from the port of nation not engaged il
this war. They have already abundant proof
of the ineffectiveness OF the blockade in regart
to Confederate ports. Neither Great Britain
France nor the United States ever before recog
nized or permitted such blockade as that whcl
The United States have attempted to maintain
or one so destructive to the interests OF thei
people. But if they choose to submit 10 it, W
do not know that it becomes Us to object, what
: ever we may think of their consistency or man
: hood. But when the auIacious government Q
t Lincoln attempts to extend their blockade t
: the ports of other Independent nations, it ap
pears to us that there 10 limits to the iinpu
dence and insolence of that government, or t
), the forbearance and submission of the grea
i commercial powers Of Europe.-Rich. Whig