The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1863-09-08

covERNOR'S MESSAGE.
Executive DEPARTMENT,
Richmond, Va, Sept z, 1863.

a.s,l,mea of the Senate
7'' and House Of Itfsgates.
dis crisis have deemed it advisa
=" ,r,nycne YOU in extraordinary SEES
ee " n order that the freshly chosen
s'' ''.,srnta,i,es of the people may con-
''F .j devise such measures as will be
'"'' Is,ed to meet the existing emer-
'l,,, a,r in public affairs. The war has
F'"' h,,n in progress for more. than tw o
~" and half. and has been. prose
.,al against us with a ierocity unparai-
.'S'I 'I'' N ali past struggles between con
.,;ng naities. 1t has been conducted
.l,,, ', the ayowed principle of subjugating
= ,.iher by force Of arms or by visiting
,..n Is, our people the horrors of famine.
Hi'nr.. it is that. ioiled and defeated again
~, ~ aoain upon the field of battle, they
,,re adopted the policy of desolating
,@r farms. destroying our crops, burning
dwellings, stealing and carrying away
o'r nreperty, leaving our wives and Chill
tp.n TO perish 10y the slow torture .oi
.1,r,atioa,. II is no longer war for the
'r".tryation ' of 'the old Union, as it was
r,r,inally proclaimed to be, but it has
,.,eneratssi into 4 war for the emancipa-
rto Of our slaves; and this purpose the
,lm;nis.ration at Washington propose
ae.a,nplissi ever, If the determination
Il the white race, of all ages, sexes, and
c,nd,jons: OF the Southern Coniedcracy,
Ian be the result. We have no alter
r,,;ye therefore, but to defend ourselves;
with al the power, energy, and ability,
ne ,4n command. We must succeed, II
a. would be 4 free and independent peo-
II. worthy oi the illustrious ancestry
i,mn which We descended. To succeed,
er must have union, harmony, concert,
claailiation, courage, energy, and deter
mined resolution on the part of rulers
gal people. We must cultivate one to.
yards another the noble virtues Of pru-
isnrc, toleration, charity, and iorb ar
3ntt.
With these general remarks | pro
cred 10 the consideration OF such sub
.-ets as are Of special interest at this
lne, aud in my judgment demand legis-
IatIe action.
The subject first in Importance, so far
>. the Comm0iWeal is concerned, is
the best means Of providing All adequate
frce for the local defence of the State
asainst Invasion or raids, and for the ex
e.uton of the laws in case resort to
forec shall at any time become necessary.
The entire military force of the State has
been absorbed by the coascription law,
and We are thus left, in time of greatest
pe,il, with no militia organization for the
clenee Of The Commonwealth. This
ssnt eah,se -ai.d must be supplied with
As lltledeiay as practicable.
A. to the plan Of raising this force |
am aware there is much diversity Of opin-
Ion. fhe difference, however, is recon
cllhIe if the subject is considered anI
dpeasSed in patriotic spirit.
Let force, Ia consist Of all able bodied
persons between the ages Of sixteen and
q.ty, not in the Confederate service, he
organized, corresponding with the force
aos oganized in the cities of Richmond,
Petersburg and Lynchburg. Let them be
REGULARLY enrolled, formed into companies
ballaIiDns, and regiments, and oilicered
ia such manner as will be most likely to
secure efficient, intelligent, and energetic
men, They should be drilled at proper
HersalS, 50 AZ to be well instructed in
the eyoIutons and the manual, and pre-
pared iIl efficient service whenever the
necessity shall arise The act should
a3o define what is local defence, as there
much contrariety of opinion in regard
10 H. Some think local defence consists
Mnmaining at home, and under no cir
ramstances to be taken out of the city or
eounty III which the company is organ
Ard This, in mySiew, is a most mis-
taken notion OF the meaning Of the term
'ltal defence, " and if it is to prevail
viii WORK great mischief and render the
@gAniAation OF little value in giving pro-
tect'on to our people. Ny opinion is that
|! The city Of Richmond can be defended
more certainly fifty miles from it than
immediately around it or in it, that local
ty is the proper place for its defence,
and the local militia should be required
10 make the defence there. The officer
ciialsed with the defence Of any particu
ar locahtyis presumed to be better ac-
4aanted with the mode-of defending it,
aud the best point of defending it sue
'e'sl'ily and he should direct all troops
Soas best to secure the end desired.
The object Of such organizations should
" 70 g'Ve adequate protection tdalli'arts
The Commonwealth. We must not
only provide tor the defence of the coun-
Ties, cllles and towns, by the local forces
III ana Immediately around them, but We
hust, under the law which is proposed
oe passed, have authority to order
@'c's lrom contiguous counties to their
%' ana support. A force. whose opera
IONS Is To be confined by county, city or
own nouhdaries, ean prove of but little
'1'ue IN checking raids, or in executing
''a eiilorcing obediehce to the laws.
ms organization should be made to
t'h''see the foreign population who are
iO.a'ed is.: aihongsbus. This foreign popu-
'I''oi' may be said to consist of three
uses I., FIRST, those who have been regu-
a'y hatnralzed, and who are therefore
Ne''s ~ embraced by our laws relating to
~N public defence. Second, those who
"e aeiiiiciiated amongst MS, and have
ss' h'l'ig IN our midst and prosecuting
n A.ois branches Of business, and left
,,",; .sa native land with no purpose or in
ma ,e'''0n OF returning to it; and lastly,
sase'' sse VINO are temporarily sojourning
''''sSt us. The first class are in SER
aos ss Under our militia laws, and the see
ssra; a 'nss Should be required to go into
si' an@e ior public defence Of the soil on