Year: 1864

:


Gov. Smith sent ina special message to the Leg
organization of the militia for State defence and pro-
posing


"1st That the reserved force Of tbA State should
be organized by the Governor, and, When compile
ted to be reported to the Assembly for such chang
as it may see fit to make. ,.s


2d Thatthe Governor shall not move said force
beyond the limits of The State.


Sd That portion of such force shall be called out
FORK longer period than thirty days.


4th. When practicable, said force shall be as
signed to duty in the several counties from which
it may be drawn. -


9TH The particular duties to which this force may
be assigned are designated


6th That the county courts and county officers
shall-aid in the enrolment


7th. That the Governor shall provide for the
proper discipline and order for said force.
+ 9th. The bill being war measure, it is proposed
that it shall expire with the proclamation of peace,
only suspending in the meantime, the general mi.
litia law"


The Governor in submitting these propositions
lectures the Legislature in the following e1traordi
nary style:


"My predecessor convened you in extra session
for the purpose of organizing our remaining mill
tary resources. For two-months you remained in
elaborate consultation kithout accomplishing the
malu purpose LOT WHICH you ndQ Deen aSSeInOieu
Re assembling on the 7th of December, the begin.
ming of the regular session. the consideration Of the
subject was again resumed and yet aftef the lapse
of nearly two months, nothing has been done. In
the meantime, other States have met for purpose
similar to our own, and in some two or three weeks
have with rare promptness and great magnanimity,
= passed the requisite act and adjourned. Is -pr-
gina less patriotic than her sister States Is she
80 blind as not to the imminence of the terrible
danger which threatens her annhilation Are her
representatives incapable of performing the proud
duty of wisely, bravely and deVotedy ensctng the
requisite legislation for her safety2 do not will
not believe it."


Members of.the House of Delegates took FIRE at
such language and expressed themselves very freely
and boldly.


Mr. Pendleton considered the communication un-
called for and insulting in its tone He said that
he was in favor Of maintaining friendly relations be.
tween the legislative and executive departments of
the government; but that this communication was
altogether ont OF place, and was nothing more
or less than lecture levcled at the entire Legisa-
l ture.


Mr. Shackelford said that he did not concur with
, Mr.. Pendleton, that the communication was diSre
spectfui or insulting He said that it was couchel
in the usual characteristic language employed by
the Governor; that the Governor felt deeply uEOn
the subject and he had not the slightest idea that
the Governor intended any offence.


Mr.. Anderson said that if there was any thing
to take exception to in the communication of the
Governor, it was the truth contained in it. He
said that the Legislature had been derelct in their
duty IN not passing the bill long ago organizing the
! State troops for home defence.
Mr.. Robertson said, that 1t was not for the Gov
eruor to dictate to the Legislature of the State /;
that it not proper for the Governor to cOmmu-
| nicate his Recommendations in the peculiar style
| employed by him. He thought that comfy and
good feeling should always exist between tie CO.
ordinate branches OF the government.
! /, Mr.. Burwell said enough time had already been
occupied by the debate TO have read the bill. He
said that it usual for crowned heads to accom-
pany their communications with outline of what
| they had determined He was not willing to place
too much power in the hands of the Governor. He
said that he could not find parallel to the message
except perhaps one from Barkeley, under the Colo
NAL system. The result of this revolution did not
| depend upon any single man. but the CO operation
| Of the whole people. He said there were many
difficulties surrounding the passage of the bill; but
! that he was in favor OF having the bill read.
Mr., PTetlow said that he was of opinion that too
l. much Cf the time of: the House had been occupied
in discussing the message The House had been
charged with want of patriotism, ard that he
er wanted to hear that document read again. The
Governor did not possess all the patriotism Of the
| State, and he opposed to Executive dictatio1
Mr.. Hall said that he was sorry that the Govern
or Of the Commonwealth had seen proper to lecture
the House. He hoped that the paper would not
be read again The Governor ought to recolIect
that IN reprimanding this House that we alseudy
had too much law. lie said that we had the mos:
! miserable legislators in the world. A member OF
Congress had informed him that Congress intended
to suspend the writ of hd6edS corpus make levy
in mass, Sc. He (Mr. H. warned him against tam
pering with Anglo-Saxon blood. He said that he
was in favor of uphoidihg the President and the
Governor but they should not be permitted to in.
terfere with the liberties of the people.


The message and accompanying documents, were
then laid upon the table, and not ordered to be
printed, by yeas SO, nays 81
| The Richmond Sentinel thus notices the message
and the action of the House of Delegates:


The people will see from the message, and the
remarks of several members upon it, that our leg
| isators are standing IA: more upon their dignity
than their duty. After remaining in session for SC
many weeks, it is undoubtedly u rcprolch to the m
that the dear old Commonwealth is LETT to this day
so far as their action is concerned naked to hel
enemies. Even the busy hum Of warlike prepara-
ton at the North fails to arouse them. 1t is some
consolation to see, however, that they stand the
extreme edge of their dignity. We trust they will
show their spirit tor their State as well as fol
themselves.


Extract from letter to the Editor, dated