Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-06-09

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ass fseslA tcf lhs hSLH 81 lEe es!ss. tbs kss n
Feb II, 1894. Nss "a tieeptlon. fiat act dahtsrb3
al the State officers be ween IL and DO yesrs Of sps
aud substituted the Executives Of The States a. the agents
of the Confederate Government TO declare whether any
Of them and what Of them should be exempt from mill
taFy duty.
IL Congress has the constitutional right to conscfibe
all the State officers and to indicate the authority under
which they may be exempt II Is clear that the States
retain their institutions By the comfy and consent Of
the Confederate Government and not upon the prnei
pies Of the compact. With the same proprety Con-
eress might have selected the Lieutenant Governor
the Judge of SAFE Court, or the Attorney General,
OF State Solicitor grant the certificates Of exeDp-
tion There is nothing in the functions Of the Excel
tive of State or the duties he has TO perform or the
relation he occupies 70 his State or the Confederate
Government that especially qualities him for the per-
Torrance of such duty, or which renders him the
proper recpit NJ of such authority, The Judicial De-
partment OF the State to as Il OF sxscu-
tive tho Executive Is OF any other Department me
very essence of free government consists In keeping
all the departments separate and independent And
yet under that act of Congress, no officer OF Slate
can discharge his constitutional dutesione hour without
the consent Of tho Ex ,cutive Department.
Mr. STAPLES argued and maintained that each State
Is an independent Power; each possessing all the at
tributes Of sovereignty each having its Legislative,
Executive and Judicial Departments embracing all the
machinery of estabk red government No State, said
no be d. pved Of these Of the officers and sgtna
to execute them without b consent aud dstnct sane
ton. Mr. s. ssd that the Legislature OF Virginia had
passed resolutions upon this subec. These resolutions
are a calm and Independent protest against the sc-
ton of Congress, upon this sutsc, Il is the first time
that Virginia has expressed word of dissatisfaction
with the acton Of the Confederate Govtr ament She
hiss determined TO stand by and sustain the Govern
ment not merely with Ter blood aud her treasure but
with whatever of wisdom her soma may possess. In
these resolutions, the Legislature demands as right
the exemption Of her officers.
The Legislative Department Of Virginia demands
some action on part, because the Governor Of the
State refuses to AJAX for the exemption, provide in
the act Of Congress- The difficulty relates to the
empon OF u,tces of the peace under forty Eve years
OF age. Their justices constitute important pait Of
the judiciary OF Vfgnis Taey are oenservators Of
the peace they judges oil probate-tbey exsrviss
important criminal and civil jurisdiction. They
oognzed 10 the State Constitution, and have been known
in Virginia from the earl es. set ement Of the country
And yet the Confederate Government Is coDscribing
to day this mpoItln part Of the adicary OF the Sate
The &C; Is gross wrong, and should be repealed
without deliy IL should DO modified, at least, as
not to infringe upon the rights and liberties OF the
States. As t stands, 1t dsturbes the harmony Of
our political system il breaks down tme-honUred bar
riers erected 10 preserve and prpe!uae the n6epsR
dsrce and the Integrity Of the several departments OF
the Government while It makes the States themselves
mere dependencies OF great consolidated power.
Before the question was disposed Of, the morning
hour having expired the Epec al order OF the dsy-vE
the bill to provide supplies for the army and to pre-
scribe the mode Of impressment'-wss taken up.
Mr. MoCOLLUM, Of Tenn, aud Mr. CONRAD, Of La,
both offered important amendments and the d cusslon
of the subject WAS continued BY Mesrs hoMULLEN,
BALDWIN, LEACH and MONTAGUE, until tie hour
Of g. when the House took recess until occk P. N.