The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-12-09
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

The House OF Delegates assembled at IL O'clock,
Ar. shefsy IN the chair. Prayer was offered BY
Rev. DR. Head.
The ROD having been called, quorum was ascer-
tanned to be present.
Mr McCUs, Of Augusta, moved the appointment
Of II special committee to make arrangements for the
eztabhshnent Of soldiers home in the city Of
Richmond, which agreed TO.
Mr.. Peudston submitted q series OF resolutionsin
relation 10 tas state ot the country and expressive
q the sentiments OF the legislature AZ to the con-
duct Of Virginia during the rIesentwar They we've
ordered 10 be printed
A COMMITTEES appointed 10 wait on the Governor
returned and stated that tue Governor would COM
TnuIncate the message to the House Immedlately y.
The message vas accordingly read, after which the
House adjourned.
We give the following synopsis OF it, not being
able to print the whole
INF ExENFTTOH OF STATE OFFICERS
One Of the frst duties OF the Legislature, he says
will BE- the consideration Of measures to bring into
the field al sble-bodied men who not necessary
~ 'Ne '"Ee government On this subject h
says; e
1t ID utterly impossible for me to understand the
logic which exempts State officers who are not neces
sary for the State Government and is the fact
that the Judges undertaking loose from the
grasp OF military authority. without any duty to
perform, upon the ground that they officers pro-
vided by the constitution End the laws. There are
some forty fifty counties Of Virginia within the
enemy lines most OF them under Il regular govern
Jnent CT tho enemy. The State officers therein have
reen-WheTe loyal, of course,-expeIled from office
ana arc refugees. Most of them have acquired new
homes and formed new social and business relations
and msy not return TO their counties until this war
shRl9 terminate. Many Will never return, even with
peace AID It may be question, II they should do
so, whether they would have right resume their
offices. Under the laws and the constitution, the
counties Will average about sixty officers furnishing
within the enemy's lines number equal to about |
Two thousand, constituting force sufficient, il may
be- TO turn the tide OF great battle. Yet accord
ing to the decisions OF some OF the judges these Off
GERS would be exempt from military duty, although
without evil duties TO perform, and with great
probability that they will have none during the con-
tlnuanee OF the war.
The doctrine eontended for NAV lead to the most
fatal results II all the officers designated in the
constitution, and IN the laws made pursuance
thereof are to be exempted because they State
orcefsif all the Justices OF the peace Who by the
bye, were never exempted until the lst OF October
1862 havins from the revolution TO that period been
required 10 perform military duty-if all sheriff.
and clerks, and their deputies-an commissioners
Of the reyenue-a1 surveyors and commemorative
Ettorneysall constables and overseers OF the Door
ali county agents tor supplying soldiers families
all salt agents, commercial agents, etcall en-
ployees OF banks, cities, tOwna, etc, to be ex
empu Unfortunately, and without reference Ia
theI necessity, Them indeed the language of the
decision frequently quoted, "the spectacle might
be presented 81 nation subJugated and DESTROYED
III time when it had within its limits citizens am
ply sufficient defend II against all the assaults of
ats enemies, but whose services could not be com
nnanded because, torsooth the Government had
contracted with them that they should he re-
quIred TO serve IL the army" Sc far IN this State
the number u ezeuptS IS comparatively snail; but
other states told II IS widely diorent AT
TINS tims powerful army Of tha enemy is sweeping
ever tie state Of Georgia. IN which, under the doe
time eonteLdsd tor, there Is nov army OF ex-
empts- e1enpts because officers and EMPLOYEES OF
the state Government.
At THIS giuae tho pressure Of the service inspires
very common desire 10 escape from II ana the
remedy " Gabezs corpus, designed fJr extraordinary
a-ts q Chclal tyranny Individual acts OF opprss-
sion, - daily resorted u, 70 extcate the citizen
from the holy duty " defending the country Law
u every degree lie 10 tho least tns spread be-
them, ami judges, IL chamhers snd court fael
0nstraned TO apply the principles OF the writ to |
u but Lille better than moral deserter5 from the
.taLt RIt ot tEer country ana alta time too, when
she = struggling IN a photographic with her gi-
santie too.
/ respectfully suggest for your consideration the
passage Of Law which VAL diminish the number of
hese okoaTs Gld Restrict their selection 10 persons
i age usually beyond the period Of military SER
he propose the passage Of law d'mns hing
he number CT the districts in the several counties
ND oonnninz the election Il magistrates to persons
'veT iorty-hss years CT az.
EEw Military BILL PROPOSED.
The Governor suggests q new military hill, which |
TOposss kt. Aksg ths reserve force Of tho State
boald - erg.EtEsi b. TIA Governor, and, when
oael-lsa 70 b. reported 20 TIA Assembly for such |
AAngs a. IL t4ay see 1t 70 make. "a. That the Go
cracr shall net move ssia fierce beyond tina limits
iEa state. %. hat no portion OF such force
hall be called cur IcF AsossT p-<1Sd shan thirty
sVs. all. Mhsr. PIsetlcsele, said force shan be
med q duty lE tie several Counties from which
n4y be drawn. 5.h. The particular duties tc
'laeh has iotcs may be assigned are designated.
N last the county court and county officers shall
IL In theslrs usepG Eth. That the Governor shall
rovide for toe proper discipline and order OF said
,fce SIN Ihis eiu beng war measure. it ia pro-
lsed ID AZ Al sasu expire with the proclamation OF
-sss, cAly saspeneing the meantime the general
,sAtls law. |
fefTrSa HEssoEs isTo THH FIELD.
Has the tanae arrived when this issue is fairly be-
~ ~ si indeed, Liberty and indepen denoe, or
ADJ ~usLi ~hAeh as presented % usl man
AHst te tina 70 current events 20 the gigantic
Of this var TO the proelauatisI. At
~ enemy Tho dees not zee that tie Issue above
Starred ~ "a presented zo-s aud. I repeat ths |
ljy question IT, has the time arrived Are we she :
sypud question, TO wage suocessigl war against
power three unes our own in numbers, with All |
aIQEs lou Which - recruit, and who unheslta- |
ngy Put arms ia the hands Of our own negroes for
y dssfrRcliol will not say that, anyer the I
royasaes 81 }od, We may not be able 10 triumph |
~ AZ say s'a9t We should not, from any mawksh
nsionty, rhlse any msans within our reach whiSh !
u TeE1 70 eA&fle 70 osffr