Alexandria Gazette, Commercial And Political

RICHMOND, Nov. 15.

VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.

The following report was, on Saturday last, presented to the House of Delegates, by the Committee of Defence:

The committee to whom was referred so much of the Governor's message to the General Assembly, as relates to the policy of substituting a permanent force, for that now embodied in defence of the Commonwealth, have, according to order, had that subject under consideration, and beg leave to report, in part performance of their duty, that they have no hesitation in expressing their entire concurrence in the recommendation of the Governor.

They have, indeed, been convinced by innumerable facts, that a just economy of the public money; by successful application of the labor & industry of the citizens at large, to the ordinary pursuits of life their health contentment and happiness, as well as the efficiency of the public force, would be promoted by the proposed embargo of the present system of state defence.

The delay of the committee to report a bill to reduce this desirable change to effect, is not, therefore, to be ascribed to any doubt which they entertain of its policy, nor as the committee humbly subjoin, of its practicability.

The present condition of the militia, and the approach of winter, would have further expedited the deliberations of the committee, and have long since brought them to the close of their investigations, were not insuperable difficulties opposed to the separate legislation of this state, on any plan of defence, while the Congress of the United States, the common guardian and protector of the safety of the Union, has the same subject under consideration, with an authority to act upon it, paramount to that of the General Assembly.

Three bills have already been reported to the House of Representatives, by the military committee, acting with the aid and device of the Secretary of War: and to these a fourth has been added by the Senate of the United States, which, whether in whole or in part, calculated for the effectual defence of this commonwealth, in the further prosecution of this war, the committee do not presume to decide; but which, taken together, obviously illustrate the impossibility of providing by any act of the General Assembly, a separate, pairing or defeating the success of that system of state defence, without interfering with the general plan for the safety of the Union which, may result from the deliberations of Congress.

[It] would be highly inexpedient, as well as inconsistent with the loyalty of this commonwealth to the authority of the Union, to endeavor to anticipate or obstruct the measures of the United States in its endeavors to provide an adequate system of "Common Defence,"

Be it, therefore, resolved that it