Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-10-20
Mnua ZEE zxuautr ,r1f..

| 4 bill to rrCido fGr tie trial of friendly
| suits in ohancery. :Ir partition. &c, arising
in counties in possession nf the enemy or
threatened with invasion, was read a third
time and passed. o,
sToREKEErERs ASD AGENTS.
House bill, entitled an act to provide for the
appointment of general agents and storekeep'
ers for counties aud corporations was taken up.
Mr.. NEWTON moved to lay the bill on the
table, in order that the bill might be consid-
cred more maturely.
The motion was agreed 70.
RESOLUTION.
Mr.. Bruce offered the following, which was
adopted
Resolved, That the Committee on Confede-
rate Relations be, instructed to confer with
the Confederate authorities, and ascertain
whether the power Of impressing necessary
supplies may not be go used as TO be more
uniform in it's operation among the people OF
this Commonwealth.
REMOVAL OF MACHINERY FROM VIRGINIA..
The President laid before the Senate the
following communication and documents fropl
the Governor:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.,
RIcHMoND, Va, Oct. l., 1863.
Gentlemen Of the Senate:
In response 10 your resolutions adopted on
the 9th inst. calling for information with re.
gard to the removal Of machinery from the
| State Armcry, l have the honor to communi-
cate a letter Just received from the Secretary
Of War. The Senate will learn from this let
ter that the stocking machinery has been re-
novel to Macon, Georgia, and that the reno
val was made more than a year ago. To
whom the machinery has been sent, and
whether il is intended to be returned. and il
30, when. | am not informed. The machinery
was removed without my knowledge or appro-
baton. The contract Ivy which the Armory
buildings and the machinery were allowed to
be used by the Confederate Government was
made under the direction Of the Convention,
and in obedience to its Instructions, and to
avoid all future misunderstanding, was re-
duccd 10 writing. duly signed, acknowledged
and recorded in the Hastings Court Of the
city of Richmond.
In this matter Virginia felt a deep interest,
in consequence OF the fact that she had the
necessary buildings, and had actually com:
mencel the work Of putting up the machine
~ before her agreement was made with the
! Confederate Commissioner, Hon. Alex. II.
Stephens. After the Convention rendered the
use Of tie .Armory buildings and machinery
tn the Confederate Government, it soon be-
came manifest that the head of the Ordnance
Department 81 the Confederate States did not
desire to see the machinery put up here. Ii
was only after he was distinctly informed that
it should be put M, and that if he did not
proceed t. DO 50 the State authorities would
put j; up, that he took the necessary steps to
get the machinery in position preparatory 70
! The manufacture Of arms.
Much correspondence preceded tho makin-
and execution Of the contract, and can ic fur
ni>hed 10 the Senate if desired. \ conY Of
the agreement entered into between the State
and Confederate authorities, accompanied by
the schedule of articles attached thereto, is
herewith transmitted Tor information. The
point was distinctly made that the machinery
must he put up in our armOry, and | express
" refused to assent TO any arrangement that
would take the machinery to any other place.
No part Of the machinery should have been
removed from the Stare armUrv without con-
s~ultatiOn with her authorities. The State
vas n PARTY to this contraCt-had brought the
machinery from l~IaTper's Ferry with the ex-
press purpose ii putting it up in her armory:
and il was due 10 her that her authorities
! should have been consulted before any part Of
it was removed to any other place. The part
which Virginia has played in this war fairly
and Justly entitled her to this much conside-
ration.
Before the war commenced. and in antici.
PATTON Of its occurrence, Virginia determined
10 fix up her armory for the manufacture Of
arms. She hNd therefore made contracts for
! the supply Il all the necessary machinery,
and it was in process OF construction when the
war was precipitated upon her. Not having
been delivered, she directed her attention to
the lIarpcr's Ferry establishment as furnish.
ing the necessary supplies to complete the cs-
Enlistment, and prepare it fully for the
cherished purpose Virginia had in view
When the machinery came to her possession
she determined, therefore, to place it in her
State armory, and she has never lost sight of
or bandoned this purpose. She therefore care
fully provided for this object in all her future
action. and the written contract will demon
stratc it. Hence it is that the contract re-
serves the right of property in the machinery.
and in the real estate 10 the State Of Virginia.
And it is further provided;
1.-THE Confederate States shall have the
right TO erect such buildings, and to make such
repairs AMI changes in the present buildings,
uyion the ground to be transferred 10 them, as
shall DO appropriate for the purposes of the
army: and u enclose the same in n proper
manner. Provided. however. that inasmuch
as the transfer will be without pccun:ary con-
| sidcratiOn, the right and title of the State in
reverSinn being expressly reserved. shall not
he subject to airy change, Offset or deduction
by reason OF any repairs, changes, improve
mcnrs or new buildings made under this
agreement"
This provision shows the care and attention
with which the whole subject was guarded,
from the commencement of the negotiation to
its conclusion. But before this contract was
entered into I received q letter from L.. p.
| Walker, the then Secretary of War Of the Con-
tolerate States, assuring me that sit is the
present intention Of this Department to con-
| tinue the operation of the machinery in the
armory at Richmond, and, under all circum-
stances. so long as possible, to continue the
use Of the armory for the objects to which it
has been devoted in the service of the Con-
Tolerate States"
I commend the whole subject 10 the consid-
| Grafton Of the Legislature.
JOHN LErcHER.
CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA,
WAR DEPARTMENT.
Richmond, Oct. Is, 1868.
Ills Exccllcncy JOIN LETCuER,
Governor Of Virginia
Sir: In response to resolution of the Sen
ate Of Virginia, communicated by your Excel
lcncy, I have the honor to say that none of the
machinery belonging to the State of Virginia
has been removed from the Richmond Armo-
rv. except some machinery for making gun
srcks (from the IIarpcr's Ferry Armoryl
which wa, sent to Macon. Ga. Just previous
To the seven days battle before Richmond
No removal of machinery is now c~ontempla-
ted.
1t may not he improper to state that the ma
chinerv in the Armnry has been largely in
creased and improved since it passed into the
control of the Confederate Government, and