Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-01-08

m thcsmonth Of 4rg,st last directed al the companies
e. report TO Majertisatd Floyd biz sentlemanh had,
al the request of the General Assembly been oonrui.
soned Major General and | deemed it advisable,
therefore, 10 place all State forces AHder his command.
Tue term OF service Of SOME the companies has
puei but regarding the defence of Western Virginia
Of the utmost Importance, and knowing of means Of
defence likely to prove so successful have retained
them. Under all the circumstances, Thoughts Advsa-
be 90 wait the assembling of the Legislature, when such
action c0Hd be taken would he considered wise and
proper. SO long the State line shall be kept up,
eosderi judciouS TO retain the rangers, to actin con
cert With the forces OF The Satelne and 20 be under
the command OF General Floyd Its, however, for yoa
20 determine whether they shall be dsbanded at tue end
Of twelve month"; or whether they be retained in
service Tor longer time. .l tal
gHE ExPoRr OF THE ABJurAST GENERAL.
commend this rsPegt to yo1r. consideration The
necety of organGnga force for home defence At this
time,wf strike The minds of the General Assembly Ii
j. OF iheRrst importance; and eomaeId its suggeS-
tons to your consideration and approval They appear
20 ne in al respects 10 De cmneny judcioGs aud pro.
per under thu circumstances and enlanAtng from 50
m e iessri oee they entitled to great eonsid-
.sratsndod favor
- ORDINANCES DEPARTMENT.
,Therepbrt of the ordnance department. is herewith
ptsstes, and Shots that the valuable officer at the
hd oEihas discharged his duty With that fidelity and
ability which be has always heretofore exhibited He
NlS rcQutFtu va duSt. aSINNNN AOA tAV uSSlANns ~
the war 20 the present time His attention. his energS,
i.asTy and practical Judgment have been INIydeyel;
oped in this important position, aud the State owes him
alnrge debt of EcPti'uae. :.
rHE eUAREKNAsTER SSSERArs BEPARgNEHT. -
The duties Of this Depa tment have been dis ,darged
w;theOasupmate skill, ability, ministry and fielity Col
Snoo has been Ia the service OF the Sts6snce the war
e1mmeuced and more uniiriAg aud laborfous officer
have never Known in any service. ,His-busness has
been maasged with sySeni and order hsaccOuhtshaye
been rvguarly SetetO Tie satisfaction ri TIE auditing
board ahd he has been promptin the execution OF the
orders which have been from lime time issued him.
lis purchases for the State line in price and quality will
compare most faEorly WITH tEoSe made for the. Cop
eerate ioyernme:t by its officers aud AGENTS during
the same period. He and iS snbordinaes deserve well
OF the State.
YREE NEGROES. AND SLAVES
sugges, whethers yord not be wise 10 enact law
requiring all free negroes nov resident in those portions
of the State which haya been oyerrun by the enemy
be removed aud pu work upon the ortiications In
er present pos ron III the peninsula and other portions
of this co,uOnWeuth they have il in their power 10
US serious mischief not only by tampering with our
slaves but Ia communicating valuable information to the
enemr The slaves ought ais 10 be removed at the
same time aud employed in 1ly manner, ii the
wou consent 10 the arrangement. advise, therefore,
liar yOl pass Law author zug confederate commanders
10 arrest the free negroes list them and deliver them
over the proper ocer Of the Confederate govern
ent Tor this or any other service in which labor is
q1red They Ell receive good wages and be provided
with atiOus When the danger passes by, they can re-
turn to their homes.
Many reasons could be urged in support Of this sug
gesiiou but do deem it necessary present them
as they will readily to the minds of the members of
the general assembly Suffice it say that there is
strong necessity for action this subject and it
o1gdt obc taken at the earliest practicable moment.
DgAru OF Hon. VIZ BALLARD PRESTON.
hal
ha, departed this lie and of your earliest duties
VIII be TO select successor FL his place in the Con-
Tolerate States senate.
Nr Preston was a gentleman Of the most estmsble
character OF brilliant taeuts, highly improved by cult
vaton In the domestic and social circles he was
an ornament. As 4 statesman, he liberal in MS
views, artently devoted 10 bis country and its vel
fare but with his whole heart he loved Virginia Around
her his affections entwined the tends Of the ivy
enc rcie the majestic oak.
During the OF the Convention aud his service
IN ;ur Provisional Congress and in the Confederate SEN
at. &c ms good fortune 10 much Of him, and to
couer freely With him questions OF the utmost i'm
Iortance 20 our beloved Commonwealth. His views
presented with singular clrarncsS and force and
teryiews always pleasant and profitable to lie
recognized Virginia the noble mother to whom he
Owed his alegiluce but forgot his duties to the
Confederate Government. As an orator he had few
e. lals aud remarkable alike for the grace and ele
gluce OF his ,lOcutOn. He was a pure and good man
aud IN all tine relations of life, public and private, he
performed faithfully aud unoStentatOusy his duties
hi, family his friends and his country. He has been
called from the theatre OF action at most interesting
period in the history of country, and well may Viz
cnia mourn over the loss OF cherished and valued
son.
His race has been run; the goal has been reached and
be has gone 10 the grave adorned With the highest hon
that his Stale could confer It is left to Us To emu
late his virtues, 20 initiate his example, aud profit by
the lesson his life incuIcates.
REPRESENTATION rs THE LEGISLATURE
Il is necessary that SOME action shall be taken by you
AZ this sessioa regard representation from those
portions Of the State under the control OF the enemy
Au election for Governor observation-disclosures, Attor-
uey General aud members OF the General Assembly, will
come OF m May uext; and unless legislative
ton Is haSnew, the counties in the enemyt possession
viii have opportunity OF ypug. This result should
not be permitted Occgr ii il possibly be avoided.
suggest therefore, YOU pass las similar IN its MO-
visions 70 the ordinance passed by The convention on
t1s subject. IL is hut just TO our gallant soldiers that
they shall have voice in the selection Of their State
officers and representatives in the General Assembly and
equally Just that the loyal men Of all tlie counties OF
III, Commonwealth sl,an be represented. Our action
should shOS that We do DOT intend to abandon any por-
ton ct Virginia and our legislation certainly be so
shaped to Indicate this purpose In the Iaost distinct
manner The citizens in the eneniys lines whose loyalty
to the Commonwealth has been thoroughly tested for
the last eighteen months have right to expect that
they shall be allowed to enjoy all the rights aud priv
leges which legislation can confer
. MARYLAND.
do not despair Of Maryland, i have strong faith
and an abiding conviction that this State is destined TO
constitute paty Of the Southern Confederacy | be-.
lieve now have uniformly believed, that decided
majority Of her people are with IN feeling aud in sen
uent and when they shah be permitted give free
expression of their sentiments they will so declare
Why should they notl Their Interests and the interests
Of Virginia are identical The ties Of cousanguiny and
ofmarrage Of kindred institutions aud similarity Of puff
sut-eyery tie indeed, that Is calculated unite and
bind people together exists between Maryland and Yir
ginia The land Of Carroll and Of Howard of Rngold
aud of Watson, viii seek alliance with cougenial
spirits In the Southern Confederacy Her proHd spir